Turning Pint Glass

[Brice Rogers]

David and John, I thought that I would give you an update on my new box rest. As you know, I am one of those guys who would rather make something than buy it. Especially if the process is pretty simple. I already had a box rest but it was straight and was more difficult to position than the "hockey stick" design that David had posted.

I had some 1" round cold roll laying around and some 3/8" thick x 1-1/2" surveyors stakes (hot roll) laying around. So I cut them to size and welded them. You can't see it from the picture, but there is also a 3/8" stiffener underneath, so the "beam" is 3/4" thick. Zero flexing.


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JT Turning Tools offers a 4" offset style that looks to be handy for that type of work.
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[John K Jordan]

David and John, I thought that I would give you an update on my new box rest. As you know, I am one of those guys who would rather make something than buy it. Especially if the process is pretty simple. I already had a box rest but it was straight and was more difficult to position than the "hockey stick" design that David had posted.

I had some 1" round cold roll laying around and some 3/8" thick x 1-1/2" surveyors stakes (hot roll) laying around. So I cut them to size and welded them. You can't see it from the picture, but there is also a 3/8" stiffener underneath, so the "beam" is 3/4" thick. Zero flexing.

Nice design and simpler construction than cutting an "L" piece (if you have the welding stuff!) You've inspired me; I've got some 1" cold rolled.

I'm always amazed at how often I suddenly have a need to weld something. Today I "needed" a 27' 11" steel support to stiffen a row of wooden posts for my thornless blackberry plants. I have plenty of 20' angle iron on hand so with 5 minutes of prep and MIG I had what I needed.

I've searched here and the steel surveyors stakes must not be an East Tennessee thing. Fortunately I have a shed full of steel stock, enough to handle almost anything that comes up.

JKJ

[David Delo]

David and John, I thought that I would give you an update on my new box rest. As you know, I am one of those guys who would rather make something than buy it. Especially if the process is pretty simple. I already had a box rest but it was straight and was more difficult to position than the "hockey stick" design that David had posted.

I had some 1" round cold roll laying around and some 3/8" thick x 1-1/2" surveyors stakes (hot roll) laying around. So I cut them to size and welded them. You can't see it from the picture, but there is also a 3/8" stiffener underneath, so the "beam" is 3/4" thick. Zero flexing.


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Nice fab job Brice. Glad everything worked out for you.

[Brice Rogers]

Hi John,
Home Despot carries them out here in their concrete dept. In the on-line catalog they call them 3/8 in. x 1-1/2 in. x 36 in. Flat Steel Stake, Store SKU #545231

Here is a link to that item (comes in various lengths): http://www.homedepot.com/p/Weyerhaeu...6175/202094304
The picture looks like the round stakes but the description is okay. I did some calcs and the cost comes out to a dollar a pound which is not terrible but which is higher than scrap steel price. But I have these stakes laying around from a couple of old projects.

I keep trying to justify buying a MIG welder but have not convinced myself yet. So I use my Lincoln "tombstone" AC stick welder on heavier things like this.

[John K Jordan]

Hi John,
Home Despot carries them out here in their concrete dept. In the on-line catalog they call them "3/8 in. x 1-1/2 in. x 36 in. Flat Steel Stake, Store SKU #545231
I keep trying to justify buying a MIG welder but have not convinced myself yet. So I use my Lincoln "tombstone" AC stick welder on heavier things like this.

Thanks, I see it now on the HD web site. This really MUST not be an East TN thing - the search shows it not available in any HD within 100 miles and not available by shipping!

I was mostly curious about the price, having never heard of such a resource. I am fortunate to live fairly near several steel suppliers, including Triple-S: http://www.sss-steel.com/ and some fabrication places that will let me dig through their scrap bins and sell me offcuts at ridiculously low prices. Some years ago I bought about 8000 lbs of new steel stock at 10 cents/lb so I usually can find useful pieces in my shed. When I need new stuff I have a gooseneck trailer and haul in 20' sticks from Triple-S.

I bought my first welder a bunch of years, a little 110v Lincoln flux core welder and used it so much I almost wore it out! Then I got a torch and learned to gas weld, an AC/DC stick welder for big farm stuff, and when I built my shop I put in a welding room and added MIG, TIG, and a plasma cutter plus saws and press. If I had less space I'd probably have just the MIG and the plasma cutter - that thing is amazing! It will cut 1/2" clean and blow through up to 1" steel. Cuts stainless like it is air. Good clean fun!

JKJ