welding project

[Rich Jordan]

Tomorrow is my third (of six) welding class; I may sign up for another six afterwards. The first two were spent refamiliarizing and practicing on scraps. Available equipment includes a plasma cutter, light industrial size Miller MIG welders, band saw, grinders, punch press. The instructors want everyone to pick a project to make. This is CE so its not graded.

Last class I made an MFC (military fuel container) carrier out of angle steel that turned out OK. I was going to get some trailer jacks (the kind that mount up at the tongue but with a side, not top crank) and weld a top mount to attach to the Challenger's bumper mount locations, to hold the body up when I pull the rear axle and/or front K-frame, but the cost of those jacks even at Harbor Freight almost makes it more feasible to buy completed units (note the one I linked because it has a square tube despite needing a caster added). The round tube are cheaper but for an amachoor welder would be harder to attach brackets to and the tubes are much thinner (note the bracket shown is too low, I need to mount higher on the jack so the crank will clear the car).

That is still my fallback project. Another thought was putting together a benchmount stand to hold the 8-3/4 axle pig (currently my spare is clumsily bolted to an engine stand, which does not work well for the task) to make it easier to work on.

Looking for suggestions though for something useful or interesting that an untrained amateur can weld together without spending tons of money on material. The school will provide some metal, but anything big I have to get myself. Car related projects would be great, but anything will do.

Thanks!

[Highspeed]

Do you ever shoot\hunt out of your 4x4 ? - if so then how about a rifle rest that clips onto the door or window ?

[Denis]

If you do hunt and have a 4x4, I think a gantry crane to put on the back to lift and hang game for gutting would be a most useful addition. I was discussing recently with my brother how to make one for his pickup.

[Denis]

Do you ever shoot\hunt out of your 4x4 ? - if so then how about a rifle rest that clips onto the door or window ?

Lamping bunnies and foxes?

[Rich Jordan]

Pintle mount for paired M1 Garands maybe Makes me really miss my truck (which was a real 4x4)

"4x4" is a Jeep Liberty and I'm ashamed to say I don't hunt. Not opposed to it, fully approve of it, but I just don't.

Hmmm... maybe a nice imposing grill guard if I can get a deal on some heavy wall tube and thicker plate...

[Darrell]

Get your hands on a good 55 gal drum and make a charcoal grill/smoker.

[Rich Jordan]

Get your hands on a good 55 gal drum and make a charcoal grill/smoker.

I'd love to but wouldn't be able to use it. HOA has banned all smokers and charcoal grilles (even electric smokers).

I ended up working on the jack things for the Challenger; just couldn't come up with an alternate idea. Since I never had a chance to get to the store to buy one (work sucked this week) I just measured the frame areas where the bumpers attached and put together the part of the bracket that will bolt up there. I'll have to wait on the jacks to get measurements for the rest (which will attach these brackets to the jacks).

[Netpackrat]

Build yourself a cart for a set of oxygen and acetylene tanks.

[Termite]

Get your hands on a good 55 gal drum and make a charcoal grill/smoker.

I'd love to but wouldn't be able to use it. HOA has banned all smokers and charcoal grilles (even electric smokers).

WTH, over?!

Even gas grills?! Surely you jest.......

Next you'll tell us wood-burning fireplaces are banned......

[HTRN]

He lives in a condo. The condo board apparently banned them after some dumbass did something stupid that cost the condo board money.