Building Our Barndominium

kmakar · Nov 16, 2022

Got some stuff done today..... finally got definition from the county for the apron at the road.... 44' at the road, 15' radius', and minimum for 14' wide driveway. County wanted 6" of limerock, so I installed 12". Project done (I paid the local guy Mike who's been doing work for me with his skidsteer), and the two 18 yard loads of limerock came to $800. Mike's cost was $600.

kmakar · Nov 16, 2022

Got the front poles for the solar array lined up and concreted in.... now to clear out the tool container to get my welders and plasma cutter out so I can notch the top of each pole (soon as I shoot a level on them) and weld the top pipes on.....

kmakar · Nov 25, 2022

Top of the solar array pipes are done. The verticals were notched and the pipes sit in the notch and welded.

77cruiser · Nov 25, 2022

How big is the pipe?

kmakar · Nov 25, 2022

77cruiser said:
How big is the pipe?

2" schedule 40. This is the pipe I took from my old house cut and reconfigured it. The top pipe is 54' long.

Molly's 70 · Nov 26, 2022

You running flux core on the wire feeder?

kmakar · Nov 26, 2022

Molly's 70 said:
You running flux core on the wire feeder?

Nope, gas. It was a pain in the ass with the breezes yesterday as the kept blowing the shielding gas away and ended up with spatter.

Shovelrick · Nov 26, 2022

Did you need any slugs inside the pipes before welding joints together?

kmakar · Nov 26, 2022

Shovelrick said:
Did you need any slugs inside the pipes before welding joints together?

Nah, it's schedule 40, so the wall is pretty thick. I just use angle to clamp them straight and tack weld around first, then weld the pipe.

Molly's 70 · Nov 26, 2022

I think we need to hire an NDT team out for MagnaFlux & Eddy Current testing.

Alwhite00 · Nov 28, 2022

kmakar said:
Top of the solar array pipes are done. The verticals were notched and the pipes sit in the notch and welded.

View attachment 9326
View attachment 9327

That picture reminds me of gilligan's island and the professor was busy. You are making good progress. Keep the pictures coming.

Nashville Cat · Nov 28, 2022

Molly's 70 said:
I think we need to hire an NDT team out for MagnaFlux & Eddy Current testing.

I have a can of penetrant and some developer. I'll check it for $20

77cruiser · Nov 28, 2022

Molly's 70 said:
You running flux core on the wire feeder?

That's a job for 6011 or 7018 is you want to get fancy.

kmakar · Nov 28, 2022

I could have stick welded it, but mig is so much cleaner (until the wind blows). 80 grit flapper cleaned it up nicely.

Molly's 70 · Nov 28, 2022

77cruiser said:
That's a job for 6011 or 7018 is you want to get fancy.

7018 does lay down a nice looking weld. At work it's GTAW for everything.

Nashville Cat · Nov 28, 2022

kmakar said:
I could have stick welded it, but mig is so much cleaner (until the wind blows). 80 grit flapper cleaned it up nicely.

I have to have lots of light and can't stick weld for shit ! Only MIG for me LOL

kmakar · Nov 28, 2022

Nashville Cat said:
I have to have lots of light and can't stick weld for shit ! Only MIG for me LOL

I first learned to weld with a torch, then stick, then mig, then tig. I find stick welding really easy, but I've done alot of stick welding. Practice, practice, practice.

cheveslakr · Nov 28, 2022

Nashville Cat said:
I have to have lots of light and can't stick weld for shit ! Only MIG for me LOL

I'm with you, have to turn my light lense to 9.5 anymore and everything in the cosmos has be perfect to follow a crack more than an inch at a time. I was always just average or worse tig welding.....then I had to do about 20 ft of 18ga stainless tig on a rooftop. My welds never looked better and it was all do to the light.

kmakar · Nov 28, 2022

I'll admit as I've gotten older it's harder to see, and I refuse to get glasses and only use off the shelf readers. As luck would have it my auto darkening mask shit the bed on the last weld, so I'm looking for a good one now.

Recommendations?

cheveslakr · Nov 28, 2022

I bought a hobo freight hood and have no worries.....except for the shame. Call a welding shop and quiz them.

Building Our Barndominium

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