I know nothing about welding. Can I just pick up a cheap welder and sticks and self-teach myself how to weld? I want to make a cargo bike that can carry 200kg of weight like this picture
I know nothing about welding. Can I just pick up a cheap welder and sticks and self-teach myself how to weld?
Watch a youtube video first. But yeah just doing it is the best way to learn almost everything. Make sure the bike has a steel frame.
How does it steer
Back half pivots where it attaches to the front. So it would steer, just probably not very well...
Oxy-acetylene can weld but I would braze it because brazing lets you change your mind by melting off the braze joint and oxy-acetylene outfits can be found cheap used (I collect and overhaul OA gear and prefer older US-made torches like Victor, Smith, Harris etc).
Brazed frames are rugged (besides bicycles many motorcycle frames including Harley were brazed), shock resistant and easy to modify.
Welding isn't that hard. Welders on YouTube university like to make believe it requires a 6 year degree. Watch a few basic instruction vids and then just get after it. I wouldn't recommend welding something very important your first few times but you'll figure it out, unless you're moronic. Its something you definitely have to physically do yourself to learn and "get it".
are you sure you can pedal 200kg and second question, are you sure you can stop 200kg of rolling something?
if you don't mind shitty looking welds it's actually possible to use a couple car batteries and jumper cables
I dont know if op is the same moronic frick as before, but we've been over this. At least were under 1000 lbs this time.
But, just because you can push, steer and stop this kinda weight on a level, paved box store parking parking lot in a cart with solid wheels, doesnt mean making your own death trap is viable.
Pull your head out of your ass.
Intersections at bottoms of hills will lead to your injury, or worse, someone elses.
Now what dumbass protest this time? Some picture from india?
Literally jusy buy a wheelbarrow. Look at the abomination in the op. 90 DEGREE HEAD ANGLE
NO REAR BRAKE
WHAT THE FRICK ANON
aspiring fr this kinda thing is mind blowing.
That looks like quite a high only-one-gear as well. OP's bike is built for speed, not for acceleration.
Not that the bike is excellent... but rear brakes are far from essential. Worst issue would be wear on front tires or a rapid deflation. Maybe those are solid rubber?
Yeah that's feasible. If you don't plan on doing anything specialized in the future it's just as well to jump to a flux core mig machine. Stick can be troublesome in a way that will teach you a lot but if you just want to make shit with metal a flux core machine will be far easier to get started on and will work just as well. Stupid projects like that bike are a great way to learn. I'd probably start with the back half of a factory made bike so you can have some extra brakes and gears and I'd be sure to put in some over travel stops so that basket doesn't wiener over 90° and break your leg.
What's the deal with all the people on here larping about cargo bikes anyhow. Why is this a thing? Quit being poor and get a compact pickup or even a car with a trunk for fricks sake...
Because if it breaks you can fix it. There are already companies making cargo bikes.
I'm with this anon: only good for dutch roads - where everything is 100% flat.
>Because if it breaks you can fix it. There are already companies making cargo bikes.
So you're saying if a vehicle breaks you can't fix it? Anything that breaks can be fixed anon...
Cargo bikes are cheaper to operate and can fit it tight urban environments for quick deliveries. 200-350 kg load ratings are not uncommon, which is good enough in many applications.
You're better off attaching a pull behind cart to an existing functional bike with front and rear brakes. They make bolt on kits. You can beef it up for more weight or build your own.
A regular bike and a kiddie trailer, a garden cart, or a wheelbarrow.
All not wastes of time
Easy to self teach but the real problem is the price of rods and metal to practice on. Even if you are using scrap.
Give it a shot
A few months ago I was in a similar spot, wanted a cheap arc welder to self-teach and do hobby stuff. Talked it over with a work buddy who is a trained welder with lots of experience and he strongly adviced against the cheapo ~$100 setups. With one of those you'll be dealing with learning a new skill along with the wonky bullshit you get from subpar tools. I ended up getting a $400 one that straddles the hobbyist-professional gap and I'm very glad for it.
What did you get?
Great attitude. Pedal bicycles are easier and cheaper to fix than automobiles.
>you have to use that bar to steer
Good god, that contraption must a nightmare to operate.
yes they are, i used to own a cargo bike because I'm Dutch, steering it while going slow is a workout on its own, steering when going downhill fast is scary because the speed want to make it oversteer and fold over