Portable Welder and Skidding Trailer

[bee_pipes]

I have seen a few pieces on the web about portable welders. One fellow made his own DC welder using an old 8hp b&s engine, an alternator/generator and a few other pieces of hardware (rectifiers and such). I have a bit of a nodding acquaintance with electricity, and this looks like something I could build. Anybody got links to specifics as far as wiring, components, lessons learned, etc.? Spending the bucks for a welding rig is not possible and the thought of sucking 240 volt buku amps out of my power system is not appealing, but I could scrounge parts and spring for a gallon of gas to get that kind of power for welding. This is the original article that caught my eye:

http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~weinfurt/gaswelder.html

Welding is a real weakness for me - no capabilities at present. I can build large, bulky constructions out of timber if necessary, but there are times where metal construction would be smaller and more efficient. There is also scrap metal going to waste that could be salvaged and put to good use.

In particular, I need a skidding trailer for moving logs around the property. I see downed trees on neighboring property going to waste because I can't get the logs back home to mill. This is just killing me to let it go to waste.

Mother Earth News had a nice design for a skidding trailer back in '85:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Homesteading_and_Self_Reliance/1985_September_October/An_All_Purpose_Straddle_Wheeled_Hauler

My land is too hilly to use a tractor, so our main muscle is a 500 cc ATV. This trailer is ideal for dragging with the ATV and maneuvering around by hand.

Thanx in advance for any assistance.

Regards,
Pat

[desdawg]

I looked at a couple of skidding trailers that are sold commercially like this one:
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7231/norwoodskidmateheadyc3.jpg
Then I dug around in my scrap pile and built this one. I didn't have an arch but I had an A-frame. Hubs came from an old mobile home axle. All I had to buy was the paint.
http://img290.imageshack.us/img290/5126/skidder2hx8.jpg

[desdawg]

I dug around in the scrap pile again and came up with this:
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3584/trailerparts1br8.jpg
Add the hubs from a couple of more mobile home axles, stir well and I got this:
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4075/paintedtrailerzf6.jpg
Mobile home axles are pretty easy to come by sometimes and they are 6400# axles so they work out pretty well. You can cut out a center section and sleeve the remaining portion with 4" pipe to get whatever width you need. So I snag them up whenever I can.

[bee_pipes]

Ya, the Norwood skidder looks nice and simple. There are other companies out there - arborists, mainly, that have some interesting ideas and designs - but man, do they charge a lot for their arches! Future Forestry is one of them:

http://www.futureforestry.com/arborists/products.html

The design looks much more complicated than yours, and simplicity is a must for home brew. Excellent job - not the first time I've heard about mobile home axles. There are enough salvage yards around here that it seems a shame to let all that steel go to waste - so many simple things that could be done to return it to useful service.

Regards,
Pat

[desdawg]

I seem to drag things home if it seems like I may be able to use it someday. So when I want to make or fix something I can usually come up with some sort of material. It keeps me off the streets. And when you live out in the country it helps to have an inventory. Can't be running to the store every time you turn around.