Nothing is more satisfying than completing a do-it-yourself project. The feeling of accomplishment you get when you know that you have truly built something from the ground up is hard to match. In fabrication and manufacturing, welding is the ultimate way of bonding two surfaces together. There are plenty of great DIY projects to take on that involve welding. It is important not to jump into a welding project without the proper training and equipment. Always wear gloves, overalls and a mask and weld in a properly ventilated environment. Now that the safety talk is out of the way, let’s get down to business. Here are some great DIY projects to keep the amateur welder occupied.
Fire Pit
Every backyard can be improved with a fire pit. Luckily for the amateur welder, a good fire pit is one of the easier projects that can be taken on and is suitable for a first fabrication. Steel is the best material for a fire pit as it is relatively heat resistant no matter what quality it is. This project guide helpfully takes you step by step through the process of building a welded fire pit using sheet steel.
New Car Bumpers
Modern car bumpers are made of a highly resistant plastic known as ABS. Few people know that ABS can be very easily welded. Companies like Hot Air Tools sell silicone welding rods and hot air welding machines designed specifically to fuse plastics at a molecular level. Building cool (and safe) new car bumpers is a great way of improving your plastic welding skills.
Wine Rack
Combine your twin loves: drinking wine and welding steel. All you need to create a great DIY wine rack is some sturdy steel chains or rods and your trusty arc welding kit. There are plenty of different designs you can go for that will fit in any home. Check out the great Mediterranean wine rack design detailed by Popular Mechanics. Popular mechanics’ website also contains some great guides that can be of great use to the beginner welder.
Car Inspection Ramps
If you need to lift your car to inspect your exhaust heat shield, change the oil or make minor repairs, you’ll want to have a more sturdy lifting device than your regular jack. While a jack is fine for changing a tire, it is nowhere near safe enough if you are going to be spending any time underneath the body of the car. Car inspection ramps are a great project for the beginner welder. Make sure to use high-quality steel and to thoroughly inspect the integrity of all of your welded joints before rolling your car onto your new project. There are plenty of schematics for car inspection ramps online that will help you get a grasp of how the project should be completed.
Any kind of car lifting is inherently dangerous when the wrong precautions are taken. Always test your ramps before getting under the car and always raise your car on a flat surface.