Ah yes - the Welders tan -

Along with the intense light is the potential for a serious sunburn. Exposed arms and exposed neck will develop a tan or burn given the chance. Leather sleeves, gloves and apron are often used to protect against this but when it is 90* + outside and the welding isn’t constant the sleeves don’t always get used. Someone standing near a welder for an extended period of time will also get a sunburn. Finally, watch having pets in the area. I have heard of a pet dog going blind from watching a welder in action.

quote:

Welding rebar can be done but it has a high carbon content, and the higher carbon the less weldable a metal becomes.

I want to weld up a feeder hanger /flower basket
hanger for the front yard.



I am guessing that rebar would be the least expensive option.

what would be a better option for less than double the price of rebar ?

quote:

Originally posted by USMCE4retired:
I am not a welder, but I recall that the use of brake cleaner that contains chlorine to clean surfaces before welding/brazing you will release a very toxic gas when hit it with the brazing torch or welding rod. With a good whiff of that you may not be able to make it to the door before you collapse. Probably dead.

can the experts verify or refute this?

edited to proper name of the gas in question...
phosgene ( COCl2 ) a pulmonary irritant.
Delayed-onset noncardiogenic pulmonary adema.
In afew days the lung tissue swells with fluid and the person suffocates.

Bendable - In my experience rebar can be welded. It may be highER in carbon content, but it is not as high as some steels. It can certainly be used for what you are making. Bigger mistake made when new to the art - not enough heat. Turn up the amps. Get some penetration.

On another path - some have noted how it would be good to have a fan or better yet, be working outside while welding. Yes, fresh air for the guy/girl doing the work is a really good idea. However, flowing air across the metal being welded is NOT a good idea. Except for Oxy-acetylene welding all other processes use some kind of gas envelope to protect the weld metal while it is molten. There are gasses in the air that will contaminate and weaken a weld. In addition, without the protective envelope the weld comes out looking like crap.

So for those still in the earlier learning stages - shield your welds from too much airflow.

That should work just fine.

Wear a proper respirator with proper filters for metal fumes under a welding mask.

curt down at the local mechanic's shop said that if I can find a way to transport the 2) 20 ft. long
rebar's
out too him
( about 14 miles)

he will weld them up and bend the bars for me.

but if its going to put him in the hospital or give him cancer ,
I was not going to ask him to do it.

No matter how cheap rebar is, it will be ugly. You may find yourself redoing the project in a year, and so there will have been no cost savings going cheap the first time.

Best to make your device out of pipe or solid round bar the first time if possible. Pipe is relatively low cost. Use black pipe so no one has to breathe zinc fumes.

I have the rebar version speced out at such:
Rebar : $20.00
Welding: $55.00
Sand
Blasting: $45.00
Painting: $35.00
_____________________
$155,00

Black pipe was more than four times that

.
Unless I am pricing the wrong pipe

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
No matter how cheap rebar is, it will be ugly.

Where is this going? Beside the front door? Back corner of the yard? 200 yards from the house? In the woods? Next to the wife’s car?

Are you going to walk by it every day? Do you find the texture of rebar offensive? Painted flat black?

“Ugly” is pretty subjective. Is this texture so offensive that it must be avoided?

As far as transporting it, if it is bent in the center, making it 10’ long, can it still be used and is it easily transported? Lighter rebar is relatively easy to bend.

Would I make something out of rebar? Sure. Been there, done that. They make easy stakes for tents, badminton nets, etc. I also used it to make a large, 5’ diameter ring to make a large Christmas wreath.

Pencil rod isn’t more expensive then rebar, and will look better.

how does one go about bending 7/16 in. pencil rod? ( 90 degree, 7 inch dia.) ?

I priced it on two websites and w/o shipping
all I can find is 2.4 times the price of rebar

but I don't know where to look either , so...

zip code 52801