Arc Welding...Any Experts ?

[Crossy]

Might look into that....but prefer to do it meself....might try welding a piece of flat steel on top of the frame with the mesh inbetween......long way round but.

Self tappers may be the way forward rather than welding, but I reckon you're on the right track.

[necronx99]

Also....anyone had any experience fastening the thin wire mesh to the frame....wondering best method. Don't want to tie with wire, looks ugly.....way to thin to weld.

Solder.

Is that a realistic option ?? Strong and holds solidly to steel ??

I remember soldering in tech school....but not much.

No, you could only solder wire to wire and it would take some technique.

Honestly? I would use cable ties or perhaps small hose clamps if you don;t want to wire it on. If your bird wire is reasonably stiff and you fold it neatly around the frame it wont take much to keep it there. This would also make it easier to reuse the wire once your frame falls apart

[samsiam]

the frame will not fall apart...there will be enough paint to hold it together.

[samsiam]

Today was not a good day.

Burnt my hair.....then red hot slag landed on my cotton gloves....normally the sparks do not matter as they bounce off your skin...but the gloves caught the slag and it melted through to my hand......then as I pulled my left hand away....the one holding the welding mask...my right hand jerked upwards and hit the steel frame in front of my face and i got flashed again.......not to mention my thongs catching several large chunks of slag.

But here is the masterpiece so far....I have named the centre piece 'Leonardo'..

http://www.coolthaihouse.com/forum/download/file.php?id=15700&t=1

http://www.coolthaihouse.com/forum/download/file.php?id=15699&t=1

[necronx99]

Today was not a good day.

Burnt my hair.....then red hot slag landed on my cotton gloves....normally the sparks do not matter as they bounce off your skin...but the gloves caught the slag and it melted through to my hand......then as I pulled my left hand away....the one holding the welding mask...my right hand jerked upwards and hit the steel frame in front of my face and i got flashed again.......not to mention my thongs catching several large chunks of slag.

But here is the masterpiece so far....I have named the centre piece 'Leonardo'..

http://www.coolthaih...hp?id=15700&t=1

http://www.coolthaih...hp?id=15699&t=1

Lol, You have trees, wouldn't it be cheaper and safer just to put some birdfeeders out?

[samsiam]

That tree that you see....believe it or not....is inside the national park.

[klikster]

Get a bucket of ice and mix a large pitcher of G &T. Sit back put your feet up and hire somebody the has a oxyacetylene rig to tack it for you. If you try to do it with what you have, you'll flash more than just your eyes!

Might look into that....but prefer to do it meself....might try welding a piece of flat steel on top of the frame with the mesh inbetween......long way round but.

You might try folding the cut ends of the wire over between the steel strap and frame before you weld or screw it in place.

[andrew55]

Burnt my hair.....then red hot slag landed on my cotton gloves....normally the sparks do not matter as they bounce off your skin...but the gloves caught the slag and it melted through to my hand......then as I pulled my left hand away....the one holding the welding mask...my right hand jerked upwards and hit the steel frame in front of my face and i got flashed again.......not to mention my thongs catching several large chunks of slag.

Keep a video on while your working. I gotta see some of this.

You're obviously a bit of a natural at this sort of stuff Sam. I've got you as a cross between Basil Fawlty and Homer Simpson.

Have fun with it mate.

Edited February 15, 2012 by andrew55

[Kwasaki]

Might look into that....but prefer to do it meself....might try welding a piece of flat steel on top of the frame with the mesh inbetween......long way round but.

Way to go but drill and screw it, give your eyes a rest.

Edited February 16, 2012 by Kwasaki

[Soutpeel]

Today was not a good day.

Burnt my hair.....then red hot slag landed on my cotton gloves....normally the sparks do not matter as they bounce off your skin...but the gloves caught the slag and it melted through to my hand......then as I pulled my left hand away....the one holding the welding mask...my right hand jerked upwards and hit the steel frame in front of my face and i got flashed again.......not to mention my thongs catching several large chunks of slag.

But here is the masterpiece so far....I have named the centre piece 'Leonardo'..

http://www.coolthaih...hp?id=15700&t=1

http://www.coolthaih...hp?id=15699&t=1

Not sure where you live, but based on your progress so far as regards getting burnt, flash etc.....why do I see a news paper head line in your furture...."Farang commits sucide by burning/electocuting himself while building a birdhouse.....Police have throughly invested the case and concluded Thai materials, welding rods, and electrical supply not to blame LOL

[wayned]

From the looks of your pictures, dispite your injuries, it looks like you are progessing well. But if you are planning to attach thin wire mesh you wont be able to do it without buring through the wire with what you are using, even if you get 1.6mm rods. If you use chain link it will work, but the openings are? OX/Act will do the job but if not available use steel tie wires, better than tie wraps. As far as another post about only being able to solder wire to wire, that is not true. The thing is that the materials have to be the same for proper heat transfer. Rain gutters are sheet metal and they are soldered, copper pipes are sweat soldered. Iv'e done both and it works just fine.

Edited February 17, 2012 by wayned

[samsiam]

Laugh all you want....I have progressed to painting the roof section with undercoat today.

My hair is covered in the grey crap...did not realise until in the middle of a meeting today though.

Could not find anyone to oxy it....called into 4 shops on the way and in town....took a sample of the wire and they all said 'NO'....so no luck there and I just made a command decision and bought some small flat steel to place over the wire mesh and screw to the main frame....then I'll spot weld inbetween every few inches.

Procrastinated with the roof all day today....bought the old style shingles....big, solid and heavyish.....now not sure if I should use them or just put thatch on it....thatch will need replacing in 2-3 years, that will not be easy when erected vertical....I am putting thin metal sheet on top of half of the roof on top of the wire to provide absolute waterproof in certain areas....the rest not matter so much if a few drips get through......

The saga continues........

except the wife yesdy hosing down the driveway...outside where I am working and spins around with the hose and drowns me while welding..

[samsiam]

From the looks of your pictures, dispite your injuries, it looks like you are progessing well. But if you are planning to attach thin wire mesh you wont be able to do it without buring through the wire with what you are using, even if you get 1.6mm rods. If you use chain link it will work, but the openings are? OX/Act will do the job but if not available use steel tie wires, better than tie wraps. As far as another post about only being able to solder wire to wire, that is not true. The thing is that the materials have to be the same for proper heat transfer. Rain gutters are sheet metal and they are soldered, copper pipes are sweat soldered. Iv'e done both and it works just fine.

Could not locate normal 1.6mm rods anywhere here......I did find tungsten 1.6mm rods, so tiny....and so expensive for just one....

[andrew55]

Could not locate normal 1.6mm rods anywhere here......I did find tungsten 1.6mm rods, so tiny....and so expensive for just one....

You don't want tungsten.

Still waiting for Sam-cam...

[handydog]

If you grind off too much "weld" ..... the birds will have nothing to aim at

[stoneyboy]

From the looks of your pictures, dispite your injuries, it looks like you are progessing well. But if you are planning to attach thin wire mesh you wont be able to do it without buring through the wire with what you are using, even if you get 1.6mm rods. If you use chain link it will work, but the openings are? OX/Act will do the job but if not available use steel tie wires, better than tie wraps. As far as another post about only being able to solder wire to wire, that is not true. The thing is that the materials have to be the same for proper heat transfer. Rain gutters are sheet metal and they are soldered, copper pipes are sweat soldered. Iv'e done both and it works just fine.

Could not locate normal 1.6mm rods anywhere here......I did find tungsten 1.6mm rods, so tiny....and so expensive for just one....

These be for TIG,thoriated and not zirconiated.

[Soutpeel]

From the looks of your pictures, dispite your injuries, it looks like you are progessing well. But if you are planning to attach thin wire mesh you wont be able to do it without buring through the wire with what you are using, even if you get 1.6mm rods. If you use chain link it will work, but the openings are? OX/Act will do the job but if not available use steel tie wires, better than tie wraps. As far as another post about only being able to solder wire to wire, that is not true. The thing is that the materials have to be the same for proper heat transfer. Rain gutters are sheet metal and they are soldered, copper pipes are sweat soldered. Iv'e done both and it works just fine.

Could not locate normal 1.6mm rods anywhere here......I did find tungsten 1.6mm rods, so tiny....and so expensive for just one....

Good luck doing SMAW with those....they are tungstens for GTAW (TIG)....they are not welding rods LOL

[samsiam]

Good luck doing SMAW with those....they are tungstens for GTAW (TIG)....they are not welding rods LOL

Lol'ing so much with you....lol...see...

Not sure I said I actually bought them....said I found them....in fact stated that I did not find normal 1.6mm rods......lol'in all the way

[samsiam]

Well....today was to be a productive day....kids help painting, I finish the roof off.

Walked out to the construction site early and near sliced off me little toe on a piece of sheet metal some doofus left laying about....turned me new thongs bright red....might need stitches, lets see if it swells enough in a few days to jon the skin back together naturally.

Thongs can be quite adequate safety attire if worn properly.

Kids painting...3 of them and the missus makes 4....all complaining and fighting....prefered my quite weekdays.

Safety tip.....don't drill sheet metal with your hand behind it for support.

We all counted our cuts and scratches today...sons got 3, girls got 2...I got 28.

You know you're alive when you squirt mozzie spray on.

Then to top it off we had fish n chips for dinner....had to squeeze me own lemons.

[Soutpeel]

....might need stitches, lets see if it swells enough in a few days to jon the skin back together naturally.

Stitches.....LOL...you big girl.....superglue the cut back together....that what real roughy toughy construction workers do, your letting the side down Basil

[necronx99]

....might need stitches, lets see if it swells enough in a few days to jon the skin back together naturally.

Stitches.....LOL...you big girl.....superglue the cut back together....that what real roughy toughy construction workers do, your letting the side down Basil

Glue, stitches? Meh...Spit on it and let it sort itself out. Chicks dig scars.

[samsiam]

The toe healed fine...thanks for all the concern.

Bit of a dilemma today....build was going well, put the roof on which consists of the mesh wire, then steel sheet metal to protect from rain....then some wood frame and then the thatch nailed to that wood.

Finished all of the thatch today bar the bottom section....stood bak looking proudly at it and bugger me....a light bulb went on....

I had built this thing in the carport for shade and to protect the steel from the rain until I could get it painted....the roof frame is 2.65m wide and the carport around the edge is only 2.2m high.....the centre roof of the carport is much higher.....now I cannot get it out.

[stoneyboy]

Cut it up and start again.

[klikster]

The toe healed fine...thanks for all the concern.

Bit of a dilemma today....build was going well, put the roof on which consists of the mesh wire, then steel sheet metal to protect from rain....then some wood frame and then the thatch nailed to that wood.

Finished all of the thatch today bar the bottom section....stood bak looking proudly at it and bugger me....a light bulb went on....

I had built this thing in the carport for shade and to protect the steel from the rain until I could get it painted....the roof frame is 2.65m wide and the carport around the edge is only 2.2m high.....the centre roof of the carport is much higher.....now I cannot get it out.

Okay, dumb question. Is the fit so tight that you can't lay it over on one side .. or is it over 2.2 m across?

[necronx99]

I really think we need some pictures of this conundrum.

There may be some tetris fans here who can work it out.

[samsiam]

The toe healed fine...thanks for all the concern.

Bit of a dilemma today....build was going well, put the roof on which consists of the mesh wire, then steel sheet metal to protect from rain....then some wood frame and then the thatch nailed to that wood.

Finished all of the thatch today bar the bottom section....stood bak looking proudly at it and bugger me....a light bulb went on....

I had built this thing in the carport for shade and to protect the steel from the rain until I could get it painted....the roof frame is 2.65m wide and the carport around the edge is only 2.2m high.....the centre roof of the carport is much higher.....now I cannot get it out.

Okay, dumb question. Is the fit so tight that you can't lay it over on one side .. or is it over 2.2 m across?

I built it on its side....its 2.65m wide and 3.3m tall...or long now.

I blame the kids....prior to the week long school hols I could move it in and out from the carport...but then I got carried away and added bits....kids helping, paint everywhere...the technicalities just went woosh..

[samsiam]

Technical assistance coming tomorrow....the rice farmers from up the road are coming....they are good at wrecking shit.

[samsiam]

Got it out...tis now free standing outside.....70% complete.

[samsiam]

Nearly finished....they dont call me speedy for nothin.

[Crossy]

This thread is nothing without photos