Since my GTI is now amongst the living, and won't require as much work anymore, I want to learn new ****. I am terrible at staying patient enough to be precise when I work, and the idea of measuring something (end play, pre-load, etc) fills me with dread. I've decided to build a frame for an A-based rod. Something simple, and it may not even be useable, but I want to go through the steps. I have a Lincoln 140v MIG (and gas), and I'm no stranger to metalwork, but I'm used to working with modern machines with unibody construction. A one-armed monkey with a drinking problem can weld sheetmetal into a unibody car. I know my 140 can work with 1/8" steel, if I am careful about the duty cycle, so it's time to practice. If I find that it's just not gonna cut it, or that it's pushing my meager skills to the limit, I'll upgrade machine so that what I build is actually safe to use.
So...anyone out there have any tips? I imagine I'll start by building a frame table that's level...test #1 for me. Then, I'll grab a nice chopsaw (oh darn, more tools...hehe) and some 2x3 0.125" rectangular tube.
That 2x4 idea is a good one. I've seen that before, and I was thinking I should probably find a body of some sort before I build a frame, haha. I really just want to go through the process of building something heavy duty, so that when I move ahead on a rod, I can decide if my skills are up to the par of making one myself. I'm going to start with a nice frame table first, that will double as a welding bench for future projects.
Princess auto has their 180MIG on sale for $270 today, so I might grab one to supplement my Lincoln 140. I know a lot of folks are against flux welding, but I've had great success with GOOD wire in my 140 (when I am too cheap to buy gas). That Lincoln innershield is pretty damn smooth. I'll grab some plate to practice on too. The father-in-law used to be a weld-checker for the big pipelines, so I can always get his opinion too.
Got the welder. I'm going to test it out tonight. I prefer the 'hit' of my buddy's 240v Lincoln to my little 110, so we'll see if the Chinese princess auto unit reacts the same way. I've got lots of 1/8" and 3/16" to play with and might do some reading on etching.
Anyone have any suggestions for places to get parts? I can't make phone calls during the day (plus, I f**kin hate calling people), and Canada seems pretty barren when it comes to online rod part shopping.
I'm going to say that I am really impressed with that PA welder. It's set up for flux, and I'm using some Lincoln innershield (my fav fluxcore wire) in 0.035" and with it on the highest heat setting, it did a number on some 3/16" plate I have. I made an 'L' out of metal, and wailed on it with a hammer. It bent ABOVE the weld, which never broke. I will be doing mostly 1/8" with it, so I'm a happy guy. I'm seriously considering swapping the regulator over from my 110v and giving it a try on gas.
