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Been learning to weld, what do you think? (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Decided to make a sierpinski's tetrahedron as a first REAL project! I built a shitty angleiron workbench (with an old door ziptied onto it as the tabletop) before but I'm actually trying this time so it's different

170 welds completed so far crab-party !! So, only 346 left to go!!... doggirl-tears

This was a really good idea until I remembered how complex fractals are, like GIRL, DUH, fuck was I thinking hahaha

Its REALLY scuffed though, I'm talkin like using my stick welder to melt a half inch off the end off of the pieces I had precut to make it shorter so it will fit in the actual dimensions needed, I've been holding the smallest (~2") pieces with a wrench and holding it in place freehand. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I'm definitely improving as I go, I weld my welding stick to my stock way less often now, and achieve arc much more reliably too, which is cool to see my own progress within the project!

I hurt my shoulder a bit ago so I haven't been able to do much lately, but welding is pretty low impact in that I mostly just sit on a folding chair in my driveway next to my shitty workbench lol

Have some more views!

When it's done it'll look like this image I found on google

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 22 hours ago

This is some baller stuff, I'll join the sea of voices and say I also want to try out welding. Maaaybe I will if I can make something half this cool.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

This is super cool.

Also welcome back

[–] [email protected] 0 points 17 hours ago

cuddle

[–] [email protected] 0 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

I've been holding the smallest (~2") pieces with a wrench and holding it in place freehand

a very cheap quality of life improvement here would be some welding magnets so you don't have to hold the work

[–] [email protected] 0 points 17 hours ago

YO, THANK YOU

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

that's awesome!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

Hell yeah

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

...I keep saying I won't buy a cheap welder, then all these cool hobbyist comments. I don't have space. Wait till after I can build a big shed...

[–] [email protected] 0 points 17 hours ago

if you have a patch of grass you can put a folding table on within range of an outlet (mine is plugged into a long ass extension cord that is plugged in IN MY KITCHEN cause I don't have outside outlets) then you have the space!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You know what you can build the shed with? A welder.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Hmmm... you devil.

Welp, no choice but to watch five hours of shed-welding videos and gauge my chances of hilarious DIY accidents.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 17 hours ago

if you could kill yourself easily with an arc welder, I would be super mega dead right now

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

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▲ ▲

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

love the triangle triangle, very cool

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What sticks are you using?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 17 hours ago

uhh, the blue ones!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Hello quillquote ralsei-wave

Very cool tetrahedron

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

Hello!

Thank you very much :3

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oh wow that's really cool! I'm going to start learning how to weld next month, but it's mostly as a support skill for my woodworking. Clamps specifically are insanely expensive where I live, so being able to make my own clamps from cheap flat iron bars will save me a preposterous amount of money in the long run. Your tetrahedron looks sick, way beyond the level of complexity I think I'll aim to achieve in welding lol congrats!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It is HUGELY useful with woodworking projects so far.

Plus, unlike when you glue wood stuff its instantly strong so whipping stuff together for even a jig or such can be really really fast, and super sturdy.

My next practical gambit here will be making some tools for myself, I've also been learning blacksmithing (I have an adorable little 20kg anvil and I turned a pressure cooker into a forge) but with my shoulder hurt I've been.... not blacksmithing for the time being :(

P.S. please share your design for your clams when you build them, I too could use more clams and I LOVE making shit instead of buying it if possible

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Nice work! I’ve always wanted to learn how to weld but never really had the chance. Maybe someday.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

Got everything I used for like 200$, not including the steel used, you definitely should if you get the chance!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

very cool doggirl-thumbsup

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That’s really neat! It’s been a while since I’ve welded, but I did go to school for it. If you have any welds you’re not fully satisfied with and want some constructive criticism, feel free to post some close up shots and I’ll do my best to help you out. (I also just like looking at welds)

I’m more familiar with MIG welding than stick, I ditched that shit as soon as I could. Props to ya for pulling this off with stick!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

Thank you for the offer! I will definitely take you up on that once I get a chance to clean up the welds with a grinder to see how bad they actually are lol

I am REALLY looking to ditch stick also! I bought the CHEAPEST welder I could to see if I liked it and I do so definitely fuck this method lol

Could you recommend me a specific mig welder that's not super expensive but you know is quality? There's like 10000 different ones available and they all look like identical slop to me

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

I recently - well a year or two ago - replaced an old failing MIG with a new one from Northern Tool that I think is quite good for the price. I've only used it with flux core wire and no gas so far but it's been great for fixing broken things and building a few tables/furniture stands. It's a multi-process that can do mig and stick right out of the box, plus you can get an aluminum spool whip or a tig setup to add to it.

Well shit I just looked it up and the price has gone up by like $200+, thanks inflation and tariffs: https://www.northerntool.com/products/klutch-120-230-v-240-a-mp-welder-inverter-technology-volts-120-230-max-amps-240-mig-ready-model-extremig202w-5875893

If you could find one of those northern tool branded ones used it's a solid bet.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

A small thing that will help a lot is getting a steel wire brush and scrubbing the site of the weld before you try to strike the arc. It clears the area of the oxide layer and makes it easier to start and get a cleaner weld.

Have you been beveling the weld locations?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It’s been a while since I’ve got the chance to talk welding with someone so my neurons are lighting up. I miss it so much. I need to get my own setup arranged because I refuse to do it as a full time job.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

Hell yes, bring on the enthusiasm sister!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

oh HELL no I haven't haha, my main focus was to stay as on grid as possible with the structure, but I've been doing most of it without any prep on the materials

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Ah, okay. If you take a grinder to the edge of the material to create a little bevel, it can help get a better penetration on the weld and get a bit of a flatter weld. You’d have to lower your heat a bit and change the angle to redirect the heat towards where the metal is thickest though.

You’re probably fine as is, it doesn’t look like the material is that thick, but with thicker material a small bevel of 1/3-1/2 of the thickness can help a lot.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Ooooh I think I get what you mean that makes sense! then the weld starts deeper on the added stock and then the area that was ground away is rebuilt by the weld, increasing the surface area of the bond as well!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Exactly :3

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Also, if you’re welding material with a larger gap between them, you can do a series of tack welds to give yourself more material to work with without burning through the metal. This works better with MIG welding though.

With stick, it’s bad practice but you can take an electrode, knock off the flux, and use the electrode itself as a filler metal.

If you’re using flat pieces of metal together and are afraid of it burning though, you can use a backing bar to both draw excess heat away and reduce the chance of blowing through the weld by providing structure for the weld pool to sit on. You need to use metal with different properties than what you’re welding though, otherwise you’ll just end up with a 3rd piece of metal attached to your weld piece. I think I remember using either bronze or brass.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

just had the thought, would I be able to manuver inside the fractal to be able to actually get a mig torch to the weld point? The stick isn't exactly convenient but idk what mig torches are like

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

With a mig torch, a metal wire is constantly fed through a tube instead of you constantly having to swap electrodes. It may be difficult to access some spots initially but once you get to it, you’ll have to move less.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 17 hours ago

With stick, it’s bad practice but you can take an electrode, knock off the flux, and use the electrode itself as a filler metal.

Oh don't I know it! Like a dozen of these bars have a half inch or more that is all just the electrode filling empty space cause the bar I cut was too short xD

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

(I’m gonna try and reel in my excitement on having someone to rant to about welding now.) doggirl-smart

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

No need :3

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

Honestly couldn’t help you with the shopping aspect of it, I’ve only really used the welders in my class or workplaces.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Cool but it's not a hexagon

EDIT: Should have known before posting that I am not an original person

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

no-copyright Too slow

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Oh shit Quill, been forever since I've seen you around. This is looking really cool and I hope to see it finished.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Hiii!!!! It's good to see you :D Thanks so much ^~ ^

never fear, I will definitely post updates!

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