I would like to build a set or front and rear bumpers for my xj. I'm new to fab, but would like to pick it up. I have everything to weld with an OA torch. I'm going to college so money is tight and other forms of welding are not an option. I have plenty of scrap metal. Where should I start?

 

With a MIG welder. You are not going to get a good weld with a OA setup. Sorry!!!

 

x2
OA welding is much closer to soldering, not going to be strong enough to hold a bumper together. Check local craigs lists, check pawn shops, or better yet, go take a community college metal shop class...the shop fees are way cheaper than buying your own gear, someone will teach you how to use the gear correctly, and schools usually get better bulk deals on materials than you will on your own. (pluss a school will probably have a tubing bender!)
--Todd--

 

i have to agree the thickness of material is not enough for a torch you really need a mig or wire welder that can handle the thickness you want to weld. look on craigslist i see welders on there all the time and for a cheap price to like 300 for a miller 175 with tank that i saw the other day that is hard to beet and will weld pretty thick metal

 

whats up kitsap? like my bumper? if you wanted one less intricate my buddy and I could make one for about 6-700 which is cheap in the bumper world

 

cant really sww mine well but i built mine in 4 hours with bottle jack tube bender and a small flux-core crackerbox welder. i just sold it to some kid for 150 bucks. building a new one now and should have pictures up soon. if you can weld, its really easy to make your own. just get 2in. 40gauge pipe n ur set. once new pics are up tell me what y'all think. pay for shipping and name price i'll build you one too.

 

Picked this up on EBay for like $150 and seems to work great. Cheaper than I could build it for.

 

Come fellas, give the OP a break. He asked a question about BUILDING a bumper so quit trying to sell him a bumper.


Where to start? Easy! As stated before, get a MIG Welder....and practice, practice, practice. The last thiing you want to do is start bolting stuff onto your rig that is weak and potentially dangerous (to you and others) until you've learned how to properly join two pieces of steel together.

A couple links to get ya started.
http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/BldgC...lding01_v2.asp

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...--MIG-Welding/

http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_491_mig-weld.html

 

better yet look for a place where you can use a TIG welder. it will take a little practice but welds look much cleaner and once you got it down you'll be able to mig anything with your eyes closed. stay away from aluminum tho until after you're good with steel

 

I agree with redhandstudios. You'll get full access to all sorts of crazy equipment, along with knowing HOW to use it. From there you can try different welders, find the ones you like, etc and find out what you like before comminting to a welder. OA torch isnt good with thick metal, its more for the really thin stuff. And its crazy hard in my opinion, although i've only tried it once.

But thats just my $.02

 

who can build me a bumper like this for 150 to 200 bucks?

 

to me it looks like a JCR bumper with some other tubing attched

 

can anyone make that i want one

 

OA aint gonna be enough, you can pick a flux core from harbor freight pretty cheap, ive got a craftsman one that my father inlaw give me and its made by clarke so im bettin the harbor freight ones are gonna be about the same quality just not the same badge

 

that second bumper is on evans jeep now