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QuillQuote [they/them] @hexbear.net

3w ago

Been learning to weld, what do you think?

Decided to make a sierpinski's tetrahedron as a first REAL project! I built a shitty angleiron workbench (with an old door ziptied onto it as the tabletop) before but I'm actually trying this time so it's different

170 welds completed so far

!! So, only 346 left to go!!...

This was a really good idea until I remembered how complex fractals are, like GIRL, DUH, fuck was I thinking hahaha

Its REALLY scuffed though, I'm talkin like using my stick welder to melt a half inch off the end off of the pieces I had precut to make it shorter so it will fit in the actual dimensions needed, I've been holding the smallest (~2") pieces with a wrench and holding it in place freehand. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I'm definitely improving as I go, I weld my welding stick to my stock way less often now, and achieve arc much more reliably too, which is cool to see my own progress within the project!

I hurt my shoulder a bit ago so I haven't been able to do much lately, but welding is pretty low impact in that I mostly just sit on a folding chair in my driveway next to my shitty workbench lol

Have some more views!

When it's done it'll look like this image I found on google

Welding @lemmy.dbzer0.com

QuillQuote [they/them] @hexbear.net

3w ago

Been learning to weld, what do you think?

Hobbies @hexbear.net

QuillQuote [they/them] @hexbear.net

3w ago

Been learning to weld, what do you think?

63 comments

Insufficiently hexagonal
- You're on the wrong website pardner
- I'm not saying this to be an argumentative debate-bro, and it's been a long time since I've forgotten abstract algebra, let alone found myself able to quickly work these things out, but l think usually where there are equilateral triangles, there are hexagonal symmetries (in 2d and 3d spaces)
  
  I'll grant you that there's a square there, but there are no hexagons on that thing, I guess you could use 6 to make their bases make a hexagon tho :U
  
  happy cake day btw
Oh shit Quill, been forever since I've seen you around. This is looking really cool and I hope to see it finished.
- Hiii!!!! It's good to see you :D Thanks so much ^~ ^
  never fear, I will definitely post updates!
that rules
Shoutout to my rug for co-starring in this post
I'm thinking, "Did you measure the door?"
- Oh yeah its largest edge size is 18"
Hello quillquote
Very cool tetrahedron
- Hello! Long time no see comrade!
  Thank you very much :3
That is so fricking cool!!! Do a rhombic dodecahedron next!!! jk haha unless...
- I very well might do a Menger Sponge to use as a table or stool or something, but that's a cool shape too! do you have a particular affinity for it?
  Side note but I found it while googling just now and apparently this lady made this KICKASS origami menger sponge, holy shit
  Photo looks weird tho, but I can't tell if bad 90s camera or editing happened
  
  Mengers sponge is really cool as well though. I like the rhombic dodecahedron because it has some nice mathematical properties like tesselation, symmetries, it retains a lot of the properties of a cube (since it's "made" from one) but isn't nearly as boring. I wonder if mengers sponge could be made with rhomic dodecahedra as wel...
GOOD SHIT
▲ ▲ ▲
Oh wow that's really cool! I'm going to start learning how to weld next month, but it's mostly as a support skill for my woodworking. Clamps specifically are insanely expensive where I live, so being able to make my own clamps from cheap flat iron bars will save me a preposterous amount of money in the long run. Your tetrahedron looks sick, way beyond the level of complexity I think I'll aim to achieve in welding lol congrats!
- It is HUGELY useful with woodworking projects so far.
  Plus, unlike when you glue wood stuff its instantly strong so whipping stuff together for even a jig or such can be really really fast, and super sturdy.
  My next practical gambit here will be making some tools for myself, I've also been learning blacksmithing (I have an adorable little 20kg anvil and I turned a pressure cooker into a forge) but with my shoulder hurt I've been.... not blacksmithing for the time being :(
  P.S. please share your design for your clams when you build them, I too could use more clams and I LOVE making shit instead of buying it if possible
...I keep saying I won't buy a cheap welder, then all these cool hobbyist comments. I don't have space. Wait till after I can build a big shed...
- You know what you can build the shed with? A welder.
  
  Hmmm... you devil.
  Welp, no choice but to watch five hours of shed-welding videos and gauge my chances of hilarious DIY accidents.
- if you have a patch of grass you can put a folding table on within range of an outlet (mine is plugged into a long ass extension cord that is plugged in IN MY KITCHEN cause I don't have outside outlets) then you have the space!
That’s really neat! It’s been a while since I’ve welded, but I did go to school for it. If you have any welds you’re not fully satisfied with and want some constructive criticism, feel free to post some close up shots and I’ll do my best to help you out. (I also just like looking at welds)
I’m more familiar with MIG welding than stick, I ditched that shit as soon as I could. Props to ya for pulling this off with stick!
- Thank you for the offer! I will definitely take you up on that once I get a chance to clean up the welds with a grinder to see how bad they actually are lol
  I am REALLY looking to ditch stick also! I bought the CHEAPEST welder I could to see if I liked it and I do so definitely fuck this method lol
  Could you recommend me a specific mig welder that's not super expensive but you know is quality? There's like 10000 different ones available and they all look like identical slop to me
  
  Honestly couldn’t help you with the shopping aspect of it, I’ve only really used the welders in my class or workplaces.
  
  A small thing that will help a lot is getting a steel wire brush and scrubbing the site of the weld before you try to strike the arc. It clears the area of the oxide layer and makes it easier to start and get a cleaner weld.
  Have you been beveling the weld locations?
  
  I recently - well a year or two ago - replaced an old failing MIG with a new one from Northern Tool that I think is quite good for the price. I've only used it with flux core wire and no gas so far but it's been great for fixing broken things and building a few tables/furniture stands. It's a multi-process that can do mig and stick right out of the box, plus you can get an aluminum spool whip or a tig setup to add to it.
  Well shit I just looked it up and the price has gone up by like $200+, thanks inflation and tariffs: https://www.northerntool.com/products/klutch-120-230-v-240-a-mp-welder-inverter-technology-volts-120-230-max-amps-240-mig-ready-model-extremig202w-5875893
  If you could find one of those northern tool branded ones used it's a solid bet.
Cool but it's not a hexagon
EDIT: Should have known before posting that I am not an original person
- Too slow
Nice work! I’ve always wanted to learn how to weld but never really had the chance. Maybe someday.
- Got everything I used for like 200$, not including the steel used, you definitely should if you get the chance!
I've been holding the smallest (~2") pieces with a wrench and holding it in place freehand
a very cheap quality of life improvement here would be some welding magnets so you don't have to hold the work
- YO, THANK YOU
very cool
Hell yeah
What sticks are you using?
- uhh, the blue ones!
that's awesome!
- You can trust me, do it do it give it a try if its within your means!
This is super cool.
Also welcome back
love the triangle triangle, very cool
My brother's place of employment did nuclear power plant maintenance. As such, all welds had to be x-rayed and certified. They hired a woman who had learned welding in the navy. The feeling artists must get when looking upon a Rembrandt or Matisse is the same feeling I had when seeing her weld beads. They were a work of art and typically on materials like SS or titanium.

63 comments