Yesterday, I added two handles, to make it easier to move around. Here is the best weld from them:
Still a lot of room to improve. But I feel pretty good about it as the handle is a much thinner metal than the leg that it is welded onto.
I then tilted the table 90 degrees, and welded the bottom part of the handles. So, this is a vertical weld, where gravity really comes into play. After botching the first handle by going bottom to top, I tried this one going from top to bottom. A welding manual said that it's easier but that there isn't as much penetration. Since the other handle got eaten up by the weld, i figured I should just keep all the settings the same & it would work out OK.
Here's the results:
Today, I cut a sheet of aluminum (with a 150+ tooth circular saw blade that said "do not use on metal"... maybe I should have read the fine print before buying it) and fit it into the bottom. Now I've got a nice shelf for all my welding stuff. And yes, I do remove the cardboard boxes before welding. I also I move the whole table outside a bit before starting. Thus the handles & the casters on the other side. Also note the fire extinguisher on the left.
The next project is going to be to make supports for the fire resistant cloth that I bought as a welding screen, to keep the arc's view out of neighbors' eyes. It should also work well as a wind breaker, and help me make better welds with my MIG.
