Rookie wanna-be weldor starting to make some cool things!

[kirkster70]

Originally Posted by dorkpunch

That settles it. Time to sell my old school welder to help fund the purchase of something with a foot pedal... Anyone in the Idaho area interested in buying an older Century 5 Star set up for TIG?

Also curious- what amp range are you using for that thickness of aluminum?

It looks like there would be some way to retrofit your model for a pedal or even a finger remote of some sort. I'm no expert, but someone should know.

Cyberweld and BR welding supplies out of MD (I think that's right) have helped me in the past for figuring things out. Just add dot com to cyberweld, and the other folks have a strong presence on ebay...

[kirkster70]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

This is really enlightening! I knew they would be strong, but I didn't realize how strong. I bet you could easily rest 500 pounds on one of those bags turned upside down with ot without a lid.

Someone is going to be very lucky to get your blems!

Jim

PS I would give you some work clothes, but I doubt 2X would fit in a safe way around all your machinery!

That is pretty amazing, isn't it? Imagine what my bumper will do to Bambi.


My KLR fell over in the concrete parking lot at work last year due to a slow leak in the rear tire. Just the outer, lower pannier corner got scuffed, and that was my very first set ever made. I would like to think I have gotten better on building the panniers, so they are probably even stronger now.

I also got a scuff on the lower forkleg. Nothing else touched down at all, and the fuel tank was 8" away from touching. Built-in crashbars! The bar ends and mirrors were 100% damage free. I was amazed by that.

I am convinced that OEM hardbags on an ST1100 saved my leg in a bambi strike a couple years back. It created a pocket while I slid on the pavement with the bike on top of me. From that point forward, all of my bikes have had / will have hard bags of some sort, be it OEM or aluminum panniers.

EDIT - there was a small scuff on the bar end weight...

[kirkster70]

Hey Dave, I have a title change for ya!

welder to weldor.

Welder = machine.

Weldor = person using said machine.

Not much, but it's something!

[9Dave]

Originally Posted by kirkster70

Weldor = person using said machine.

Yeah - in general use, everyone spells it "welder", both the person and machine. I forget when I first learned the difference, but my fingers just don't spell check me the way they should as I type it.

I agree on well built bags helping to limit damage. The hulking monster that is my R1200 GSA has been down on its side multiple times, and the combination of the bar end and panniers have limited damage to a few scuffs on the cylinder head guards.

You can have your thread title be whatever you would like it to be (within reason ). The reason some have suggested changes is out of respect for your current skill set - quite impressive

[kirkster70]

Thanks, Dave! I do appreciate the kind words!

[xcflyn]

I think the "rookie" and "wannabe" just dont fit anymore. Think if a real rookie happened on this thread and just skipped to the last pages. They would look at your work and think- My God, if this guy is a rookie then I am taking up knitting.
Your skills are way beyond the title of the thread. Plus you are a fabricator my friend - not just a weldor !

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by xcflyn

I think the "rookie" and "wannabe" just dont fit anymore. Think if a real rookie happened on this thread and just skipped to the last pages. They would look at your work and think- My God, if this guy is a rookie then I am taking up knitting.
Your skills are way beyond the title of the thread. Plus you are a fabricator my friend - not just a weldor !

Jim

[kirkster70]

Thanks, guys!

Hey Jim...

Guess

what??????????????????





























I'm picking up your goodies from the coater this afternoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


YIPPIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E!

[100mpg]

wow. 1 penny? give me a link and make it ia 1 hour auction! lol .... how do you feel about making ammo boxes? 5-8" wide, 10-12" long, and 8-10" high? locking, hinged or 2 latch top. not sure you could do it cheap enough though.

Originally Posted by kirkster70

"Factory seconds / blems" went together pretty well...













They are a bit out of square, and the bends are sloppy. The bottom of one bag has a bit of a pucker from trampoline duty.

Starting tonight around 7:30 pm at one penny.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by kirkster70

Thanks, guys!

Hey Jim...

Guess

what??????????????????




I'm picking up your goodies from the coater this afternoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


YIPPIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E!

Seeewwwweeeeeettttt!

Tomorrow or Sunday for me to come by?

Jim

[kirkster70]

I'll let you know something as soon as I do!

[kirkster70]

Nothing to see here. Powder coater was supposed to call and didn't. A bit disappointed, but I'll give him the benefit of doubt this time.

I kept myself entertained in the garage putzing around with small projects thinking I'd be building freshly coated panniers.



I play around with scrap .080" 5052 aluminum to make the next gizmo.



More welding on the latest gizmo.







...my low-budget, sit-on-my-butt tungsten grinding set up!

1/4 hp, single phase motor out of an old HVAC indoor unit. Now I have a guard and a place to keep pointed-up tungstens for the inevitable crashes.

Bummed about the coater, but tomorrow is another day.

[kirkster70]

Originally Posted by dorkpunch

That settles it. Time to sell my old school welder to help fund the purchase of something with a foot pedal... Anyone in the Idaho area interested in buying an older Century 5 Star set up for TIG?

Also curious- what amp range are you using for that thickness of aluminum?

ooops, sorry - missed that - I'm using .080" 5052.

[kirkster70]

[NoVa Rider]

Very nice, very nice.