Great Dane excavating co.

[Cooper]

And just because I'm jealous of reg's slow-n-low truck I made one!! We'll sort of ,,, I can say slow but not low!!! See reg you are an inspiration!!

[RCP57]

Did you say I smelled like perspiration?lol

Looks great! I knew you could make it out of aluminum!

[Cooper]

Sorry, darn phone!! I forgot to add the slow and not so low pic for reg!!

[Cooper]

Originally Posted by RCP57

Did you say I smelled like perspiration?lol

Looks great! I knew you could make it out of aluminum!

I had a couple welds pop on me after grinding down. Didn't have enough amps on the 3/16 and 1/4" side rails. Re-welded them and better. Slowly getting better at inside corners. Luckily none of them will be too visible!! And hopefully by time I get to inside the bed I'll be making better looking welds. But those will probably be ground down also to keep the inside of bed smooth.

[bigford]

cnc mini mill scientific calculator. im begining to wonder about you

[Cooper]

I argued with my elementary teachers about not needing to learn math or spelling because computers would self correct and always be doing it for you!!! Geezzzz that was back in the 80's ,,, and I still can't add or spell correct!! Wonder who was correct then?!?! Only problem now is my "smart" phone keeps trying to change words I can't spell!!!! Lol!!!! Played with lots of explosives and still have all my fingers and toes!!

My favorite T-shirt!!

[Mikem]

I don't think slow is here I think by Sunday that truck will dump ! Looking great !

[JAMMER]

Hi Cooper your not old you will know when you are old they will put air bags on you wheel chair. Ed

[Cooper]

Lol!! Guys!!!






Well,,, got one side done with very little distortion. Took your advise Steve and drilled holes in back. 1/4" holes, might go a little bigger on other side. Had a hard time at first getting puddle on frame without melting side plate. Did preheat, probably not enough as after a coupleholes it started getting easier. Heated up a bit more I think. Had to turn up to max amps, 255 amps reading on machine. Max amps at first got a puddle on frame and then backed down to ? Couldn't see machine while welding. The last pic is where I forgot to back off peddle and I think I floored it, melting a bit too much. Still learning I know!!! Hopefully grinding down the welds wouldn't reveal holes but if so as long as a little bit is welded together I can always fill in some.

[doodlebug]

Lol! Had to re read! Was hoping your plate wasn't getting pimples!
Looks good!
Cheers.

[bigford]

aluminator jr. in training!! nice work

[Northern Farmer]

Those are some pretty clean welds Cooper Keep up the hard work!

[headers]

Your doing a great job looking very good

[ihbuilder]

Great job Cooper . Now the fun part, welding up the whole body .

[ihbuilder]

Originally Posted by doodlebug

Lol! Had to re read! Was hoping your plate wasn't getting pimples!
Looks good!
Cheers.

Yep, spot welding without a spot welder I never tried with the tig, so Coop is my guinea pig on this 1

[RCP57]

I struggle with this as well. It is very difficult to get the heat into the thicker plate without melting the sh!t out of the sheet or warping it. With it being welded all the way around it probably doesn't really need to be welded from the back but it will be super-cooper strong this way! I usually weld things way more than they need to be too. I'm trying to get better about it but once I start running a bead it's hard to stop.

[bigford]

reg likes beads???

[Mikem]

Flower child

[Cooper]

Oh now ya tell me Steve,,, lol!! Thin to thin stuff would probably be easier. Having the base being the thicker stuff the thin wanted to retreat really fast. As soon as a decent puddle on thick base I just jammed a lot of filler rod in quick. Filled up well. And have to have it clamped down very close or it heat buckles. But it works. For me, I don't know what I'm doing so I don't know if something can't be done. Ignorance is a virtue!?!

Ran out of gas till Monday so I figured out what to make/bend.




My little 3 in 1 shear was having a hard time bending 16 gauge alum that wide, forgot heat is aluminums arch rival, a quick heat with the torch and she started bending. It's not tacked but just sitting in there till Monday.

[bigford]

you need a LARGE gas tank