Plan Welding Projects in 5 Easy Steps

Idea → Design → Metal
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[@Factory400]

Planning my projects in CAD is the only reason I ever get the result I was dreaming about. Any project that I just 'wing it' ends up with frustrating compromises. This is a great topic!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! When I jump right in and just start building, but usually end up regretting it. I may do some more involved design videos with some projects in CAD as well.

[@zoom0211]

Yeah, I quite often experience the same whatever I do when there's significant amount of time & money involved. Planning is important.

[@jonnythorman706]

Am am very new at this but whatever project it would be i usually plan in my head for days, after this video i am thinking of learning some sort of cad software, i have been tinkering with fusion 360 for personal use. But its frustrating as the learning curve is very steep, so i guess i am asking is it worth it in the long end? Benefits negatives?

[@larelare1]

I was just talking with a friend about how cool it was that mitered pieces, when alternating flipped directions can gain some length overall because of the over lapping diagonals.

[@-DIYPRO-]

Having only the cheap HF carts i think its time to make my own! Don't get mad if you see MechMaster making one just like yours!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks Jeff! Some of their carts are pretty good, but they never have all the hangers in the right spots for me and they wheels are usually too small, so I like my own home brew. Plus, I just like building my own stuff whether it makes sense to or not.

[@weldingempire]

Very good video Tim. Being in the industry we might take this planning for granted but newer people starting to fabricate projects can miss a few steps along the process.

[@nanaklif4973]

Thank you very much for the access you gave me to your online course ,I've learnt alot thou I am not done yet ..you are one of a kind Tim...❤❤❤.

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! So glad you're learning from them!

[@hugoleon8378]

Great content. Make more videos like this! Please

[@TimWelds]

Thank you so much!

[@Obtuse94]

Such a simple seeming video but such incredible content. Thank you so much, Tim!

[@guye7763]

The courses are great! Very very satisfied, thanks!

[@leeball4]

This is an awesome 5 minute summary of the engineering process

[@spencerzintak5134]

I’m signing up for the courses next month! Moving into a new place and setting up my welder and gonna go to work super excited thanks for offering these courses

[@Brisasfrias2]

Thanks for sharing this important piece of information. I've purchased your courses because i am serious about learning how to weld. Planing on purchasing my first machine inspired in your videos. Thanks for the great content!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks a ton!

[@hosseinjahangard336]

Excellent 🙏🏼

[@chikowhitey]

thanks Tim, great video mate

[@helmesnick79]

Absolutely enjoy all of your helpful tips tricks. Also love the new TW hat

[@caracarametal]

Enjoyed this!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks a ton!

[@bud1412]

Thanks, always great ideas.

[@TimWelds]

Thank you!

[@phildegruy9295]

Good video Tim. I like the overall setup and especially the two bottle storage. I have a very similar setup with an Everlast Lightening MTS 275 which is about the same size as your new rig. It also has the water cooler which would go on the lower shelf line you mentined. Only thing I would add is a space somewhere for my plasma torch (Hypertherm 30 Air) and a couple 4.5" grinders to hang.

[@petermapp5988]

Thank you for this video

[@TimWelds]

You're welcome! Thank you!

[@justintasht1067]

Great video thank you for sharing the info great help and some good advice 👍👍

[@TimWelds]

Thanks a ton!!!

[@mattyoung5084]

Love the hat!

[@yogoombah2356]

For us newbies, do you have or can you make a vid discussing the normal wall thicknesses used on different projects. I realized each project has its own engineering based on the weight being supported, for example, should you use 1/4" or 0.18" steel stringers for a 9-thread exterior staircase? Or for railings?

[@TimWelds]

Great suggestion! I don't have any videos about that at this point, but it would be a great topic to cover. Thanks!

[@andyf1235]

This is a great idea!

[@420smokingjoe]

​@@TimWelds I like this idea as well. Recently received 15.... 4ft sticks of 1"sq tubing but it only 048 wall probably to thin to make cart out of.

[@christosthesprotia637]

As an engineer the more I see projects and do stuff I can tell that the thickness is not pre requisite, for example I will do this with 4mm square tube or.. etc, but to be estimated base on the momentum of inertia but not only. The role of the engineer is not to select the thickness of the project only but to find the minimum safe. How he does that? Visualize the project, analyze all the factors that he can think off, design it and make it, see all the mistakes and then make it perfect.

[@zoom0211]

@@TimWelds I'd love to watch it! As a beginner I'm always nervous when I need to choose material for a project.

[@ZILAwelds]

Dual tank cart 👍👍👍

[@TimWelds]

It's getting serious around here! Thanks!

[@andyf1235]

I always love your videos. I'm looking forward to the welding cart video as many of the needs you have I have too. I have a Strata Advance Multi 205 machine which is single pulse mig and AC/DC tig (pulse). So I have two mig guns, tig torch, arc welding lead and ground to house! I also want to put all my other accessories on there like tig wire, pliers, mig/tig consumables etc. The cheap welding cart I have works kind of ok but the wheels are too small and the welder doesn't fit very well due to being long and skinny.

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Great tips, Tim! One thing I would add. My steel supplier is happy to cut to order. I save a lot of time by having them cut the majority of what I need, especially as I don't have all of the tooling and machinery to do it easily and accurately as they can. Check around your area. You might find a supplier that will cut to order.

[@TimWelds]

That's awesome, I'm a bit jealous of that! The suppliers I go to will make a couple rough cuts, but I wouldn't build anything off of them. I only have them cut when I don't want to drag a trailer out there. Thanks!

[@brandonscarfe8803]

That’s a sweet hat!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks!

[@OsunaFabrication]

I want one of those hats brother

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! It's one of a kind for now, but I'll keep you posted if I start offering some merch.

[@andyf1235]

That hat is pretty nice

[@jakemaughan3818]

I would love to see a video just on using free cad software to design something simple and get a bill of materials from it.

[@user-rq2pe2dd5w]

You talk about cad software what type do you use and cost

[@bigmacsnoobselectronicsrep8032]

Can I ask you what cad software are you using??? Fantastic video by the way and great work

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! Those projects were modeled in OnShape, which is a web based CAD software that I really like. The subscription is pretty pricey, but they have a free version for hobby work which requires designs to be public, but has great functionality. I use Autodesk Fusion 360 for my business because I have a paid license for it and it's the most affordable and has the functionality I need for my relatively simple work. I've used all of the big name 3D CAD systems in my engineering career, and once you learn 2, it's pretty easy to pick up any of the others.

[@bigmacsnoobselectronicsrep8032]

@@TimWelds thanks Tim

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Tim, did you get a new camera? Is it me or have you've stepped up your video quality? Thanks for step 1. One question, will you have a step where you measure the final cart to see how well you matched to measurements? Thanks from Colorado.

[@TimWelds]

I did upgrade my camera and I keep trying to up the quality a little at a time, glad it's coming though! The good engineer in me would include an inspection/test step, but in this case, everything fit, so I called that a pass :) It's a really good point, though, and it may be worth a follow on video with something a bit more complex, running through a more detailed and rigorous engineering design process. Thanks Craig!

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@@TimWelds cool, in all the YT welding videos I've never seen a project inspection with attention to customer's requirements, tolerances and what to expect.

[@torowazup1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼😎

[@petermapp5988]

What courses do you offer ?

[@TimWelds]

Thanks a ton for asking! I have beginner courses in MIG, TIG and Stick welding that start from zero and walk through the learning process step by step covering everything from equipment, setup, settings, technique clear through welding the 4 common joints that make up almost all projects. You can also get a bundle with these 3 plus an intro to fabrication course. They have lifetime access for one fair price and are all online at courses.timwelds.com .

[@g.tucker8682]

The courses are a real bargain for the beginner.