Planning my first build...

[j.concepcion54321]

Hey guys, well ive been on the forum for a while now and ive had a few projects and i have 2 karts, and a minibike im working on. I just bought a HF 90 amp welder and im just learning to use it, but i can lay down a pretty strong bead, its ugly but itll hold. I want to make something But im not sure what

So im trying to decide wether i should make one of the following...

Reverse Trike
Barstool Racer
Mini Chopper
Taipan Buggy (Edge)
or ??????????

:toetap05: :toetap05: :toetap05:

What should i do?

 

[devino246]

It may hold, but not very well. Have you given your welds the hammer test?

 

[robotmickey]

These are sick...

http://324358.forumromanum.com/memb...adracer´s_bierkiste-meteoreisengummioxid.html

 

[r97]

I'm going to suggest you keep it simple for the first build. I think a simple minibike or kart would be good, of course add a few features to make it your own. IF you want to take on a bigger project I think either the mini chopper, or bar stool racer would be an okay choice if your up for the challenge.

The Taipan and the reverse trike are a bit more complicated. The Taipan will be more expensive, all in metrics, might require you design your own suspension, and not to mention its quite simply a large project. The reverse trike is a bit less involved, but still requires you to pay more attention to steering, weight distribution, wheel base, track width, etc.

That said I'm not going to stop you, so if you really want to take on a project such as the Taipan, go for it, but plan out as much as you can. For a bit of insperation, heres a video. I always liked the kart and minibikes in this video, simple, yet a bit different and lots of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC4VG7fC92o

P.S. Post up some pictures of the welds, a little guidance in welding goes a VERY long way.

 

[T-man]

I vote for the bar stool racer

 

[DCProductions]

I vote a buggy, but not the taipan. Try something custom or modify a rigid frame kart.

 

[j.concepcion54321]

ok guys tanksfor the replies. Im going to wait to the weekend to see which got the most votes. Heres some pics of my welds... sorry about the quality. blackberry doesnt make the best cameras

 

[j.concepcion54321]

also how difficult would it be to do something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF8XPssadpA&feature=channel_video_title

heres another vid of the same kart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc5-oo5Rx7Y&feature=related

I can possibly buy this and another quad frame for 50 dollars...

 

[racerc2000]

when you do your welds draw small circles as you pull the bead. and go slow. it takes some practice but penetration is what makes the weld strong

and good strong welds can be ground smooth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4RrDeUKcH4

 

[j.concepcion54321]

thanks, ill have to try it out when the sky clears up. so saturday or sunday ill get a chance to bust out the welder again and try my way at it. il also gonna try to cut some tube at 45 degree angles ant the end using my hf grinder to weld some pieces together into squares. That way i can test my welds on something more practical.

I think im going to go with the whole buy the quad chassis and build a kart off of it with full suspension, kinda like a homemade no plans arachnid from spiderkarts, or modify my yerfdog and make it like the video did by adding the suspension.

 

[devino246]

ok guys tanksfor the replies. Im going to wait to the weekend to see which got the most votes. Heres some pics of my welds... sorry about the quality. blackberry doesnt make the best cameras

DO NOT TRY TO BUILD A ANYTHING WITH THOSE WELDING SKILLS. I dont mean to be an @$$, but your clearly inexperienced. With welds like that, you'll be breaking joints right and left. Theres no consistency, no bead, just porous birds nests.

 

[j.concepcion54321]

DO NOT TRY TO BUILD A ANYTHING WITH THOSE WELDING SKILLS. I dont mean to be an @$$, but your clearly inexperienced. With welds like that, you'll be breaking joints right and left. Theres no consistency, no bead, just porous birds nests.

Thanks for looking out for me! that was my first day of welding. im going to keep working at it on small stuff until i get better, then ill be ready to take on the project. see my last post about welding on the weekend. I still havent worked out good welding speed, or amps, or the circular motion stuff etc. i just kinda went out and welded just to see.

 

[devino246]

Thanks for looking out for me! that was my first day of welding. im going to keep working at it on small stuff until i get better, then ill be ready to take on the project. see my last post about welding on the weekend. I still havent worked out good welding speed, or amps, or the circular motion stuff etc. i just kinda went out and welded just to see.

Alot of people new to welding move too quickly in circles and end up with a weld like yours. Remember if your going in circles, make the circles SMALL, like 3/16" diameter. Slow and steady makes a good weld. You'll go an inch in about 5-8 seconds.

 

[j.concepcion54321]

around what wire speed should i have? also im at low amps. is that good? right now i have the speed at like 4.5

 

[devino246]

around what wire speed should i have? also im at low amps. is that good? right now i have the speed at like 4.5

All welders are a bit different. What thickness is the metal your welding?

 

[j.concepcion54321]

idk. lol just pieces of scrap. tthat engine mounting thingy that i had above was pretty thick. i probably shouldve gone max on that one. but idk... ill mess with it some more on the weekend.

Also what do you recommend for my situation. i dont have the money for a helmet so i bought welding goggles. after welding for my first time i got a sunburn on my face because the goggles only cover the eye area and stuff. its going away now im just peeling but only my nose is left to go. lol. I noticed that the face shield the welder comes with would protect me from this so what should i do? use the goggles and the face shield? or.......???????

 

[fowler]

what
i didnt know u would get welding goggles

u are not useing brasing / ozy accetalene goggles are u

is it a sheild u got with the welder or an auto darkening hement (itll have a lens that looks like dark sun glasses)

 

[karl]

DO NOT USE GOGGLES FOR WELDING

The shade is like sunglasses and you will burn your eyes. Take a welding class of something before you hurt yourself or hurt yourself when your buggy falls apart. Not trying to be a d*ck but it will help alot. And dont weld in shorts and tennis shoes. Jeans, leather boots, cheap weld jacket and welding gloves.

 

[j.concepcion54321]

They are welding googles. And they have a flip down lens. And then I also have the face shield that came with the welder.

Should I buy the 2 quad rolling chassis for 50 bucks?

 

[racerc2000]

also. the price is not much different but get a auto darkening helmet

ive burned my eyes so many times using a fixed shade helmet. and after getting a auto darken helmet ive never done it again.

classes would be a great idea. but if your not looking for a cert and a job as a welder. watching some videos and reading info on welding settings should be plenty to get you started

also before you weld. make sure its shiny metal. all metal if old or fresh from the mill will need cleaning. a grinder or sanding disk can get rid of mill scale or other imperfections.

a flux core welder will get the job done but it will be hard to make pretty welds. if your welder has the option. after you get the hang of welding you can use shielding gas and your welds will become cleaner.