My Dirt Devil build

[canaanp]

Hey everybody, I am new to kart building - new to welding - new to about all of this stuff! But I got the idea in my head that I would build one, even though I'd never welded before or anything like that.
I bought me a cheap walmart welder and some steel from the shop next to where I work at. I bought the dirt devil plans online and started my project.
I have a few pics to post, I'm looking for I guess advice on next steps and whatnot... my welding is not the best and I have been grinding the welds down flat. I dunno if you're supposed to or not supposed to do that, but I thought it looked better... does that make it too weak? Any feedback is welcome. Thanks.

I forgot to mention that I started this project with a crappy protractor and was basically guessing at a lot of the angles... now I have a good one, but my frame has deviated from the plans quite a bit.

 

[fowler]

it might help if u dont grind a couble back and show us so we can piont u in the right direction

 

[redsox985]

Did you practice welding at all before you started with the frame? From what I've done myself, I wouldn't trust my first welds with my life.

 

[canaanp]

lol yeah I practiced a bit... but then I got started on the frame when I thought I was ready. Later, I noticed that my technique was getting better and my results were getting better, so I actually went back and re-welded a lot of the first joints. Unfortunately, I can only spend a couple of hours a week on it because of work and stuff... but I will have some more progress and pictures available soon.

 

[gordon]

have you got some plans for the dirt devel ive always waned to make one and never found any plans for one

 

[mkuivama]

You can buy dirt devil plans here: www.diyden.net

 

[redsox985]

have you got some plans for the dirt devel ive always waned to make one and never found any plans for one

This is because they are copyrighted material. You can not find them legally for free. You either buy them or risk using a torrent, which could likely cause your computer to spontaneously combust. They are someone's intellectual property into which they put great time and effort. Sorry to be a super troll here, but we are against pirated, illegal material here.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

i see you dont have a guard or handle on that dewalt grinder.... why?

do you know what happens when you accidentally bend a disk crooked while cutting?

 

[canaanp]

i see you dont have a guard or handle on that dewalt grinder.... why?

do you know what happens when you accidentally bend a disk crooked while cutting?

Lol yeah I know what happens... the wheel comes apart at high speed and the chunks head straight for the operator. I have the gaurd off so that I can actually see what I'm cutting - this way the wheel will not get bent while cutting. Besides I wear my ppe while cutting, no worries.

 

[fowler]

it doesnt need to get bent to explode

iv had some wheels explode though wear and some were faulty

i was unlucky/stupid enough to be working in a tight space holding the grinder so the sparks were hitting me
when the disk exploded i got showered which bits of disk and i got many cuts to the face lucky i worn safty glasses but they were to badly scratched after that and i ditched them for a new pair

put the cover back on
i never have trouble seeing

 

[canaanp]

I've only had one blow up on me so far... it wasn't getting bent, and it only had about 3% used on it but for some reason it started to break apart and before I realized what was happening I was getting pelted by chunks in the belly and chest - but thank god not the face
Now I always have it held off to the side of my body just in case.

 

[fowler]

just put the guard back on

being as they are probs churded out at thousands a day in china somwhere there are going to be a few that fail

EDIT
i just read though the thread properly and all weve done is point out what two people are doing wrong

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I can't comment on the grinder thing, I do that too.

With regards to grinding the welds, I tend to not do that if it's structural, grinding only the aesthetic stuff. For example, I will make all the frame connections and leave the weld beads intact. When it comes time to cap all the open tube ends, I will grind those ones down for a cleaner look. Structurally, I think it's better to leave them, especially with tubing having a thinner wall. Visually, I find that good welds look- well, good...

BTW- Welcome to the forum!

 

[canaanp]

That is well said I think... except what if your welds dont look good? Lol I am using a wire feed welder with flux core, I have no gas option on this welder. I have found it nearly impossible to achieve a traditional looking bead. Maybe I've yet to zero in on the proper technique...

 

[Gillgamesh64]

If they look that bad or you think they did not work by all means grind back and go over tham again for a stronger weld... People get the idea in there head that big welds are good, But in reality small neat welds are best! Here is a rule i allways follow, your weld should be about the same thickness as the material you are welding. (But never thinner for obviouse resons!!)

 

[gokart14]

ya i bulit this same gokart i have a build log on here... but i tried to build without plans just using a picture bad idea.. i have alot of problems with it and i am probably just going to ditch the frame and buy SOME PLANS and build something else and use all the parts of the dirt devil but if you have nay questions i might be able to help you?
but are you using plans????? i would

 

[Doc Sprocket]

At this point, all I do is flux core. Practice, practice, practice...

 

[zunnie]

D D Drawings

Please I need some drawings and dimension about this Dirt Devil

like to buil wan for my son in Holland!!

Would be very nice so I can started building my frame

Thank you very much

Zunnie from Holland (Neer UK )

 

[theo]

Please I need some drawings and dimension about this Dirt Devil

like to buil wan for my son in Holland!!

Would be very nice so I can started building my frame

Thank you very much

Zunnie from Holland (Neer UK )

Buy the plans, don't be so freggen cheap.

 

[redsox985]

http://www.diyden.net/html/order.html

Click the above link to go directly to the page to order the plans from DIY Den, the creator and rightful owner of the Dirt Devil go kart plans. These are copyrighted property and cannot be rightfully shared with you. Sorry.