Metal thickness question.

[txfireguy2003]

^ Spot on from what I have seen. I'm what you might call a rookie, two years ago I bought my first welder. Seems like every old school guy that stops by the shop says they would go bigger on my stuff, but I do plenty of research before I build to make sure the materials I use will hold up.

When I started, i used heavy metal because it was easier to weld without burning through, and made me feel better (safer) in case my weld wasn't prefect (and few were back then) at least the good parts had a lot of metal around them and maybe they'd hold me up. As i got better, and got a mig welder, i realized that it makes no difference how thick the metal is, unless you get full penetration with your weld, you're not taking advantage if that thickness anyway.

[Bucksaw]

I use 16ga on mine up to 10'. 5-6 ft no problem!

That 1" or 1 1/2"?

[Dale Moser]

^ Spot on from what I have seen. I'm what you might call a rookie, two years ago I bought my first welder. Seems like every old school guy that stops by the shop says they would go bigger on my stuff, but I do plenty of research before I build to make sure the materials I use will hold up.

It's cheaper to over-engineer it than it is to over-build it.


But there are still a few things that need to be over-built.....beer holders, for instance.

[Bowhica]

I use 16ga on mine up to 10'. 5-6 ft no problem!

How does one go about shooting a bow out of these blinds? Do people really use guns to shoot animals? Weird!!!

LOTB

[txpitdog]

Don't you think this question should be answered over some Pendleton's first?

[Palmetto]

I build 5 & 10 foot tall towers out of 1-1/2" 14ga.

This one was for a 4x6 T-Box (fiberglass).

[9toes]

That 1" or 1 1/2"?

Yes one inch.

[JP Weld]

Most welders, or at least all the farm shop welders i know are habitual overbuilders, myself included. That being said, the trend in all building trades now is engineered members that are lighter, cheaper and adequately strong....sometimes stronger than the old way. I'm learning, slowly but surely, that overbuilding is not always the way to go, it's always more expensive, always heavier, and frequently harder to build, then once built, harder to put to use. Like in this case, a 6 foot stand built out of 16ga tubing would likely only weight 40-50 pounds, maybe a bit more. Build the same stand out of 1/8" wall tubing and it suddenly weighs a hundred fifty or more and takes 3 men and a mule to place. Build it out of drill stem and heavy angle iron and your great great grandkids can use it, as long as they want to use it exactly where you left it! :-D Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, they might be able to move it with a tractor and 5 or 10 strong buddies.

Not a farm shop welder and have never lived on a farm, but I am and have been a certified pipe and structural welder for 16 years and cheap is never a good way to go IMO. If I cant build something impressive that will last a lifetime, than it is a waste of time.

[JP Weld]

I build 5 & 10 foot tall towers out of 1-1/2" 14ga.

This one was for a 4x6 T-Box (fiberglass).

Your frame is looking good Sir.

[JP Weld]

Most welders, or at least all the farm shop welders i know are habitual overbuilders, myself included. That being said, the trend in all building trades now is engineered members that are lighter, cheaper and adequately strong....sometimes stronger than the old way. I'm learning, slowly but surely, that overbuilding is not always the way to go, it's always more expensive, always heavier, and frequently harder to build, then once built, harder to put to use. Like in this case, a 6 foot stand built out of 16ga tubing would likely only weight 40-50 pounds, maybe a bit more. Build the same stand out of 1/8" wall tubing and it suddenly weighs a hundred fifty or more and takes 3 men and a mule to place. Build it out of drill stem and heavy angle iron and your great great grandkids can use it, as long as they want to use it exactly where you left it! :-D Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, they might be able to move it with a tractor and 5 or 10 strong buddies.

Everything I have built for hunting purposes can easily be moved by 1-2 people and mostly one person. They are all modular and simple to break down and move.

[Draco]

There is a reason engineers get paid the big bucks. It's to keep us weldors from wasting our money on excessive material.

I have always used 1 1/2"x14 ga. sq. tube with 1"x1"x1/8" angle for cross bracing.

[WKH2213]

14g and your good to go