Sorta overlooked the forum here. I'm on WeldingWeb and some Machinists' sites.
Mid-life crisis is to get jiggy with some welding/fab work. Background has nothing to do with that. So finding work is a beach.
Just re-wired my (wooden) shop for my crackerbox, so i weld "out the door". I learned to strike an arc back in HS about 100 years ago, but moved away from the good program (AG, Columbia Central, TN) to a horrid waste-of-time program (AG, Murfreesboro Oakland, TN) so I quit all formal shop training at that time.
Later taught myself to O/A braze. Learned to O/A braze, Al Mig, FC Mig, and make bicycles on my own (fillet and lugged).
Blew out my total inheritance/reserves and then some with a failed business attempt/marriage. Still trying to crawl out of that hole.
So I find meself out of Acetylene, sold the MIG, only ever dreamed/drooled over TIG. With a crackerbox and determination.
Thanks for all the contributions. I'm re-learning STICK--and how useful it certainly can be. Been exploring the lower end of my machine (remember no O/A or MIG) with ultra small electrodes. Found I can tack/stitch sheet metal with 5/64 6013 and 1/8 7014 and a heatsink.
No bandsaw, no chopsaw, I'm really limited but am sticking all sorts of stuff together for practice (and to burn old electrodes/learn new ones). 7014 is new to me, and I'm liking. 7018--not interested in keeping it dry (yet). Have yet to need the punch of 6011 yet, but have some tractor parts that may demand it.
If the rain holds off, I'm working on the worn undercarriage of my sulky today. Patch/tack/build up the worn through corners. Probably will be 3/32 and 1/8 6013* and 3/32 7014 jobbie.
*Yes i'm well aware of the limitations of 6013. I've read all the posting and seen the vids. I work on thin stuff a lot and prefer to limit my over-penetrations.
I'll burn rod a/c every day until something nicer comes along. I've always been a nut for melting metals. Don't know why I waited so long to pursue it properly. (oh yeah, dumbth).
The bikes I made are of butted 4130 (like Zank* uses) where the thick parts are .035" and the thin parts are .020" ish. YES i fillet and socket brazed, which is not welding. But fitting up and heat control and alignment are big-boy metal working topics eh? Also I still plan to pursue bicycle making as soon as i get a JOB (any sort, but i'm mad for metal) and can keep myself in materials. Odd jobs is how i've been scraping by.
Buzz Box > No Power Source Atall.
*Mike Zanconato, a pal/remote mentor/role model.
here's a crotch shot from my first fillet bike. I want to get better always. Note head tubes and bottom bracket tubing are thicker than frame tubes. This is chain stays to bottom bracket and seat tube on my atb 3 years ago. Yes, not welding, but has some similarities.
