Thread: can this rusty old trailer be salvaged?

Hey Bazzmate thanks for all the info!!!! Maybe I shouldn't have given the poor bloke neutral feedback... ah well.

I'll checkout the metaland people.

Any ideas what I need to do this myself, I may as well look into that option as well seeing as I'd be able to reuse the stuff after, and it seems like a good skill to have.

I figure thick leather gloves, and a protective shirt and one of those visors would be a good start. There seems to be alot of types of welders, do I want one with gas?

Originally Posted by Bouncingmolar

I figure thick leather gloves, and a protective shirt and one of those visors would be a good start. There seems to be alot of types of welders, do I want one with gas?

Off the top of my head....

Grinder with metal cutting and grinding discs.
Welder
Helmet
Gloves
square
pencil
welding electrodes (I use WIA Ausarc 12P)
Wire brush
Time

Just buy a little stick (arc) welder to begin with. Get a cheapie from Bunnings or somewhere. Or, dare I suggest, look at Ebay. Welders go for pretty cheap around Brisbane on Ebay. You will have a frustrating time learning to weld, but it's a great skill to have. Just remember that ugly-but-strong is better than pretty-but-weak when it comes to welding. You can always tidy up later with the grinder.

Avoid gas welders (MIG/TIG) for as long as you can. The gas is very expensive for home handyman stuff.

Originally Posted by Rossluck

Avoid gas welders (MIG/TIG) for as long as you can. The gas is very expensive for home handyman stuff.

I beg to differ... The rent on my bottle is direct debited, around $10 per month, and a bottle refill is less than $100 and lasts me 2-3 years depending on projects (current bottle is over 4 years). When I do a welding job for someone, I factor in a little extra for my consumables, so after several jobs, the gas ends up costing me bugger all, if anything.

If the price of gas scares u somewhat, maybe do what I did and pick up a unit that has the ability to run gas (has reg supplied) and run gasless.

Yes gasless wire is dearer, but for handyman use, a 5 Kg roll will last quite a while. Admittally welding sheet is better done with gas, but unless u are gonna use the welder heaps, then one can compromise.

Only my opinion.

Ok I'm going to start a new thread regarding newbie metalwork skills, that way I can come back to this thread when I've started doing something with the trailer

Originally Posted by Yonnee

I beg to differ... The rent on my bottle is direct debited, around $10 per month, and a bottle refill is less than $100 and lasts me 2-3 years depending on projects (current bottle is over 4 years). When I do a welding job for someone, I factor in a little extra for my consumables, so after several jobs, the gas ends up costing me bugger all, if anything.

I was referring to home handyman stuff Yonnee. I've seen your work; you're far from a home handyman. The first welder people people buy should be a stick. If they continue then they move to a MIG or TIG. If they don't, the stick welder will sit around for years waiting for the occasional use. That's my argument anyway.

I have gas, but mainly I like my little Fronius inverter. I've discovered that if I use a 3.2 rod at 120 amps, and run it along the metal (touching the metal I mean) the welder holds the arc and produces a good weld on thin stuff.

Originally Posted by rossluck

i was referring to home handyman stuff yonnee. I've seen your work; you're far from a home handyman.

:b

the first welder people people buy should be a stick. If they continue then they move to a mig or tig. If they don't, the stick welder will sit around for years waiting for the occasional use. That's my argument anyway.
fair point.

i have gas, but mainly i like my little fronius inverter. I've discovered that if i use a 3.2 rod at 120 amps, and run it along the metal (touching the metal i mean) the welder holds the arc and produces a good weld on thin stuff.

I have an embarrasing confession. I had a chance meeting with a local metalworker at my work. I bailed out when i figured he was happy to trade some services for a new trailer...........................

sorry for taking up all your guys time. I'll stick to wood i think.

I think if i had of bought stuff I'd still have an unfinished wonky trailer ready to fall to bits.