random welds/repairs

[MinnesotaDave]

The farmer's drawbar:

Weld hole closed, drill to 1-1/8", add a top bar drilled to match with dog-leg

You can see from the damage that the pin was much smaller than the hole.


3/16" 7018 to speed up the process.


Wood line up dowel.


Jig on the bottom of railroad track. Bend up to 90 deg, then quick tack the 2nd piece, bend down and let cool, cut welds to take out.


I shaped the top piece to match the bottom.

[MinnesotaDave]

Installed:


Top view.



Putting some TIG welds on my press brake (goes in my 25 ton hyd press).

The upper blade guides.


Back stepped to control warping.

[MinnesotaDave]

Very ugly trailer.

It was a boat trailer that he wanted squared off and stake pockets put in.
His request was to plate the sides with 2" square and then close in the front, trim fenders to fit.

I bent the stake pockets and light mounts out of 1/8"

I shortened the hitch tube about 4 feet.


Marked fender with tape, cut with plasma.


Fender cut, love how plasma cutters do their thing

[Louie1961]

Not bad for a hobbyist!

[Blocker]

Very nice work Dave. We always called (I am fairly sure this is correct terminology) that piece on top of the drawbar a "hammer strap".


Lincoln SA-250
Lincoln SW 200
Miller Thunderbolt

[MinnesotaDave]

Hay rake needed a new bar bent and installed.

I torched out the broken parts so it could slip into the original holes.

Also welded some cracks on the 3 point.





The door in this trailer had about 8 broken welds on the tin (about 1/16" thick) and needed 2 braces and 1 higher top rail.

I used 3/32" 6011 (didn't have any small 6010) since many of the broken welds were in corners that I couldn't clean paint out of.
Just continued using it for the rest of the welding - they were a little rough looking but he liked them just fine

[MinnesotaDave]

Not bad for a hobbyist!

Darn, I was shooting for "part-time semi-pro"

Very nice work Dave. We always called (I am fairly sure this is correct terminology) that piece on top of the drawbar a "hammer strap".


Lincoln SA-250
Lincoln SW 200
Miller Thunderbolt

Thanks I definitely used a little hammer persuasion on that drawbar - lol

[Blocker]

Welding on used stock trailers is a long misunderstood form of anger management training Dave.


Lincoln SA-250
Lincoln SW 200
Miller Thunderbolt

[MinnesotaDave]

Welding on used stock trailers is a long misunderstood form of anger management training Dave.


Lincoln SA-250
Lincoln SW 200
Miller Thunderbolt

Ha! I bet it would be a good way to watch people stack up frustration points like a video game

The small 6011 worked out pretty well for it - tacks and welds were all at around 65 amps or so - none of it looked "pretty"

[motolife313]

Quality work is what I'm seeing!

[Blocker]

Sometimes you have to glue the old paint to the new metal and get down on one knee. Horse trailers are almost always in better shape. Do you have the summer off Dave....to indulge in your vices?


Lincoln SA-250
Lincoln SW 200
Miller Thunderbolt

[MinnesotaDave]

Sometimes you have to glue the old paint to the new metal and get down on one knee. Horse trailers are almost always in better shape. Do you have the summer off Dave....to indulge in your vices?


Lincoln SA-250
Lincoln SW 200
Miller Thunderbolt

Yep, summer off from teaching - so far have welding, carpentry and mechanic work lined up. Not sure about the dump truck driving yet.

Have an applied calculus class to prepare and I'm thinking I'll get approval to add some pipe welding to the welding class. I'll have to practice! LOL

[MinnesotaDave]

Quality work is what I'm seeing!

Thanks moto

[Blocker]

I hope you get your pipe class approved. Do you let them weld any aluminum or other exotic materials?


Lincoln SA-250
Lincoln SW 200
Miller Thunderbolt

[welderj]

Is there enough space between those hitch pieces to go over his drawbar? Depending on what he pulls it with that looks tight. Otherwise very nice projects.

Jon

[MinnesotaDave]

I hope you get your pipe class approved. Do you let them weld any aluminum or other exotic materials?

I started a couple of them on tig aluminum towards the end of the year, they planned to take another course with me in the upcoming year so I ordered some aluminum for them.

[MinnesotaDave]

Is there enough space between those hitch pieces to go over his drawbar? Depending on what he pulls it with that looks tight. Otherwise very nice projects.

Jon

He said his hitch was a little over an inch and requested 1.5" clearance. It ended up a just little more than that so hopefully it's ok for him.

I drilled the 1-1/8" hole he requested with a standard 1" bit, then a step bit that was 1-1/8".
That step bit barely survived - what do you use for large holes?

[M J D]

He said his hitch was a little over an inch and requested 1.5" clearance. It ended up a just little more than that so hopefully it's ok for him.

I drilled the 1-1/8" hole he requested with a standard 1" bit, then a step bit that was 1-1/8".
That step bit barely survived - what do you use for large holes?

I have a set that is 1" thru 1.5" with 3/4" shanks. Bought it off eBay a year or 2 ago. Certainly not the best drills, but decent enough for the price.

[MinnesotaDave]

I have a set that is 1" thru 1.5" with 3/4" shanks. Bought it off eBay a year or 2 ago. Certainly not the best drills, but decent enough for the price.

Thanks, I will check into that. At least I can sharpen twist bits fairly easily.

[docwelder]

nice work dave. those welds look fine from where i'm sitting.

[mla2ofus]

The farmer's drawbar:

Weld hole closed, drill to 1-1/8", add a top bar drilled to match with dog-leg

You can see from the damage that the pin was much smaller than the hole.


3/16" 7018 to speed up the process.


Wood line up dowel.


Jig on the bottom of railroad track. Bend up to 90 deg, then quick tack the 2nd piece, bend down and let cool, cut welds to take out.


I shaped the top piece to match the bottom.

Dave, I can almost guarantee a 1 1/8" pin wont be used to hook up to the tractor.
Mike

[cloudman]

Your posts here nicely clear. Hope the weather is cooler than down here in the cities...

[MinnesotaDave]

Dave, I can almost guarantee a 1 1/8" pin wont be used to hook up to the tractor.
Mike

He said his pin is 1" and he wanted it 1-1/8" drilled - hope he's right

[MinnesotaDave]

Your posts here nicely clear. Hope the weather is cooler than down here in the cities...

Temps made it to 69 degrees today

...but the heat is on its way according to the weather guessers...

[MinnesotaDave]

nice work dave. those welds look fine from where i'm sitting.

Thanks - He's just too old to do it all himself anymore - and he was happy with them so I must have done ok