Welding Tips and Tricks

Was contracted to build a 10’x10’ loading ramp for a local Specialty Coating spray shop. Something to transition between 2 different concrete pads within their shop.

Design is to use C4/7.25 channel, split with 2x2x0.25 angle coped and welded 6” OC, then top the whole thing with 3/16” plate. Need is to support mostly vehicles up to 4 tons and the occasional small fork lift loaded to 7.5 tons total weight.

Saw cut the angle into lengths, made a jig to cope them with the plasma. Maybe start welding later this week after I get enough adult beverages in to rehydrate. (It’s well into 90s here with humidity to match and it’s still quite hot in the shop despite AC.)

CJ
any progress on the ramp?
Craig

Oh yeah. All done and installed. Took about 100 hours to turn 20’ raw stock into (5) 24” sections and cover with plate. Plus playing dangle games with a fork lift to flip, rotate, spin and install the damn thing. Weighed just over 2000# when done.

Got my 19yo plenty of hood time for some experience with a plasma and FCAW wire.

That’ll give you some idea of the process and work involved.

CJ
that was i nice job to pick up! looks great
cb

cj737 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:48 pm That’ll give you some idea of the process and work involved.

From the look on your fitters face I would say you might have been pushing him a bit hard.
Looks nice!

Poland308 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 11, 2021 8:21 pm

cj737 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:48 pm That’ll give you some idea of the process and work involved.

From the look on your fitters face I would say you might have been pushing him a bit hard.
Looks nice!

Ha! Two of my boys. The elder is seated, the younger is running wire. Make the “young gun” do all the grunt work

Nice work, that come up looking nice even and straight. Did the concreatures give you a good pad work with or did you have to ad subtract bits to get it to sit flat?

Gdarc21 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:47 am Nice work, that come up looking nice even and straight. Did the concreatures give you a good pad work with or did you have to ad subtract bits to get it to sit flat?

We “plumb cut” each of the legs parallel to the floor once onsite. The rung sections I fabbed off-site, then assembled in place onsite, tailoring as we went to insure fitment and square. It took 2 full days onsite to adjust based upon the conditions, plus fully welding everything out (sections together, sections to top plate from underside ((not shown)).

Had to use a fork lift to hoist, swing and flip the thing as it weighed just above 2000#. The sections are welded to a 6x6x3/8 angle which is then bolted to the platform for safety. The whole thing will get coated with LineX (it’s for a LineX shop conveniently) for traction and durability.

Well you can be proud of that job. Making happy happen is
always 70 percent plans and 30 flexibility of the fabricator on site jobs.
Good pics

great job CJ. Tell the youngins ... GOOD ON THEM too.