Kraze's Custom Roof Rack Build by drabbits

[drabbits]

The important thing to learn is to be able to identify the flaws in a weld and understand what you did to make those flaws and correct them.

I've heard that before. . . are you a Welding Instructor????? LOL Got it, I'll give that a go a couple hundred times
Thanks again Dude

 

[SV_Dude]

I've heard that before. . . are you a Welding Instructor????? LOL Got it, I'll give that a go a couple hundred times
Thanks again Dude

I wish I was good enough to be an instructor. I'm just an amateur garage mechanic and have scratched the surface on working with metal. I have maybe 100 hours of welding time under my belt.

 

[smkd13]

hey [MENTION=88576]smkd13[/MENTION], sounds like the cleaner look is preferred? Any advise on preventing the warpage when using this method? Thanks for the drawing, I'm digging that, whats a thread without pictures....

Cleaner look is always preferred. It is like showing off your skills. Anyone can learn to weld but to do it and make it look good is an art.

Guys use this method all the time when they are building exo-cages and when doing what your doing just to keep a clean look. Preheating amd post heating will pretty much prevent most warping as it is caused from expansion me contraction of the metal. Also bracing is another big part as well. The preheating will bring it up closer to the temp that your gonna be welding at and post heating will let the heat dissipate slowly. They use the same method of pre and post hearing for CroMo welding. I would take a few scrap pieces and practice it and see what works the best for your style.

When you weld the holes your tube is going to want to wrap around it. To help prevent this brace both sided of the weld laterally.

This joining technique is a strong one and is probably overkill for a roof rack. Josh's method for this application is great as a roof rack is not a high stress point

Good luck bud hope this made sense a was helpful

 

[smkd13]

When I use this method ill use a push method when moving forward 1/4 inch and pull back 1/8 inch. Yes, there will be build up but the idea of only going forward 1/4 and back 1/8 inch is that the weld will still be hot and the extra weld will sink right down and spread the heat to add extra penetration. It works for me but as wmw said before... Practice, practice, practice. Everyone has their own technique and you need to find the one that works for you. The important thing to learn is to be able to identify the flaws in a weld and understand what you did to make those flaws and correct them.

That last part is part of the reason I am going to school for welding. I am pretty good at figuring this stuff out but it is all the finer points that I want.

Oh side note. If your using MIG and not flux-core then you might want to try and use the circle technique and as well speed up a bit. MIG welds you want to be almost flat

 

[drabbits]

For all that have been following this, these last few days were really busy and I just couldn't find the time to post daily. Here we are at the end, Day 9, 10, 11 and maybe a 12 follows.

For those that have not worked with expanded metal, seriously wear gloves when handling this stuff.

LED brush guards. . .

Front plate for lighting

Testing rear LED placement and brush guards

View of side mounted LED's

? The underneath

I think I'm showing you guys the clean up, grinding, sanding and wirer brushing...

4am Sunday morning, getting ready to paint, Kraze is showing up at 10am. It was total crunch time.

[/URL]

Well this is the last one from me folks

I hope this inspired some of you and thank you all for the support and priceless advise.
The finished product will be posted by [MENTION=91297]Kraze[/MENTION] in all its awesomeness!!

BTW, 5th Gen. build starts 08/28/2013!!!!!!!

 

[Kraze]

Sorry for the delay in the final pictures. I had to take the rack back off when I got home to finish wiring up all the lights and to install my awesome fishing rod holder on it lol. I have a camping/wheeling trip this weekend, maybe I can convince [MENTION=75445]4Running Daily[/MENTION] to take some pictures with his fancy camera of the final product all mounted up :thumb3:

 

[Kraze]

Pictures, click to enlarge them:

Kind of a top view:


Back view:


View from a distance:


Front/side view:


Front:


Thanks to [MENTION=82691]Broker[/MENTION] and [MENTION=75445]4Running Daily[/MENTION] for the pictures, and of course [MENTION=68079]drabbits[/MENTION] for the rack. This thing is awesome! It makes the 4runner look 1000x better, and most importantly, it's functional as hell.

 

[4Running Daily]

Kraze's rack is so low profile, it's incredible! If you need a rack, look no further then [MENTION=68079]drabbits[/MENTION], the plastic surgeon of 4Runner roofs. (Ha, I made a rack joke, ha.)

 

[GhostRing]

Lookin' good!
Now you have to load it to the gills and report back

 

[Skidmarcx]

Turned out sweet! Nice work! Thing looks like it weighs a few pounds... But I'm sure it can handle a few as well

 

[drabbits]

Kraze's rack is so low profile, it's incredible! If you need a rack, look no further then [MENTION=68079]drabbits[/MENTION], the plastic surgeon of 4Runner roofs. (Ha, I made a rack joke, ha.)

haha, I must be tired, cause it took me a minute..:girl:
THanks for all the incredible pictures, it looks freakin great! and it looks like you all had a awesome time!!

 

[The4kbeast]

The rack is looking good though!

You may want to get some better shoes when welding. If a hot drop f weld comes off the metal it will go straight through those shoes... Ask me how I know. It's one of thoe things you only do once.

Was thinking the same. Nothing like trying to rip your shoe shoe off with full gear on to try to stop the burning. Sucks!!

 

[rn_trauma903]

Pictures, click to enlarge them:

Kind of a top view:


Back view:


View from a distance:


Front/side view:


Front:


Thanks to [MENTION=82691]Broker[/MENTION] and [MENTION=75445]4Running Daily[/MENTION] for the pictures, and of course [MENTION=68079]drabbits[/MENTION] for the rack. This thing is awesome! It makes the 4runner look 1000x better, and most importantly, it's functional as hell.

Awwww, Shane I miss our camping/wheeling trips…and you! How's Sage? Give her a kiss for us & Buddy!