Finished up the two seams on the inner sidewalls. First time running sidehill, and it was the best of times and almost the worst of times.
Taking my time with this little guy. Tacking it up slowly. It's my wood chunk door. May get started on the smoker door tonight. Got a brisket to trim for Friday night and 4 racks of SLC's cooling in the freezer.
The internal door frame for the smoke chamber door is installed and I should be done welding on it by tomorrow night. I want the front end sealed up and the wood chunk door attached by Saturday night.
I just made the most hideous oxy-acetylene cut in the world. Black goggles, black line, not a lot of sunlight, probably running a little too hot, woof. I think maybe I was a little too excited getting the torch set so quick after a 29 year hiatus. I do have the smallest tip on, I just wasn't moving fast enough, nor straight enough. Hilarious
I'll definitely have the white chalk and an angle iron guide when I really need a straight cut.
Air intakes. The 45 on the end diverts flow towards the middle, and making it in two pieces allows the insertion of wire to prevent critters from entering.
Dude, I am way way way behind you, but I had a good time today. I started some of what you've been doing for quite a while. But I've got some plans... big plans.
Here's what I did today.
First try, had a little problem with my welding pulling one of my legs inward, I believe.
As you can see, it ended up not quite square. That's ok, it was just a practice piece, I think we'll use it as a sliding barn door handle. It'll be fine.
Next try was for the money, lot of time laying out, measuring, remeasuring, etc. Didn't use a chop saw, which probably would have been smarter, just a grinder with cutoff wheel and flap disc.
Very pleased at the end of it all, I will gain more skill and pick up speed I hope. But, it's all going to work out.
This is meant to be the piece marked in red in this mockup of my front axle and steering system.
So hey, it's a start. I'm happy, it was a fun day.
Oh, and this...
Bet you didn't get to do THAT with your smoker! lol
It has been decades since I’ve had to do any serious welding, and I‘m sure others here have some better tips, but we were taught to weld the inside and outside corners first to reduce distortion so you get a 90 degree angle. Then do the other welds.
Yeah, the inside corner on that joint has the most leverage. Those can be a pain. You almost have to tack the crap out of it, and just weld where it needs pulling. I've seen guys weld it out of square, so when they weld that inside corner last it pulls back in square.
I'll get to an offset and some soapy fun when I move out to the country.
Correcting a booboo. Installed front side air intakes. Things are pretty much sealed on the inside on front side and sides. I'll run a final check once I get the back wall up and all the slag cleaned out and surfaces polished.
After welding the inside I hoped to get some of the outside plate walls welded by 2 a.m. Problems- 1. I wanted to seal the bottom welds on the pipes from the other side (forgot about that), 2. MORON FORGOT TO INSTALL INSULATION !!
Realized the above this morning shortly after waking up, which was about 8 hrs after I not only tacked all 4 corners, but sealed each plate with a beautiful 4+" bead across the top.
New plates. With insulation tucked neatly behind them. The rear intakes will be installed pre-innerwall installation. That's fo sho.
Inside back wall. Once in and tacked I can lay it down. Didn't want to move it too much before my inner door frames were set. Will have to bring it back up to tack sidewalls, then back down again.
If things don't go well at least I know what she looked like before she fell over.
Success...for now.
I'll have to tarp it down, plenty rain later in the week. I can also start on the smoker door and install, but may have to remove to finish, it's gonna be pretty heavy.
HawkerXP It's going up pretty much with what she went down with, given I can get the door off. I'll see how the pole acts on the way up, she was giving a little on the way down. I could lift up the front end off the ground so it ain't that much.
No way. I'm thinking a PR colour, Partial Rust. I will brush down and coat with oil. I would use a flap disc to shine it up real nice but I don't have 150 more years to live.
Comment