Rock Slider Ideas

fair enough - unfortunately with my clamps and the work I needed to hold together - that was the only way I could figure to even get the bar in there. Its certainly not helping much - except maybe as a good handle bar to move the work around. I figure now that I am done with the tack spots and can remove some of the clamps, I might be able to re-arrange the support bar into the 'corner' of the angle for more support. That being said, since I am welding more on the 'outside' of the slider, I should probably be more worried about the piece bowing inwards (shortening on the outside). I will have to study your diagram for supporting the piece with the square rods and see if I can make sense this afternoon. thanks....

This is what I hope is the actual solution. I tried running long beads (if you can call my welds beads) last time - so going for the short 1inch one this time and not continuous. Will seal and then paint. Even without much rust protection, if these sliders rust out, it will be long after the jeep has finished rusting out.

 

Added the end caps: I envy those of you that can weld nicely. A little final touch up grinding and some paint and it should look okay. I also drilled all the mount holes. Have to weld the second 1" tube on to the angle iron (which includes a lot of grinding and rewelding for me) and then clean and prep for paint.

 

I think its strong enough - its more a matter of ugly welds. I am using a bottom end Lincoln 120 MIG. I am running the highest voltage - settings say for 1/8". The angle is 3/16" but the tube is 1/8". I am getting better being a bit more patient and letting the pool really develop. I have a lot of trouble seeing anything when welding and I have trouble moving in a straight line along the seem etc.

Here are some on the bottom that I think came out nice (for me). First try even (well on the second slider so I kind got some stuff figured out).


Here are the ones on the top - I really struggle with keeping the arc down in the seam and not just having it jump to the angle. I don't have a good way to set the work up so it sits on some metal saw horses and sometimes I have to twist and turn a bit to get things at the right angle and then its tough to move in a nice consistent manner so I walk off the seam a lot. These are some of the ugly ones that will need some clean-up if not re-done. Kind of embarrassing but also trying to learn.

 

yup - 1/8" is max according to its own specs, so power is all the way up to highest setting.

this does help - its how I managed to get the 'better' welds on the bottom seam.

Didn't think about this - would be worth trying along with pre-heating a bit. If I can get the wire a bit hotter and more 'sizzle' or spray - then it won't get as much of that globular material transfer. Will definitely try that - I even saw wire that was one step smaller at the store the other day when I was replenishing my wire supply. thanks

 

Cleaned up the welds on the top - they stand out on the bare metal, but should fade into the paint. Whaddaya think - time to drill the body? Hate drilling holes into old good sheetmetal.




The driver side is the done the same - just hard to get pics with the garage wall on that side. Thinking will paint flat/satin black. Did see some spray can bedliner - could use that. Would appreciate what I think is more durable finish, but it might have more texture than I like and would not match the smooth/powder coated front and rear bumper.

 

Looks good to me.

As I've said before... Welding has really improved my grinding skills.

 

Painted today - I didn't finish up the metal work quite as much as I probably should have getting everything nice and smooth. But I am hoping to take the jeep out this weekend for a trail run - and I might even put the sliders to use on one obstacle. Its easy to strip paint and redo if needed - thinking I will run them for the summer and see how it works. I tried a new paint sequence - I used spray can rustoleum self-etching primer for the first time, hoping it might help the durability of the top coat paint on the bare metal (which I did rough up and wipe down clean with solvent). I've never use self-etching primer before - so I probably put on too many coats. From some post research - it seems I should have used just a couple light coats. Anyway - it left way more 'texture' than I expected and the texture was a bit inconsistent. Sort of a fine grit texture in spots (probably where it was too thick). I could have let it cure for the evening and sanded and then painted, but I went for the spray paint anyway. The flat satin black paint shows the inconsistent grit texture through it - but if its durable it will work for now. I can strip and smooth up the metal work in places (and maybe even reweld a couple spots) and possibly try the self-etching primer again and either sand it and then paint, or possibly spray a coat of regular primer over it and then paint. Stuff will sit overnight and then drill and mount on either Thurs or Fri.

 

Love drilling holes in my jeep


Finished product (for now) - will probably pull them off at some point and clean up/replace some of the welds etc and repaint



Now to put them to use on Sat - well hopefully not, but should be a bit less stressful on some of the rock steps.

 

if I can...any of you can. Go for it. Its been (and will continue to be) a fun learning project. And its way cheaper than any you can buy.