Hi guys
I have several water butts which I intend to use for a low pressure watering system, but one way or another I need to raise the height and therefore need a tower. The plastic ones aren't tall enough, and the timber ones I built, collapsed or are close to collapsing. I also don't really have space for a masonry structure.
I have both 100L and 200L butts with base diameters of 350 and 500mm respectively.
I have a bunch of angled steel 45 x 3mm to make the tower.
Looking to create a tower around1m tall.
So the first question is, what is the best type of welder to use for this? I already have a basic wire fed 130Amp MIG welder (see attached photo),
But it needs repair and I haven't done many good welds with it. So I'll either learn to weld properly with it or invest in a new machine say an ARC welder or whatever you suggest and learn that.
Second question is how to design the strongest frame. Obviously 45 degrees braces seem strongest but can't figure out how best to arrange it. Do I do 1 brace at 45, or criss cross braces? Do I just weld one rectangle with a >45 degree brace, or a 45 degree braced square plus a smaller rectangle? Tapered or straight column?
I've done a few sketches to show what I mean
Thanks
I have several water butts which I intend to use for a low pressure watering system, but one way or another I need to raise the height and therefore need a tower. The plastic ones aren't tall enough, and the timber ones I built, collapsed or are close to collapsing. I also don't really have space for a masonry structure.
I have both 100L and 200L butts with base diameters of 350 and 500mm respectively.
I have a bunch of angled steel 45 x 3mm to make the tower.
So the first question is, what is the best type of welder to use for this? I already have a basic wire fed 130Amp MIG welder (see attached photo),
But it needs repair and I haven't done many good welds with it. So I'll either learn to weld properly with it or invest in a new machine say an ARC welder or whatever you suggest and learn that.
Second question is how to design the strongest frame. Obviously 45 degrees braces seem strongest but can't figure out how best to arrange it. Do I do 1 brace at 45, or criss cross braces? Do I just weld one rectangle with a >45 degree brace, or a 45 degree braced square plus a smaller rectangle? Tapered or straight column?
I've done a few sketches to show what I mean
Thanks