Welding
Tom,
What type of welder do you have? I bought an 'El Cheapo', flux core, wire welder from Northern Tool, (last time I checked, it looked like they don't sell their own brand anymore!) it came as a complete welding kit, with helmet, leather apron and gloves and some simple tools. I built a welding cart for it (out of some of the perforated right-angle steel) and wheels off a baby carriage that I snatched when I was at the dump... Oh, sorry the "transfer Station". The guys at our 'transfer station' are great and will even get into one of the huge concrete bins and get something out for you if you ask! Anyway, I've had the thing for a couple of years and although I don't weld a lot, I have gotten better and better at it. My last discovery was finding the wire drive mechanism wasn't tight enough. Tightening that improved the wire feed to the 'puddle' and improved my welds by about 50%. I haven't done any stick welding since I was in diving school back in 1963 and as that was done underwater, I never really learned much, except never to get between the 'stinger' and the ground clamp! I kept diving but quit welding!!
Fairly heavy items can be welded with one of those little wire welders.. I needed a longer tool rest for my wood lathe, so I made one out of two pieces of 5/8" rod that I salvaged from the H/D rear shocks of a 3/4-ton truck. Grinding the top of the short, upright support rod so the 11" long 'arm-rod' lay in a perfectly fitted groove and then beveling the edge of that groove, I was able to (as you said - "tack it") and then I made pass after pass until I had built up a good strong bead all the way around. I have had a lathe tool catch while supporting it at the outer ends of the rest and the weld has held, so I'm very happy with it. Being able to weld, even poorly, is a great ability to have, especially if you like to 'make' things! You can always get better at it.. As they say, "Practice makes perfect."
Roger