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WELD ROD STORAGE
Every time I looked at the method of storing my supply of welding
rod, I thought something should done to keep this mess straight. Now
if you are just gas welding steel, this is not a problem. If you are
welding different alloys of aluminum, you really need to keep track
of your different alloy rods. There are rods best suited for color
matching, strength etc etc. These rods need to be kept separated and
identified. I found that I would use a rod, put it back in the stack
and end up with a stack of rods all different sizes. There are all kinds
of ways to solve this problem. The key is to stop looking at it and
"DO IT". I got this idea from a buddy of mine. The white setup is a
bit easier to build, but the black tubes are the "HOT SETUP"
Make some extra time and put some caps on the tubes. This will keep
your rods clean (always wipe down your aluminum rods before using
them). Bore the caps so that they are a slip fit. Cut a notch to
hang your used rod. It's now in the ready position. Next time you
need rod, start with the one hanging in the notch. The storage tubes
are cut 35" long. The story behind the two racks: After
contemplating it seems like for ever, I built the white rack a week
ago. The very next day my buddy from Calif. shows up and says, "look
what I made for you". There sat the black rack. Now I have two.
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Color Coded Rods
After you get your containers built, color code the ends of your
rods with paint. This way if you set it down and come back the next
day or week, you can identify the alloy. It also prevents getting
stored in the wrong stack and picked up just as you need to do some
color matching for anodizing. I just wrap paper around the pack of
rods and spray paint them different colors for different alloys. You
can also identify a single rod, even when it's misplaced, by looking
at the color code. Be careful not to weld using the painted end. The
painting process is not time consuming and you'll like it. I also
identify the rods by a label.
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Welding Steady Rest
Next time your at a swap meet, pick up a magnetic indicator
holder. You can also use a cheap import for this purpose. Put a rod
through it and you can use it as a steady rest or prop for your
part. You can even attach a clamp and add to its versatility. You'll
be surprised how handy this is.
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SPEED KILLS
Put this label on your machines. It's a good reminder to use the
right speed for the job. Remember, if it's a blue chip, slow it
down. This is fact in most cases.
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CUTTING OIL
I might be repeating myself, but the only place cutting oil does
you any good is "between the tool and the part". So splashing oil
any place else is only helping the Arabs buy more BMW'S. Next time
you're in a Mexican restaurant, pick up some salsa cups.
They tip over pretty easy, so make a holder out of some scrap. I just fill it
a bit and either dip an acid brush or the drill tip into the cup.
When cutting parts I bath the part with my acid brush as it's
turning (don't hold the brush too tight).
You'll be surprised how much longer your cutting fluid will last.
Make a couple of them and place them around the shop. When using
step drills, I coat the drill with lube from an acid brush. When
drilling by hand, I drill and dip. It's faster. (Make sure the drill
has stopped when you dip it. I just put a hole in my cup. That's ok
though, the cups are cheap.) This really works good if your drilling
in soft aluminum. I like ALUMACUT. Another method of making a lube
cup is cutting down a cap from a spray can. It's ok but the holder
for the salsa cup is heavier and is harder to tip over. Yes, you
still can tip it over, but you don't lose to much lube in the
process.
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