Your axle looks so small! Im starting to wish i would have used 1/8 inch on some of mine because it is freaking heavy. it looks good now get to work!

 

lol. No kidding man. I was thinking the EXACT same thing when I took these pictures.

Yeah, when im done with it, im sure putting the bumper on will be a two man job.

My axle does look a little rinky dinky. I think my cell phone camera makes it look all weird....but I dont know. Its a 9 inch, so HA SUCKA!!.....lol.

Im waiting to see some pics of yours on your truck!!!

 

Wow. You do that weld in a single pass? I'm assuming not given the size, otherwise you were using some massive wire with some massive heat. Or I suppose it could be stick. What type of welder if you don't me asking?

 

haha it just looks narrow to me.

im waiting too, its either 100 degrees and i dont want to work on it or its raining. hopefully i can get it done by next weekend but idk.

 

It is two passes with an 80 series rod. I think it was a 1/4" rod if I remember correctly.

I laid down a root pass, then weaved that top pass over it to make it look like one pass........I love welding lol.

I used my stick welder at work. It is an older Lincoln AC-DC stick welder, capable of pushing 600 amps.

 

Looking good. your welding ain't so bad, how often do you weld during the week?

 

Nice! Just finished up my MIG cert, but never done Stick. Nice welds for sure man.

 

Thanks! I weld flat every day. I rarely get to weld vertical or overhead, so this bumper was a new experience for me in welding.

Ive been wanting to get my certs. Did you have to take classes? Im only certified within the company that I work for, so I cant take my certs with me. Oh well.

Ive done all kinds of welding, but I LOVE stick. IMO, if you can stick weld, then you can weld anything.

 

In Michigan you don't need certs as far as i know, so i'm in the clear.
you weld flat everyday, I'd be lucky to weld flat once a week. when i'm not wrenching on stuff, i'm usually helping out the saftey guys by welding stuff on to cars (target plates, accessory plates, ODAST racks. stuff like that) its mostly wire welding, but there is some TIG involved.

 

I took night classes for 4 semesters to get my MIG Cert through the local Tech College. But like you said, pretty much any company you are going to work for doing Welding "certifies" under their testing to make sure you do their work.

Pretty much, the only thing the school gets you is some proof that you can weld at least moderately well.

 

I too am a welder, 3rd year apprentice, goin for my journeyman in Jan 2012, Nice bumper, 5/32 stick is awesome, burn it in hot. That's 1/4 wall 2x2 yes?

 

^ yup, 1/4 inch 2x2. Thick stuff.

Good luck with your journeyman stuff. And yes, stick is best haha.

 

TIG all the way. It's so clean when done right. Just takes a lot of time.

 

Update.

Tested out my halfway done bumper by pulling a chevy. Worked like a charm.

No pics. Sorry.

 

that bed liner on your truck? how much did it cost you?

 

Yup. It is Dupli-Color's Bed Armor kit.

I got it on sale for $80. I still have 3/4 gallon left even after what I have done.

 

sounds like a pretty good deal. maybe you could be 1 of those extreme guys and cover the whole truck in bed liner, be to hot in the summer but nice in the winter.

 

lol. Nah. I dont think I would go that far.

BUT....if this steel dust keeps eating my truck, I just may do it :)

I plan on finishing the rocker panels, and MAYBE the bumper when it is finished.

 

any updates?

 

The only progress that I have made is welding on two plates on each bottom side.
Ill try and post some pictures later.
I started a new job about 2 months ago and I have been wide open.

 

Cut some more plating last night, and welded it on today.
Brushed some of the rust off, and gave it a coat of black rust tough paint.

Making some progress on it and making it look better for my trip to RI.

 

 

I took pictures on my phone, but for some reason it didnt save them. Weird.

Im gonna go take more pics in a second.

 

Pictures from today. Welded some more plating on, and hit it with a quick layer of black rust tough paint.

I want it to look good for the RI meet next week. I still have to make an upper part to fill in the gap, but I have no idea what Im gonna do yet. Any ideas for a top portion guys?

And yes, my truck is FILTHY. It doesnt look too bad in the pictures, but it needs a cleanin' lol.

Dont mind the pretty towels, I was in a hurry due to company coming over.



side shot. Doesnt look too bad.

 

Holy cow my yard is a mess lol!