Building Terrain Park Rails

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Ridiculous

I currently have a bunch of steel laying around and am gonna make a few rails out of it. I was wondering if any of you had a suggestion on which type of welder is best in general. Through school I have used mig, arc and oxy and was wondering which would be best for making rails/boxes. I also work for park crew at a local hill so the rails might end up going in the park. Also any suggestions on types of rails to make.

Let me know your thoughts on types of welders, pros/cons, cost, or even making rails in general etc would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mitch

Sep 28 2013 8:05PM

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Spinoza

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Crazy Fool

Hi Mitch,

I can't help you specifically with with this problem, but if you check out the 'Build-a-Jib' cult you might be able to figure it out. Here's the link: https://www.newschoolers.com/cultnews/453/Build-A-Jib-101
Hope that helps!

- Marcus

Sep 28 2013 8:10PM

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cannaguts666

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Mig is the best. Quickest and easiest way to do it. They don't have to be pretty welds, just hold up. Use hardwire or fluxcore. Or stick 7010 or 7018. or tig. doesn't matter what you use as long as its not zip ties duct tape and jb weld.

Sep 28 2013 8:13PM

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Rparr

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I'd be surprised if there was much on welding rails in the build a jib cult. It's all about wood and pvc over there

Sep 28 2013 11:04PM

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Titus69

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Crazy Fool

dont most mountains have welders for the rails they make or other metal work?

Sep 28 2013 11:11PM

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SkiBum.

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Uh yeah...

Any real mountain/resort will have a full on metal shop.

Sep 28 2013 11:27PM

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theabortionator

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Play Ball

Probably won't find anything about welding there. That cult is great for building a cheap setup with wood and pvc, but beyond that not much is happening.

I use harbor freights finest flux core welder lol. It get's the job done though.

What rails are you planning to build?

Sep 29 2013 8:06PM

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MitchT

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Ya I work at a hill in Saskatchewan haha not a big mountain. Probably a variety of rails with both square and round tubing, most of it recycled steel. Ya the jib cult has a lot of cheap backyard set-up rails and the designs are pretty basic. Still very helpful for summer set-ups however.

Sep 30 2013 11:58AM

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theabortionator

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Play Ball

I wish I had a bunch of steel lying around.

Sep 30 2013 7:25PM

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Titus69

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Crazy Fool

therefore OP should use it to his advantage

Sep 30 2013 7:34PM

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HeathR

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Any mountain with a good park has their own guys to built rails. Sometimes you might get help with very complicated stuff.

Sep 30 2013 9:15PM

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Flowbear

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Loner

I would say either arc or mig, both have strong welds and are generally easy to do, if your not an experienced welder I would say mig because its easier then arc and i do all my backyard rails using mig and the older ones have held up extremely well for the past 3-4 years. but if u know what your doing and they are going to be used for a hill I would do arc because in my opinion it holds a stronger weld. But deffinetly not oxy because not only does it take a while to master but once u get it, it also takes a long time to get the weld started and can be frustrating at times. Hope that helps!

Sep 30 2013 9:34PM

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cannaguts666

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If by arc you mean stick then the tensile strength of the weld is the same either way. both are 70,000 pounds unless you use 6010 or 8010.

Im not sure what you mean by arc though. I know sub arc but that'd be silly to weld a rail with. and I've heard of air arc byte that's cutting and gouging not welding.

oxy fuel would be silly to weld rails with, those welds wouldn't hold up more than a couple hits no matter how much weld or how hot you turn up the torch

Sep 30 2013 10:03PM

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Flowbear

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Yes by arc I mean stick I've always called stick arc, sorry if that's the wrong term and yeah mig and arc are the same strength wise, just in my opinion I've known arc to hold up better but that might just be because I'm a stronger arc (stick) welder and have more experience that way then i do with mig.

Sep 30 2013 10:58PM

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-WZ-

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youve made so many posts about trying to improve your home park! sorry i cant help you with this one but +K for being a good guy

Sep 30 2013 11:07PM

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cannaguts666

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Its cool. ive only heard stick called arc a couple times. i hate mig but usually its the easiest for someone to pick up. just aim and shoot. unless youre me or apparently you and stick will always be the best way to weld.

heres some shit ive welded with stick and tig. still not great at tig only welded with it 2 or 3 times now but all the welds passed xray clean.

stick