Franko's Welding Table

[sgisler]

Franko, which HD has argon? Would be handy in a pinch


Stan,
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Franko]

Stan, most of them I know of sell welding gas. It is kept in a cage usually near the lumber exit. I think they have a deal with PRAXAIR.

I went to the store on the east side of 75, between Plano Pkwy and 15th.

I went to the store on Campbell and Coit last night, where I got the empty bottle.

 

[sgisler]

Wow, HTH did I miss that?!
Will they swap your personal bottles? Bought mine at Metroplex, but on a weekend emergency HD would be nice.


Stan,
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Franko]

Stan, as far as I know, any place will swap a personal bottle. AirGas has swapped me with my HD bottle, and vise versa. I have the bottle that is about waist high, 83 ft. I think. HD has 3 sizes of argon, knee high 21 ft., waist high 83ft. and 154 ft.

 

[Franko]

Here is a price list.

Argon –

21ft/$90.50/$18.75
83ft/$162.75/$24.75
154ft/$186.00/$28.00

Star Gold C-25 –

23ft/$78.00/$10.50
95ft/$164.00/$16.50
173ft/$185.00/$27.00

 

[sgisler]

Well that's great, thanks for the info; learn something new everyday!
Sorry for the short detour. Now, back to out regularly scheduled programming....


Stan,
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Franko]

No problem, Stan.

They also have CO2, oxygen, and acetylene.

Apparently, their stocks have been running low lately. Coit store didn't have any argon and Central store just had one mid-size bottle of argon.

 

[sgisler]

Definitely going to check mine - Parker/Custer. Just as soon as I re-tram my mill. Just managed to rapid a $30 carbide end mill into a hold down nut.


Stan,
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JimDawson]

Just managed to rapid a $30 carbide end mill into a hold down nut.

I hate it when that happens. We've all been there.

 

[Franko]

Ok, it stands level on its own legs and wheels now.

After sawing 1.25" off the miss-measured adjustable legs, I didn't go to all the trouble of making end caps. I just welded the square t-nuts on the ends. I tacked them and then ground them flush with the tube. I didn't use filler rod to stick them on with the TIG. The corners of the t-nuts had holes and would just burn out if I tried to weld all the way around.

1/2" carriage bolts make good feet. I'll put cinch nuts on them after it's painted.



Here is a couple examples of the better welds. I'm struggling with inside corner welds.



And, finally the stand stands. The handle is still just tacked. I may have gotten it a little crooked and it may need adjusting.
The wheels are on a 1/2" rod axle cut just proud of the outside of the legs. Wheels are held in place with 1/2" collars with set screws.
Now, just a bit more grinding, clean it and paint it. Then, move on to the next puzzle.