Well, I found out that my husband's grandfather has a welding machine that he rarely uses anymore. He offered to show me how its done. After a few practice rounds and some reading up on the subject I was ready to try it for real.
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I needed some side tables for my living room and thought this would be a good way to get some. I had some old burgalar bars off a window of an old house that I needed to do something with. So I thought those could be used as the top with a piece of glass on the top.
I measured existing tables to get a good size and drew up a plan for all the pieces to be cut. I got the steel at a metal shop in town (I got some weird looks but they were very helpful. I don't think they are used to seeing young women coming in looking for steel!). Once I purchased all the materials I got to work. And work it was! Welding isn't physically demanding as in - lifting heavy objects hard, but tiring because it's hot, dirty work. You have to be precise while you are doing it and that can be hard sometimes with a giant welders mask over your face.
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I really respect the people who do this for a living. Its both a utilitarian skill and an art form. Though it was hard it was fun. I would love to try it again now that I know how to fit things together and have a better understanding of what materials are available. For example; I purchased all flat bars, had them cut, welded them into angles and then fit them together to make the table. In the future I would purchase angled bars and save a lot of extra work.
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I'm so glad that I got to try welding. I've always wanted to do it and hope that I will be able to do it again. I'd live to make a bar for my dining room, end tables for other parts of the house, ect. I'm not sure when I'll have the time though!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O5NXFmfo0khnCl0f4suUhtOvX_ZsVGtxXMr4Vvix-w5EyDAH4_912rPzSYN2XPATLc2VrbqsXLwG1HoVRnf1mxiR1EPDisq8noQeFQe1XLtfA3cVKJazDYC9zkwk546rIN_Y9G_mHm0B/s200/Scan+4.jpeg)
Detail shot
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Me with finished product
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In our living room!
Is there anything you have always wanted to try or learn more about? If so go for it!
3 comments:
That end table is GORGEOUS. I'm so jealous! ;) What a talent indeed. My grandfather is a retired welder from GE. He used to make us all these miniature BBQ pits (smaller than your weiner dog!)
Wow! I have always wanted to learn how to weld also! Well done...or should I say "weld dlone"!! Hee hee
Sparkly Hugs,
Tobi and the Pixies!
LOVE this! I just found your blog and have always wanted to learn to weld! Thanks for sharing.
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