Projects...

[todd_brooks555]

That is cool to see what you've been doing to pay the bills. Being self employed or contracted it a bitter sweet thing, you'll love the freedom so much you won't be able to imagine working for anybody but yourself again. But then its tough to really get ahead of the game for the long hall or at least thats what I seem to find. The down times just eat up any head way you make. But what are ya gunna do?
Any chance any of you certified pros would be willing to give a crash course on wire feed welding?? I'm just self taught and know I would learn a lot in a hurry from a pro.

[Osmosis]

Sorry for the confusion Taylor I meant that for Ian

[Arctic]

Bro have you made a spool before?

Like a "Lincoln Locker" or actually made one out of plate, and bolted the axles to it... Either way, Ive done both, but only for big Dana's 44's and 60's, but a 9 inch would be easy too.

Todd, The wire feed on Mild Steel is a cinch once you have the technique down... Practice. If you ever want to set-up some weld time, shoot me an e-mail, or PM, we can do a little burnin to get you on the right track! I am gonna make a little, basic fab, and wirefeed tutorial for this other website, but I will post it here too. Its pretty slick what you can do with the most basic tools!

[Osmosis]

Well I can lincoln the hell outta gears like anyone, but I'm having a hard time forking out a couple hundred for a 8.8 and couple hundred more for a D44 spool. Don't think I can get it true enough to not have gnarkill wobbles and crap under decent rpms with the torque I'm puttin down. What trick did you use?

Bobby just got a new BA milling machine to go with his big 'ol lathe so I can get the parts made quick but in the long run if I screw up, it would be cheaper to buy them than grenade the crap out of the axles like I did when my 8.8 detroit sheared everything the other day.
Or could I just get him to machine the whole shebang? See any problems there?

[Arctic]

Precision maching, and multi-pass(low-heat, TIG), groove welds are the only way to keep them true, and even then, you could prolly stand to put it back on the mill, and knock down the peaks. But, the ones I made were machined by the dudes in the machine shop at CCC, and when I got them, I welded it all together, and they still shot it back to the mills to get it to within a couple thou. Didnt take much, but you gotta do everything you can to keep the wobble-d-gop out of those tubes, like you already know! I would almost... almost, be wary of building you one, simly because if the sheer pound feet of destruction that dam thing puts to the dirt! Machining one sounds like a good route... But a hunk of billet tool steel is gunna cost some serious skrilla. If Bobby is cool with you doin it, Id weld one up, then mill it true. But either way, you just have to figure in the amount of power you put down! BEEFY parts! Hahaha!

[todd_brooks555]

That would be cool Ian both the video and a little lesson I can bring reeb. What the hell are the spools you guys are talking about???

[Osmosis]

Alot, and getting higher with another step up in gears.
Plus I'm thinking of doubling up my Atlas II with probably a built D20 if I can find a kit.

By the way it's running like a champ again, and magically passed DEQ!

Thanks bro, more to think about and draft.

[Arctic]

By the way it's running like a champ again, and magically passed DEQ!

How did you manage that?! Hahahaha!

That things an animal! I cant wait to see it in action soon!