I finally got around to learning to weld and starting my front bumper build. As it stands I'm about 60% done with the front and will start the rear soon after. The welder I'm using is a borrowed 90amp Lincoln Handymig and I'm using .035 flux core wire.Pics so far(will happen next chance I can use my laptop):

 

Same here.. bout 80% done with the front. Then moving on to rear with a weld in reciever. Tools I've been using BluePoint plasma cutter Matco gas welder and whatever misc. stuff. Get some pics up I wanna see it.

 

Let's see.

 

 

you! shutup!

pics~!



frame plate pre-welding to the winch plate. its 1/4" steel and you can see how I cut a slot so that the bumper will be BEEF.


everything welded up and mounted. still need to drill more holes in it for a total of 7 grade 8 bolts per size. bumper goes anywhere and the whole front half my Jeep is going with it. I still haven't decided if thats a bad thing.








one of my fuglier welds. the welder i'm using lays really ****ty beads when it gets close to the duty cycle...on that weld was the first time I hit the duty cycle so I didn't realize what was going on. the rest look way better.

 

i noticed in that third pic... missing a lug nut? haha but seriously looks like a good start.

 

yeah been missing one for a while. one day it just up and dissappeared. I just torque the 4 I have left way down and its been fine. I've wheeled it and been driving it like that for a while. Next paycheck I'll probably get a full set of new lug nuts. then I'll have 19 spares!

 

Looks like a good start. Its funny though I am probably missing half of the chrome covers off of mine.

 

btw, where in CT are you? I grew up in the Stonington/Mystic area.

 

A few pointers if I may...

1. Weld Prep is the key to getting a clean weld.

2. A clean weld iwthout inclusions or porosity requires excellant weld prep.

3. Improperly prepared surfaces will not make for a clean weld.

4. Want good strong welds? start with a clean surface.

5. After grinding a bevel in the materials to be joint, make sure that your weld area is clean at least 1" on either side of the areas to be joined.




Have I mentioned how imporant a clean weld area is?

 

The secret of a clean weld is a decent welder.

 

I see a lot of "mill scale" still on the steel.. infact everywhere. You wont get a good weld with out prep work.

All this being said.. a different welding machine would have possibly made a better weld. A "stick" welder with 6013 could have made decent looking welds on dirty metal.

 

PingPong..mill scale? Excuse my ignorance.

 

lol. okay, okay, I get it, I need to clean up the metal with a grinder before I lay a bead on it. I'm definitely learning a ton and having a blast.

 

120 grit for prep, or a wire wheel.

60 or 36 to bevel your joints.