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Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:17 am
by bootsmagee
Hey guys, I'm a fresh newbie to welding and I'm having trouble finding an answer to a basic question; maybe there isn't one. When working on a large-sized project outdoors at home, if you have no shop floor to work on, how do you go about things with no true level surface to work from? Is there a solution? Obviously it would be best to use a welding table for most projects, but what if the project is much larger? I.E. fabricating a conveyor or other large construction?
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 7:50 pm
by Poland308
Job sites are rarely level! I use pipe stands that are adjustable to create a level surface. Or you can make a bench with lots of adjustment in the legs. There was a recent post of a bench someone made and you can see the threaded rod adjustable feet. Those would be used to create a level surface to work from.
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 2:54 am
by weldin mike 27
Use a theodolite or dumpy level. (the thing you look through to sight a point on a staff. That way you can pick a datum and make all your marks at the same point. Also string lines, and clear hose filled with water. Hold the tube with water up against your mark and the water at the other end of the tube will be exactly the same hight.
Mick
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 3:08 am
by WerkSpace
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:04 am
by Poland308
The new laser levels are good too. But sometimes hard to see in bright sun light.
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 12:17 pm
by MinnesotaDave
Most of the time I just use stands and sawhorses. Then level and wedge to suit.
String lines and water levels are great for longer/larger items where a level is just too darn short.
My laser level is indoor only unless I buy special targets to see the line.
Have not built anything out of metal large enough to need my transit yet
but an excellent idea.
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:08 pm
by bruce991
WerkSpace wrote:
Great way to put your starter strip on your house for siding also. Buddy calls it the Egyptian level.
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:14 pm
by Otto Nobedder
bruce991 wrote:WerkSpace wrote:
Great way to put your starter strip on your house for siding also. Buddy calls it the Egyptian level.
I've used it to build enormous decks around pools, and other obstacles, where laser levels are impractical. I learned it before laser levels existed.
Gravity is more accurate than anything you can buy from the Home Depot.
Steve S
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:34 am
by bootsmagee
Really useful beginner info here, guys. Thanks for all the responses and ideas!
Re: Stick welding outside, level surface.
Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 4:36 am
by weldin mike 27
no problems