Project 1 from ScratchStart

The DOT was not very happy when my crane lacked the necessary "safety equipment". Which in this case were the 3 small red lights that mark center rear of the vehicle. so I had to build a little light bar and wire some up.

bar is 2x4x 1/8 square tube. I cut 3, 2 3/8" holes with the plasma (hole saw was MIA) and ground them out to round, as my plasma skills were seriously inhibited by the ammount of coffe I had.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6714285_n.jpg
Cut caps for the end from some 1/8" x 2" HR flat stock and welded them on
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4749821_n.jpg
ground the welds down and smoothed them out
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4612233_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3834255_n.jpg
here is the light bar ready for some primer
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...4_396088_n.jpg

The whole project took less than 2 hours (not including time for the paint to dry). All the steel came from the scrap pile.

I'll grab a picture of it installed and add it.

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Originally Posted by ScratchStart

my plasma skills were seriously inhibited by the ammount of coffe I had.

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That's how I get the cool ripples in my welds!

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That's how I get the cool ripples in my welds!

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thats where I went wrong... not bad plasma skills... just cool ripples in my cuts!

Looks factory... speaking of factory....
Is this a crane you built, or did it come from the factory "lacking" the "necessary" "safety equipment"?

Why are the ends at an angle?

it is a Krupp 150 Tonner.... got hit in the back by a semi-truck (apperantly he couldn't see 4 flashing yellow lights, and a huge yellow crane... Crane won that round, just felt like hitting a speed bump) and the guy that rebuilt the back end didn't replace the lights. he did build a pretty nice looking storage box tho...

I angled the ends so it would look more factory, I'll get some pics to show you what I mean. I just didn't want a square box hanging down in the rear middle, thought it would look better with the taper to it...

Oh my... I just hit Google image and found some pics of a Krupp 150... my gosh.. that's a huge crane!

yup nearly 200' of stick and double lines, I can set A/C units from the parkinglot!

so tell me how the semi truck driver "didn't see it"...LOL you gotta love J B Hunt!

Do you hang steel with that crane? Are you in the crane business?

Well, see now.. if those three tiny little lights were missing from the huge rear end of that huge crane, then I might understand not seeing the crane, but since those three tiny little lights where there on the huge rear end of that huge crane at the time of inpact.. there's just no excuse for not seeing it. LOL :)

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Originally Posted by ScratchStart

yup nearly 200' of stick and double lines, I can set A/C units from the parkinglot!

so tell me how the semi truck driver "didn't see it"...LOL you gotta love J B Hunt!

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Probably Texting.....or watching tv or something.

used to be an ironworker, now I just do weekend lifts for them... I'll have to get pics this weekend... we are pulling a bridge back out of a river... should be fun!

Here is a pic of the back of the crane with the light bar mounted, the angled ends just make it look better IMO.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._1155154_n.jpg

Yea, I see why you angled the ends; I agree it looks better than it would with square ends.

Half the value of a project is the appearance. There are a lot of guys that can lay a weld, but not many as many guys can fabricate. These details are part of fabricating. Sure you can stick it together, but can you make it look like it wasn't just tacked on as an afterthought? Fabrication skills can be learned, though I'd say most of it comes from being rooted in talent for most guys.

I appreciate the compliments and positive feedback guys! Now on to the next project....