Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Welding
It’s been an awfully long time since I blogged anything. I just didn’t feel I had time while finishing my thesis. That is now behind me. I’ve graduated and gone back into the work force. This also means I have money and can once again be buying things for the Land Cruiser.
I received as a very generous Christmas gift a welder, and this has been my companion since then. I have welded a nice solid 2′x4′ welding table. This has made an excellent platform and I’m very glad I went with 4′ rather than my original 3′ size. I have welded legs onto the kitchen box for the land cruiser, and that has also been stained and mostly finished. (There will be lots of pictures over the next few weeks of all this I hope).
I’ve also taken on some bigger projects, namely sliders and a rear bumper. I just finished the passenger side slider, which, due to the catalytic converter, is the more difficult side. All that is left for that side is to grind various welds smooth, clean off the rust and paint it. I picked up a paint sprayer as it will be cost effective over spray paint cans. I thought about paying someone to apply a more durable surface (like powder coating, but a) that is expensive and b) non-reparable). Since I know my sliders will get used to slide along the ground, even the powder coating will be worn through. It will be nice to be able to touch it up at home with some paint.
The driver’s side slider is mostly done. Probably another evening or so of cutting and welding. The slider and outriggers from the frame are done, and the step is cut. I have cardboard forms for the attachments for the step so it is just a matter of cutting those and welding them up, and then cutting small bits to fill in all the holes and make a closed shape.
I think I am going to be quite pleased with the outcome. I really like the look of the parts I’ve ground smooth on the passengers side so far.
I’ve also built a rear bumper from a 4×4 labs kit. I’ve test painted a few parts on the tire carrier, but I must grind smooth the rest of it before I finish painting. I want to at least get the passenger slider finished first though, because it is occupying my welding table and is a real pain to take on and off the car. Thankfully once painted and re-installed there will be no more on-and off for test fitting.