Re: Outdoor Welding

On 6/15/2025 2:41 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I've cut the front jack off my gooseneck trailer.  Its always been hard to use, but the last time I tried I couldn't get it to move at all. Moving the trailer around onsite is no big deal.  I built a hitch multi hitch that snap into the 3 point on my tractor.  Standard draw bar receiver on the bottom.  5/16 ball on the top.  Its really handy.  I can move any of the trailers around fairly easily, and it leaves me the option of parking trailers, boats, etc in the soft sandy areas of the yard to get them out of the way of other things.
 However, I need a working jack (or jacks) on the trailer to actually use it for hauling.  I cut the old one off with the front resting on jack stands.  I could put another jack right where the old one was, but I am leaning more towards dual landing gear.  I have a couple jacks for the purpose and they can be linked with a tube easily enough.  That way I can drive them both with a single handle, or slap a sprocket on the connecting tube and drive them with an old winch motor I will never use again for a winch.
 They are intended to be weld on jacks.  I'm probably overthinking it, but I've been wondering if it might be better to drag the AHP power supply out and stick weld them.  I don't typically stick weld anything these days.  If I can get it inside and the get welds horizontal I MIG (GMAW) weld.  If I have to weld outside I usually run gasless flux core (FCAW).
 There is also the matter of connecting them if I weld them in place. I'd probably have to make a 3 piece connecting tube/rod or put it on before I weld them in place.  I'm thinking 3 pc connecting rod so I can add a sprocket later.
 Just thinking out loud.  I'll probably stress over it for a few days, and then just burn them in place with some FCAW wire.
 

Interestingly, I welded on one jack one day using stacked weave tacks and it looks like it won't fall off.  Couldn't get vertical up or vertical down to work at all.  The next day I welded on the second jack with all the exact same settings and ran two 12 inch beads vertical up continuous.  Neither looks like a pro welded it I am sure, but I don't think either jack will fall off.  It was breezy both days, so MIG would have not worked at all.
Maybe it was a little breezier the first day?  I don't know.
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Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
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