Reply to Thread

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Originally Posted by smithdoor

The track torch is best for straight cutting and welding.

It is first cut or welded is worst. Then you see how easy it is to use.
I would first start on a piece of scrap.

Dave

Absolutely! I always perfect my setup on scrap before jumping into a project! In homebuilt aircraft i run into it all the time where a guy buys a welder or oxy acetylene and jumps right in on a project with no practice whatsoever and then wonders why his project looks like cobbled together bird ****! And funny how they will almost always claim they got some bad chineese 4130 or something!

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

The track torch is best for straight cutting and welding.

It is first cut or welded is worst. Then you see how easy it is to use.
I would first start on a piece of scrap.

Dave

Originally Posted by workshoprat

On demo boxes like that the curves have many advantages. Partly to keep material from sticking but it also adds srength for impact resistance and anything that hits it has more of a deflection angle on impact. I am gona go with angled pieces in the botom corners. About an 8.5" wide strip. I looked at getting it rolled but thats alot of added expense and without being able to do it myself i cannot get any garuntee of consistency to where im not wasting a $2200 shet of steel!

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

On demo boxes like that the curves have many advantages. Partly to keep material from sticking but it also adds srength for impact resistance and anything that hits it has more of a deflection angle on impact. I am gona go with angled pieces in the botom corners. About an 8.5" wide strip. I looked at getting it rolled but thats alot of added expense and without being able to do it myself i cannot get any garuntee of consistency to where im not wasting a $2200 shet of steel!

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

The curved or angled sides stop material from getting stuck in the corners.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Dump box will be built out of 1/4" thick hardox material. No cross stringers or uprights. I should get everything i need from two 8' x 24' sheets. Then two 8x4 tubes on bottom frame. Two 4x4 tubes top of sides. And 8x4 tube across and up the back. Pretty common way boxes are built now. Of course most have curved corners but i dont have a way to do that.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

I agree
Tack be for welding if can clamp too.
I like using 18" wide flange for horses. Easy to clamp to and about the right height for most work.
Watch were you cut to easy to cut something you do not want cut.

Originally Posted by Welder Dave

Use lots of tacks. Preheat won't stop warpage and is a waste on a dump box unless it's for a mining truck. If warpage is a problem may have to skip weld to control heat input and the machine wouldn't be much benefit. Are you going to build just standard dump boxes? A track cutter/welder seems like a pricey tool for building dump boxes. Sometimes you just have to get on hands and knee's and go to it.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Use lots of tacks. Preheat won't stop warpage and is a waste on a dump box unless it's for a mining truck. If warpage is a problem may have to skip weld to control heat input and the machine wouldn't be much benefit. Are you going to build just standard dump boxes? A track cutter/welder seems like a pricey tool for building dump boxes. Sometimes you just have to get on hands and knee's and go to it.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Originally Posted by workshoprat

Has any of you guys used a track torch like this one as a welding tractor to mig weld long runs with? I cannot find an affordable option other than buying one of these then trying to set it up for mig welding!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Torch-Track...gAAOSweIRdnTW4

It works good in a shop environment where evrything is fit up nice. There was some fellas tried this on one of those CAT 777 we been workin on, they made a royal mess of the whole damn thing, this is one of the many reasons they got run off and they called us to fix it up. We had to cut out evry piece of iron they "welded" on that truck clean it up and start over from scratch, we been there ever since doin all their haultrucks.

So make sure it fit up good with new iron and it is clean, it dont work to good on heavy iron out in the field

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

The track is great purchased
I had a Victor for about 20 years.
Used it for cutting plate and welding.

Dave

Originally Posted by workshoprat

Great info guys! Im gona go ahead and buy one. I plan on building my own dump boxes! Only thing im concerned about is controlling heat warpage and pulling on a long run. Maybe pre heat with propane torch? Hate to heat to much with hardox 450.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Great info guys! Im gona go ahead and buy one. I plan on building my own dump boxes! Only thing im concerned about is controlling heat warpage and pulling on a long run. Maybe pre heat with propane torch? Hate to heat to much with hardox 450.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Yes Tweco makes MIG guns that fit's in place of the torch.

I have use a lot in past up to 40foot welds

Dave

Originally Posted by workshoprat

Has any of you guys used a track torch like this one as a welding tractor to mig weld long runs with? I cannot find an affordable option other than buying one of these then trying to set it up for mig welding!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Torch-Track...gAAOSweIRdnTW4

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

They make a machine miggun that should bolt right up. Might be able to fit right in the torch mount. No modification needed. Talk to the tech support at the track burner company you wish to buy from. they wil know what fits, and how to order.
The local welding supply store may give you a hard time if you don't already have a part number of the miggun.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Usually just needs a different holder for the Mig gun.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

We need pics and play by play.

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Awesome! I think im gona try it!

Re: Track torch used as welding tractor?

Have done, and it works very well.

Sent from my R7sf using Tapatalk

Track torch used as welding tractor?

Has any of you guys used a track torch like this one as a welding tractor to mig weld long runs with? I cannot find an affordable option other than buying one of these then trying to set it up for mig welding!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Torch-Track...gAAOSweIRdnTW4