Scrap metal art or projects

[psacustomcreations]

I cut an aluminum 80 scuba tank in half and turned it into a trophy case. The outside is 1/2" thick while the shelves are 1/8".
I used the Dynasty 200DX set to 200 amps, 75 balance, 150 frequency, 1/8" E3 Tungsten, 1/8" 4043 filler and 100% medical grade helium.
The welds are mediocre and part of that is due to the following, my hands shake bit sometimes and when trying to rotate the torch and feed the rod, I end up touching the tungsten to the puddle, the filler to the tungsten or the filler seems to arc to the side of the cylinder making it stick for a second.
I lay the cylinder on its side, clamp the shelf in place and start from the middle and work to the outer edge. I rotate the cylinder and try left handed doing the same or sometimes resting my right hand on the shelf and rotating the torch to the outer edge.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Edit: I guess I will post pics after the site maintenance is complete

[psacustomcreations]

Edit: I guess I will post pics after the site maintenance is complete.

I just tried to post pics and still can't seem to do it

[psacustomcreations]

Once more: I cut an aluminum 80 scuba tank in half and turned it into a trophy case. The outside is 1/2" thick while the shelves are 1/8".
I used the Dynasty 200DX set to 200 amps, 75 balance, 150 frequency, 1/8" E3 Tungsten, 1/8" 4043 filler and 100% medical grade helium.
The welds are mediocre and part of that is due to the following, my hands shake bit sometimes and when trying to rotate the torch and feed the rod, I end up touching the tungsten to the puddle, the filler to the tungsten or the filler seems to arc to the side of the cylinder making it stick for a second.
I lay the cylinder on its side, clamp the shelf in place and start from the middle and work to the outer edge. I rotate the cylinder and try left handed doing the same or sometimes resting my right hand on the shelf and rotating the torch to the outer edge.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I am going to try to post pics from imgur to see if this works

[Bistineau]

This one is also weld metal only. It was made with the same aluminum electrical wire as my other ones. I looked at my own hand, welded a little, looked at my hand some more, then welded some more, etc.

Attachment 1217131

Rich

WOW, apparently you have NO FINGERNAILS.

[steelsurgeon]

I was born without any...

Rich

[psacustomcreations]

I picked up a Pexto 16 gauge slip roller recently and needed to clean it up. I ended up stripping it down, cleaning and repainting everything. I still need to wipe off some of the grease and put some casters on it. At least it is usable now.

[VPT]

Very nice! What does the gear side look like under the cover?

[psacustomcreations]

Very nice! What does the gear side look like under the cover?

I made the mistake of not taking pics when I took the gear side apart. When I stripped it all down I tried to put everything in order so I could re-assemble it. It ended up being a bit of a rush job since I had to travel and did not want to wait until I returned to re-assemble it. I knew I would forget how things went back together. I had the manual from Pexto, but it wasn't that helpful

[Glidertow]

My grandfather told me there was no such thing as "scrap metal". Lol

[psacustomcreations]

My grandfather told me there was no such thing as "scrap metal". Lol

My grandfather used to say the same thing. I think I inherited those genes from him.


This project was for several pieces of wall art made from old aluminum scuba tanks and few pieces of aluminum pipe. The customer had very specific measurements to make them fit. I ended up welding both sides. They were then cleaned up, sanded a bit and then painted with a satin brushed nickel metallic paint.

[Northern Light]

Several years ago my welding hand started shaking. I was trying to weld some 4130 on a Supercub fuselage and I couldn't figure out what was happening. After a while of doing ****ty welds i went to a neurologist, and he diagnosed me with an essential tremor. I told the doctor that it was going to be hard to learn to weld with my left hand and he said that it wasn't necessary. He prescribed some blood pressure pills that I take before I weld and the shaking stops. Another friend who is probably one of the best welder that I know had a pacemaker put in and he can't electric weld any more. It really pains him to hire his welding out to someone who doesn't have his skills.

[psacustomcreations]

Several years ago my welding hand started shaking. I was trying to weld some 4130 on a Supercub fuselage and I couldn't figure out what was happening. After a while of doing ****ty welds i went to a neurologist, and he diagnosed me with an essential tremor. I told the doctor that it was going to be hard to learn to weld with my left hand and he said that it wasn't necessary. He prescribed some blood pressure pills that I take before I weld and the shaking stops. Another friend who is probably one of the best welder that I know had a pacemaker put in and he can't electric weld any more. It really pains him to hire his welding out to someone who doesn't have his skills.

I know I need to get checked out but also realized today that my hand started shaking a bit when I was about 3/4 of the way finished. I thought it was from being a bit tired so took a break and took the dog for a walk in the woods. Came back and finished up and seemed to be OK.

[psacustomcreations]

I posted this in the tools thread but may as well post it here as well since this led to the next project.
I picked up this Tennsmith 16 gauge stomp shear at a Government auction for a good price. It is the 52 inch wide model and I got it with a Pexto 16 Gauge slip roller.
Both had been left out in the rain for a while so I had a bit of work to do to get them cleaned up and working. I already posted some pics of the slip roller so this one is devoted to the stomp shear.

I received the manual from Tennsmith and then had to re-arrange my shop a bit so that the tool locations made a bit more sense and I could use them better.

The stomp shear had a lot of surface rust and the blade would not go down all the way. I removed the guard and cleaned it so I could re-paint it. Since it so close to Christmas and the weather is supposed to be wet and nasty this week I decided just to clean up the rest of the shear and get it operational. I also need to see if I had to send the blades out to be re-sharpened. One of the pieces of all thread was bent so I had to replace that as well.

Once I took the blades off I saw they were in pretty good condition. I also realized the bottom blade was put on wrong. That may be the reason it was being sold.

The adjustments of the linkage, jibs and blade gap went pretty well but I would suggest doing them in a different order than they appear in the manual. The order I have them listed seemed to work best for me.

Right now it is adjusted so that it cuts a sheet of newspaper cleanly cross almost the entire length. There a few inches where it folds the paper instead of cutting it. It cuts thin (approximately 26 gauge) sheet with no problem.

[psacustomcreations]

After partially re-habbing the Tennsmith stomp shear and moving my Atlas Lathe, I needed some more overhead light for the lathe.

I made my design in my version of sketch-up.


After that, I selected my material from the scrap pile. These were railing uprights I was asked to replace as a quick job for a friend.


The obligatory welding shot


The project laid out for assembly and then installed.

[VPT]

Nice work and nice shear!

[psacustomcreations]

Nice work and nice shear!

Thanks

[psacustomcreations]

I made a few pistol targets out of scrap metal. The first is like a weather vane and has four targets. It pivots with each shot and due to the V shape cut into the center pipe it settles back facing you. It was kind off a proof of concept and test piece. The step and extra spike was made from a large nail. Two targets were made from 1/8" plate and two were made from 1/4". I knew the 1/8" would stop 22LR and the 1/4" would stop other pistol calibers. I ended up shooting a piece of the 1/8" with the 9mm by accident.

Before anyone mentions it, we shoot from about 50 feet and wear eye and ear protection.


This target is a 10-1/2" diameter circle off 1/4" plate. I put two pieces of chain on it so it has a slight forward lean.

[psacustomcreations]

I finished up some random projects this weekend. Book ends made from bicycle parts, business card holders from bicycle parts or scrap.

[Equilibrium]

Awesome use of a spring. Great work... as always!!!!

[psacustomcreations]

I made these snowmen based off an idea I saw here. I had to knock them out now before I forgot about the idea. They are made from old scuba tanks. I will probably make some without the hat and put a pink ribbon on them to show they are female

[psacustomcreations]

I got the idea of making a reactive target from a friend. These are made for a 22LR and the idea is you start out with the black squares facing you. if you shoot it it will rotate one way and yellow will appear, if it rotates the other way the red will appear. You have to take turns shooting an see who can get all theirs first. Since you are shooting at the same targets, it can make it challenging.
I made it so that it is collapsible for easy storage

[psacustomcreations]

I was asked to make a going away present for a senior member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Dive Team. They will provide the nameplate.

There wasn't a whole lot of welding except for attaching the shepherds hook to a plate that screws on the bottom of the wooden base.

[rob214]

did this one this week.

rob

[psacustomcreations]

Rob,
Another nice piece from you. If you don't mind, what do you use to make the tires?

[rob214]

thanks, i use 3/8" and 1/2" round stock

rob