Never estimate

[nnam]

I needed to put wheels on a welder cart. I welded 2 bars each side on the bottom to add additional strength. I didn't have a 1/2" stick, so I went by measurement. It didn't line up. So I put the wheels on both sides and put the stick across, gives a bit extra and cut.

I then used a round file getting the holes to line up to get the stick (shaft) to go through. Once done, I put the wheels on, and it's short by around 1/2 to 3/4".
I should have find a stick first, put it in to line up before welding. Then put the wheels on, and mark and cut. Instead of doing all the right things, I did pretty much everything the opposite. If I filed first, then put the wheels and the stick on, it would also have work out without estimating.

 

[Aukai]

OOPS....

 

[markba633csi]

As they say, "measure twice and cut once". I usually measure several times, and still goof once in a while
-Mark

 

[Aukai]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that is, I got this and ,,,,,,,shucks missed it by THAT much

 

[Tozguy]

I cut it three times and it is still too short.

 

[SLK001]

Measure twice, cut once.
Weld it back together, then start over.
Repeat as needed!

 

[graham-xrf]

My Daddy told me the only way to feel confidently sure about measuring anything was to measure only once!
"Measure twice, and you are doomed! You will surely the have to measure a third time to explain why the second measure was different from the first".
Unless the third measure was close enough to one of the previous to confirm it, you could be into a fourth!

 

[Cooter Brown]

I cut it two times and its still to short....

 

[Bi11Hudson]

A good friend of mine had the philosophy for working on framing carpentry:

Measure with a micrometer;

Mark it with (welder's) chalk;

Cut it with an axe.

I do things a little more precision, where I:

Measure with (bow) calipers;

Mark it with a (carpenter's) pencil;

Cut it with a circular saw.

In either case, the trim cuts are the last to make once everything is nailed together. That needed 1/8 inch can just as well be a yard.

.

 

[graham-xrf]

In either case, the trim cuts are the last to make once everything is nailed together. That needed 1/8 inch can just as well be a yard.

So basically make it with extras poking out everywhere, and hack off the excess when it's all together.
I get it as in the carpentry context, though maybe the same idea can apply to welded stuff, scaled down as seems sensible.

Somehow, I think this philosophy would not sit well with folk who spend lots on thick very flat level weld tables, and would clamp stuff down using expensive squares, and measure to 4/10 mm (about a sixty fourth inch).