welding (newbie q's)
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,680
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From: Montreal Canada
welding (newbie q's)
I've never welded before. But I want to learn.
I want to build a cage to put on the back of my pickup (2008 Mazda b-2300). I use the truck mainly for small deliveries and junk removal. I need something light enough it won't weigh the truck down too much. But strong enough it won't break.
I want to be able to pile boxes in there to about the height of the top of the cab, or just fill it with trash bags. I want a metal frame that sits into the stake holes, and then fill in the rest with some sort of mesh.
What's a good gage metal for me to work with, and equipment that I could plug into a 120 or 220 volt outlet?
I want to build a cage to put on the back of my pickup (2008 Mazda b-2300). I use the truck mainly for small deliveries and junk removal. I need something light enough it won't weigh the truck down too much. But strong enough it won't break.
I want to be able to pile boxes in there to about the height of the top of the cab, or just fill it with trash bags. I want a metal frame that sits into the stake holes, and then fill in the rest with some sort of mesh.
What's a good gage metal for me to work with, and equipment that I could plug into a 120 or 220 volt outlet?
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
1 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1/8" wall CR (cold rolled, no mill scale & smoother) 1020 box tubing will fit the stake holes nicely
A piece of 1 1/2" angle top & bottom to frame and cap them.
Flattened expanded metal mesh will let the wind through and be much easier to weld to the frame.
Also less likely to cut and tear both you and anything you're carrying.
The best place to buy would be your local Iron Works.
20' is considered a full length for rolled goods and it will be cheaper without the cut charge.
Mesh can be had in 2x8' and it seems that would work well for you.
Unless you have an account with a regional steel supplier home delivery cost would be prohibitive.
I have a little 120V MIG welder and it would seem ideal for a project like this.
I bought it for $100 used from my MAC tools driver and it is just another rebranded Italian Cebora welder. The American brands may be nicer, but mine works fine for light fabrication, exhausts and the like.
I used to buy my consumables from Daytona Mig. They were easy to deal with, knew their product and shipped fast.
Sadly they seem to have disappeared.
A piece of 1 1/2" angle top & bottom to frame and cap them.
Flattened expanded metal mesh will let the wind through and be much easier to weld to the frame.
Also less likely to cut and tear both you and anything you're carrying.
The best place to buy would be your local Iron Works.
20' is considered a full length for rolled goods and it will be cheaper without the cut charge.
Mesh can be had in 2x8' and it seems that would work well for you.
Unless you have an account with a regional steel supplier home delivery cost would be prohibitive.
I have a little 120V MIG welder and it would seem ideal for a project like this.
I bought it for $100 used from my MAC tools driver and it is just another rebranded Italian Cebora welder. The American brands may be nicer, but mine works fine for light fabrication, exhausts and the like.
I used to buy my consumables from Daytona Mig. They were easy to deal with, knew their product and shipped fast.
Sadly they seem to have disappeared.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Horse wire panels are great for this. About 1/8" round bars interlinked in about a 2" square pattern, not very expensive at most farm supply stores as well. I have also used chain link with good results, but it can be pretty heavy. Either is easier to cut and also easier on the hands than expanded metal, as well as stronger.
When building the box, set it up and tack all the pieces together in place, then pull it off and weld it up.
A used Miller would be my first option for a welder, they have some pretty decent units especially once you get into 220v stuff, but most of what they sell can be had with what they call auto-line, which automatically adjusts to pretty much any input voltage.
When building the box, set it up and tack all the pieces together in place, then pull it off and weld it up.
A used Miller would be my first option for a welder, they have some pretty decent units especially once you get into 220v stuff, but most of what they sell can be had with what they call auto-line, which automatically adjusts to pretty much any input voltage.
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