projects

[6010]

SignWave , safetydave, Big_Eddy ,AnotherDano

Thanks for the ideas and offer of help. I hope to be starting this project soon. My biggest impediment at the moment is getting my lazy rear end out of this computer chair and getting to work.

I am researching all the applicable building codes now and will get the local inspector to sign off on the project before I begin. After finishing a house this spring, I think this is how to start off. The house took me almost a year and an half and was by far my biggest Black and Decker project to date. If I hadn't gotten the 2003 International Residential Building Code on CD ROM I would probably still be working on it.

I have a friend that was once one of my vendors. He owns a big metal company now. I think if I convince him what a worthwhile humanitarian project this is he would probably cut me a deal on the metal. Especially if I told him we could probably get a picture of the finished project in the local paper with his name and his contribution, maybe even his picture standing beside it. Well, I think he would go for that. That is just the kind of guy he is. I think some people call it a " good businessman. "

[safetydave]

aluminum ramp

Hey 6010, hows your ramp project coming along? have you gotten any good ideas for what you want? I was ready your post and just to let you know I did some work for a company years back and we made aluminum ramps for the handi-cap and portable school class rooms that were very usable for several apps and quiet sturdy. We did some that you could fold up and carry or put in the trunk of a car and not take up alot of room (4'x36")open (4'x16")closed see what i'm getting at, if you would like I could get you some phone numbers and names for you? But also you could check on the web under handi-cap ramps or portable entry systems you should come up with some info on that. if you want more info on this shoot me a line and i'll be glad to help out.

[welderman23]

I have to agree with SafetyDave. As I was welding up new plow shoes today for the snow plow, I thought of 2 new projects without even trying. My project list is now like my honey doo list, I'll never catch up.

How about wheel chocks, dollies, carts, folding saw horses, racks, shelf brackets, storage cabinet, cooking grill, stools, tables, the list is endless.

mine is like a unfinished novel .you keep adding pages and you never finish it

[Big_Eddy]

Sounds like Boat dock hardware would be very suitable. I see pipe legs that are adjustable, connector plates like docks have, and a number of standard panels that can be attached together depending on the specific site. Maybe even a 90 degree left and right section where turns are needed. A couple of plates at either end to get on and off and you are good. I'd make the it in 4 foot sections so they are easy enough to handle and store. Probably use 2x2 angle for the frames - turned up on the sides, down on the ends - with a plywood deck with outdoor carpeting.

[AnotherDano]

6010,,

It strikes me that the world your daughter is in could use a more universal solution. Instead of designing a ramp for one situation and doing it all over for another one, how about concentrating on a design of something that is adaptable to most situations.

Joist hangers come to mind. They do the same job no matter the length of the board that they support.

If you could come up with a support bracket design that is flexable enough to 'round the corners' and 'follow the grade', all that is left is the length of material between them.

You could spend a weekend making a ramp for someone, or provide a host of volunteers like yourself with a 'system' that makes them more productive and helping a lot more people.

If the ramp needs to be removed, the user can keep the hardware and use it in a new location with boards cut to fit the new situation.

Just a thought........

[SignWave]

No prob 6010. Im around somewhere. if nothing more , we can BS over some possibilities.

To me it sounds like father like daughter... isnt she fixing things too and keeping some things from breaking even worse....? think about it.
Kudo's

[6010]

SignWave

Thanks Rich,

I will probably be needing you help before I am finished. I have been looking on the internet and found some commercial ramps that were offered but I am still looking for ideas. I am going to try to make something that can be used repeatably, be safe of course, and be as pleasing to look at as I can make it. If I come up with something good then maybe some of the local fabricators can make some. The first one will be on me and will be my contribution to Hospice.

On the Lincoln web site ( who said that ) I saw an interesting project where someone made a ramp so people in wheel chairs could mount horses. I have ridden a lot of horses and some of them were crazy, but I don't think I would be brave enough to try to ride one if I was in a wheel chair. People who do that have my deepest respect.

As I said this is a favor for my daughter that is a social worker. I don't think she will ever make enough money to cover what I spent on her education, but at the end of her career I am sure she will have stored up wealth in another way, and for that I know it was worth every penny that I spent. At the end of my career I will be able to say I made more money, but all I did was fix a lot of things that were broke and kept some from breaking

I will probably be getting back with you soon for some help.

[SignWave]

build a bridge

Has anybody got any ideas about how one should be built and maybe have some pictures of something similar. I feel confident I could weld it up if I had some good ideas of how it should be done and I told her I would try to help her out with a prototype.

Thanks

6010, I was given this challenge a while back for an elderly couple. I never wa given the chance to follow though as they hasd it built out of wood. This wa amore permanent structure.

I think you will have to try and create something very generic that will fit to many different applications. how you go about fitting a single reusable ramp to many different stair set ups is going to be the challenge. Off the top of my head im thinking some sort of foldable ramp that can be pulled out or pushed in, tipped up or down depending on the distance that needs to be bridged.

If you can find more info on these fundamentals, perhaps we can come up with something... let me know...
Rich

[Admin]

Idea Gallery

I realize we don't have a ton of step-by-step projects, but there are lots of ideas on the idea gallery: http://www.millerwelds.com/interests...ound-the-shop/

There are 5 tabs of different projects, each with hundreds of project pictures...

Hope that helps?

[KBar]

Can anyone tell me were to find some new projects because the ones that are on miller site are old. And I would like to find some that will help out in the shop.

I have to agree with SafetyDave. As I was welding up new plow shoes today for the snow plow, I thought of 2 new projects without even trying. My project list is now like my honey doo list, I'll never catch up.

How about wheel chocks, dollies, carts, folding saw horses, racks, shelf brackets, storage cabinet, cooking grill, stools, tables, the list is endless.

[safetydave]

proects to weld

JJE If you want more ideas to do for projects all you would have to do is look all around you and that should give you enough tips on new projects it seems to work for me. Even if the projects are old try to improve on what's already been done or go a step farther. I'm kind of suprised to hear your looking for new ideas for projects beeing a welder? not trashing you or anything but like I said is to look around and it shouldn't take to much to get some thing cooking in the weld shop.

[shott8283]

on deck for me is A:- new bow press B:- bending brake.. (not sure how big and/or how beefy) C:- 2 catch cans for my truck D:- motor mount for my boat motor D:- cant remember the last one

[6010]

I need some help too

My daughter is a social worker and is working for Hospice. She came by today to bring me some lunch and, since she wants me to teach her how to weld, I showed her my welders and a cart I have almost finished.

She then ask me if I would work on a project for her. Many times the patients that are cared for by Hospice must have an access ramp to enter the house while in a wheel chair. She wanted to to try to design and weld an adjustable ramp out of metal. She says now they are made of wood and when the patient is moved, or no longer needs it anymore, they have to have it torn down. With nowhere to store the material the next time they need one they have to have a new one built.

She thinks a metal ramp that can be erected when needed would save money in the long run because it can be used again. I was thinking along the lines of metal supports and a metal handrail with plywood for the runway. This would make it portable and something they could use again.


Has anybody got any ideas about how one should be built and maybe have some pictures of something similar. I feel confident I could weld it up if I had some good ideas of how it should be done and I told her I would try to help her out with a prototype.

Thanks

[JJE]

yes, things like that

[wireburner]

how bout a stool, cart for welder, cart 4 bandsaw, table?