Need to get a simple welding job done

TigerUK · Post by **TigerUK** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:10 pm

Hi,

This is a welding job for a gym rig I got at home. It's a rectangular cage for doing excercises in. The catcher holds around 200kg between two of them, (so one must bear at least 100kg on it's own).

I need similar catchers to be put on, on the other side (left of the picture), so I can rest the bar on the outside of the frame to do lifts which I'm restricted to currently becuause of the lower ceiling of the frame.

Require job to be done on both sides.

Unfortunately never had work like this done before..

Who do you think I need to get in touch? vehicle garage? specialist welders? etc

How much am I looking at?

TigerUK · Post by **TigerUK** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:28 pm

sorry didn't see the metalworks forum. SHould have posted it there.

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:35 pm

Not a big job really is it, assuming its just steel. Do you have the new catchers or do they need making?

Where abouts are you?

bredred · Post by **bredred** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:42 pm

I assume you are meaning it as per the ammended photo i have included.

If so then it is a fairly simple fabrication job - the sort of thing i used to do for mates in return for a few beers, but that was the benefit of running a zero cost (to me) workshop in the Navy. Hitch or others will be able to give advice on cost, but it is pretty simple.

I've always thought about the implications of failure for items such as this - i don't think it needs to be a coded welder, but i would be cautious of using a welder at a local garage as i believe they do not require formal qualifications nor licences (don't quote me on that....!!) and the welding they are familiar with will be on 1 - 1 1/2 mm sheet steel. You would need it made of fairly chunky steel 3 - 5mm

bredred · Post by **bredred** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:56 pm

In fact, looking at it again - its a bit of rectangular box section (couple mm wall thickness) with a restraining end plate welded onto the end of it and then welded onto the existing fitting.

I assume you are able to slide the fitting off - it could really do with coming off in order to get the welding done. If it can come off then visit your local fabricators and ask around - hopefully they won't take the p*ss with costs. If Hitch or any other forum members are in a position to help then "happy days"

TigerUK · Post by **TigerUK** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:49 am

Hitch wrote:Not a big job really is it, assuming its just steel. Do you have the new catchers or do they need making?

Where abouts are you?

hitch, the catchers need fabricating. I doesn't need to be as tough as the exisiting catchers... max load it's going to take on the outside is 80kg, 100kg tops.. borne by a pair of catchers... so half that.

I'm based in London

TigerUK · Post by **TigerUK** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:51 am

bredred wrote:In fact, looking at it again - its a bit of rectangular box section (couple mm wall thickness) with a restraining end plate welded onto the end of it and then welded onto the existing fitting.

I assume you are able to slide the fitting off - it could really do with coming off in order to get the welding done. If it can come off then visit your local fabricators and ask around - hopefully they won't take the p*ss with costs. If Hitch or any other forum members are in a position to help then "happy days"

bredred appreciate the helpfulness and going through the effort to do the diagrams.

You're quite right, the steel is quite thick, maybe 3mm, and the black part comes off easily.. It's supposed to slide up and down the grey post, and can be removed by sliding all the way up.

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:26 pm

Yeah, thats a beer money job really....

Im a bit far away to do it unless you post it to me

As Bredred mentioned, its only a piece of box with a plate on it, i expect 2mm thick, looking at the radius on the existing bits.

I wouldnt go to a garage, they probably wont have any material to use.

A small friendly fab shop is the way, larger places will have minimum charges etc, and would work out expensive for about 30 mins work (tops)
Hourly rates vary vastly from around £28p/h, but if you find a friendly local one, you will probably get away with spending £20 less if you are lucky. Tell them you will drill the screw holes and re-paint it yourself. The sort of thing the boss will get one of the lads to do at lunchtime for pocket money