Looking Forward to getting and giving help

Status
Not open for further replies.

gjpgonzo

New member
Messages
109
Reaction score
0
Location
Boston Area
I very much look forward to getting some help on my go kart build, and then passing on that information on to someone else who may need some help.
I am a total beginner, very good mechanically but have never welded, so I am a little nervous about that, any hints or guides would be very much appreciated.
Thank you
 

OzFab

Well-known member
Messages
15,615
Reaction score
66
Location
Warwick Qld, Australia
Check your local trade schools & colleges for short welding coarses or ask around your friends to find someone who can teach you; if your friends don't weld, they may know someone who does...
 

FearTheBeard

New member
Messages
41
Reaction score
0
Location
Triad of NC
Welcome, this site can help you do a lot. Are you wanting to build one from scratch? Being a beginner I would buy a cheap used kart and work on it to learn the basics first.
 

firemanjim

Just kartin' around....
Messages
5,247
Reaction score
83
Location
Houston Texas
:welcome2::iagree: You might find it to be cheaper and easier to learn a little. Either way,good luck and we are here for guidance . Ask as many questions as needed...:thumbsup: Thats how you learn and there are no dumb questions..... :cheers2:
 

gjpgonzo

New member
Messages
109
Reaction score
0
Location
Boston Area
Thank you all.
Well I found a friend of a friend who has been welding for a long time, and he is more than willing to come over to the garage and help teach us. I did look at local trade schools but, they were 10 weeks long and tought all kinds of welding, at the moment I am only looking how to mig weld, if I enjoy welding as much I think I am going to, I might take the course after this project.

The garage is clean, and the tools are ordered. I want to run a dedicated 20 amp circuit to the garage and add a little more lighting before we begin.

OK my first question: I live in Saugus MA. Anyone know of a supplier for the tubing I will need for the go-kart?
 

gjpgonzo

New member
Messages
109
Reaction score
0
Location
Boston Area
Found this at grainger. The plans call for 1 1/8" x .083 chromemoly tube. Think I can use this?


http://www.grainger.com/product/DYNAFORM-RD-Tube-4ATR2?s_pp=false
 

OzFab

Well-known member
Messages
15,615
Reaction score
66
Location
Warwick Qld, Australia
That may be a little heavy; the important dimension is the wall thickness. The plans call for 0.083" but, that tube is 0.125". If you're worried about strength, it's better to increase the diameter of the tube rather than the walll thickness; 1 1/4" x 0.065"-0.085" will do fine. Also, it's better (& usually cheaper overall) to find tube in longer lengths; most steel mechants sell tube in 20' lengths...

What plans do you have?

Great news that you found a friend willing to teach you to weld, give him a pat on the back from me :thumbsup:
 

gjpgonzo

New member
Messages
109
Reaction score
0
Location
Boston Area
ok, profile is done. all tools have been purchased. only one thing stopping me now...POWER! Just realized all the garage's power is all on one 15amp circuit and the mater bedroom (if I could only get my hands on the past owner!) so I will be running 3 20amp circuits this weekend and adding more lighting.

I have a question about tube bending: my friend has a tube bender/roller the kind with the BIG wheel that you turn does a nice job for circules but can I get 90 deg out it?
 

machinist@large

Active member
Messages
2,865
Reaction score
28
Location
West Michigan, 49331
ok, profile is done. all tools have been purchased. only one thing stopping me now...POWER! Just realized all the garage's power is all on one 15amp circuit and the mater bedroom (if I could only get my hands on the past owner!) so I will be running 3 20amp circuits this weekend and adding more lighting.

I have a question about tube bending: my friend has a tube bender/roller the kind with the BIG wheel that you turn does a nice job for circules but can I get 90 deg out it?

AFAIK, all tube benders will do at least 90°, 110° to be precise, allowing for springback

Are you talking about the tube roller that HF sells, or an actual tubing bender? If its the one I'm thinking of, it's not designed for tight bends; an actual tube bender (not a PIPE bender) will firmly anchor one end of the tube as close as possible next to the start of the bend; and yes, you can do 180* bends on most units. HF also lists one of those, but I haven't seen one lately, so I can't give any advise one way or the other on it.

For myself, unless I trip over a quality industrial unit for pennies on the $, I'm going to have to build the :censored: thing from scratch.....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top