Some of what I do... finally.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

I've received so much advice from this forum that I felt I should post some pics at some point. Here are a few pics of completed projects. Welding has an important role in our work, but our projects are usually more about bringing together different materials to complete the big picture. Quite often the projects do not involve any welding at all; sometimes it feels like a production line. Since I enjoy welding, this is a good thing.

[SignWave]

impressive Chris. My compliments on your shops (and yours') ability.

Where are you located?

[tnjind]

Nice all around work, what is your main line of work?

[hytekredneck]

sweet light fixture

[BDJ]

Nice work, The light fixture is a work of art

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

impressive Chris. My compliments on your shops (and yours') ability.

Where are you located?

Thanks a lot. I'm in San Diego. Weather is nice enough here year-round for an indoor/outdoor shop.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

Nice all around work, what is your main line of work?

Thanks, man.

You know, I'm still trying to find that "main line" of work to simplify things.
It seems as though everytime the phone rings we have to reinvent and try something new. Most of the work tends to be through architects or designers looking for custom items for a new commercial space, i.e. hotel, restaurant, corporate office, sometimesresidences, etc. The last few years have seen a lot of stainless, as it is a popular material... stainless railings, fixtures, furniture. I like to make furniture, but one can starve making furniture by hand, one piece at a time, for a living.
The good thing is that we're always facing a new challenge...
The bad thing is that we're always facing a new challenge.

We integrate a lot of different materials- wood, metals, glass, plastics, composites, lights, blah blah blah. There's a lot to consider, which is why I really like the straight up metal jobs that I can do with a 35 pound blue box and a disk sander. Then I wonder what I'm doing with the rest of the machinery.

Thanks again for the compliment.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

sweet light fixture

Thanks dude.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

Nice work, The light fixture is a work of art

Thanks a lot, man.

Myself, a buddy, and my father busted that out from a napkin drawing and the contractor's "layout" of the bar on the concrete.
The radii were asymetrical and were anything but "radii". We had to plot out the coordinates from the site, then transfer those to the shop. It ended up being about 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 10 feet tall. I got really scared when we had to shoehorn it thought the front door of the restaurant.
It was a tight fit, even though we made it in two halves. This was one of those projects that really came together, and once we got it inside, we hit all of our anchor marks right on the money. Planning, planning, and more planning.

If anyone cares, I can post a few pics of the process.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

pics of the process

Thanks a lot, man.

Myself, a buddy, and my father busted that out from a napkin drawing and the contractor's "layout" of the bar on the concrete.
The radii were asymetrical and were anything but "radii". We had to plot out the coordinates from the site, then transfer those to the shop. It ended up being about 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 10 feet tall. I got really scared when we had to shoehorn it thought the front door of the restaurant.
It was a tight fit, even though we made it in two halves. This was one of those projects that really came together, and once we got it inside, we hit all of our anchor marks right on the money. Planning, planning, and more planning.

If anyone cares, I can post a few pics of the process.

Aww heck, I'll just post a few anyways; I'm nursing a bad back, so I've got some time on my hands.

1. Checked out the job and the site... you want what-where??!?
2. Let's make it out of 1x1x.063 wall steel tubing. Slim and light. Better make some dies to get the shape.
3. You mean it has to be flat, straight, true, level, etc???
4. Working out the shape.
5. Detail of the nose.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

more process

1. The welding machines we used were: a Passport for the frame, and a Maxstar 200DX for the stainless rod around the bar shelf. Small welders... big light.

I had just purchased the Passport, and this was a great job for it. Its small footprint really shined as we could place it anywhere we wanted while we climbed all over this birdcage. Overall I've been very pleased with this machine and it has become the "go-to" MIG unit around here. I do have a few minor gripes about it, but it's a pretty "mad-tight" little welding machine.

2. through 5.: frame coming together, including the "ribs."

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

1. Backtracking a litte in my time-line, JC is checking that all three layers will match up. It took a lot of pushing and pulling to get the shape to match the layout at the job site.

2. Templates for the shelves, which were fabricated from 1" thick cast resin panels. These were heavy as all heck, and we cut them on a 30" bandsaw.

3. Things can get messy when you're chasing down a deadline.

4. Loaded.

5. I love it when a plan comes together.


Thanks for looking.

[tnjind]

Dang, man,

You are a different caliber then I am.

Very well executed.
Dang good job all around,
Nice to be able to work with tour friends and your father, I know, great.

Again, good job.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

Dang, man,

You are a different caliber then I am.

I'ts probably safe to say that I'm just... different than you are.

Very well executed.
Dang good job all around,

Thanks again. Been at it for a while.

Nice to be able to work with tour friends and your father, I know, great.

Can't beat it. I feel privileged. Dad's an old-school race car guy, so when he comes by I try to pretend I know what I'm doing. Plus he's probably shown me one or two tricks now and again.

[chrisgay@sbcglo]

tnjind

Hey tnjind,

What kinds of things are you welding up in Indiana?