Making Picks

[Jim in Idaho]

1 minute ago, 1515Art said:

Thanks Jim, that means a lot coming from someone as good at welding and fabrication as yourself. The Aluminum you welded for me while you were being modest is fantastic really and has held up perfectly to all my abuse. I used it a couple months ago clearing a wash in a remote area and it’s a great tool much easier than digging by hand alone I can say for certain now. I’ll do a little write up for everyone and show off you skills, aluminum is much more difficult than steel I know because I tried it once. First I tried it but forgot to switch the polarity for solid wire, after realizing I went back a couple days later for another try unfortunately I forgot to close the main valve on my argon tank and it was empty, I tried anyway but could not get enough heat to penetrate the aluminum plates so gave up. Someday I’ll fill the tank and try again but I’m really unsure if the argon is best or another gas mix?

LOL...Clark, my aluminum welding skill suck, beyond being able to make two pieces stick together. I appreciate the kind words, though. Argon is what you want for aluminum. if your welder is too weak for the thickness you want to weld, you can increase the heat by using a helium mixture, but it's a PITA. If you learn to TIG weld, you can weld both aluminum and steel with argon...kinda simplifies things. But, if you MIG weld steel you're going to need a 75/25 mix of Argon, and CO2.  There are other blends, but for steel under 3/8", and aluminum under 1/4" those are the most common. and readily available. And, you aren't the first guy to forget to turn off a gas bottle...LOL I don't know single welder that hasn't done that. Sometimes you get lucky, and if your welder is newer, the internal gas valve still seals tight enough you don't lose much gas. Usually, however, you lose it all..Ha!

Jim

[Machineman]

I've made several by cutting about 12" of leaf spring and welding it to a socket that will accept a handle. Pit a point on one side and your good. Made a video of the last one I made.