Finished up the Bumper

[Lanse]

Hey everyone!! Im currently in beautiful Austin,
TX, but I wanted to share my most recent project,
the 4x4 bumper!!

I got it wrapped up, and the owner came and picked
up his truck, and he was thrilled with it!! I
thought it turned out really well. People on
YouTube liked the videos, and hopefully you all
enjoy them too.

This was my first bumper build, so I didn"t charge
much. The owner got a cheap bumper, but he knew it
might not be perfect, but it would be affordable.
The finished product came out way better, I think,
than anyone expected it too. The plasma cut
ventilation holes were level and in the right
places, all the plates fit together (we had to go
back and grind down a corner here and there,
plasma 1/4" off the occasional side, etc, but we
never had a piece that was so "off" we had to give
up and start over), the fog lights shone forward,
nothing caught on fire, etc.

Wes and I both got some cash when all was said and
done, a lot of experience, plus my shop got most
of an $80 roll of Hobart Flux-Core wire, a new respirator, a fireproof blanket, and a ton of
steel left over, all were part of the price of the
finished product. Wes and I are going to make back
bumpers for both our trucks when I get my new Tig
machine, but more on that later.

We used three processes on this build, we 7018"d
the brackets and the pieces that they attached to,
then tigged the front together (for the most
part), and then ran FCAW on the back side, tieing
those pieces together quickly and easily.

What would I do differently? More post-weld
cleanup. I went over everything, twice, with a
crimped wire wheel, but STILL managed to leave a
few pieces of spatter behind. I wanted to pull my
hair out when I saw that, lol. And some body
filler, I ground the front welds smooth, and they
weren"t quite "even", some areas were higher than
others around the welds.

But all in all, I liked it, and I completely
enjoyed the build. Id drive it. This won"t be the
last bumper I build for sure. I hope everyone
likes the videos, and constructive criticism is
always welcome. Happy New Year!! YeeHaw!!

video1 video2
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[Lyndon - AB]

Nicely done, Lanse! Looks way better than what comes out of our local machine shop! With skills like that, you will always have work.

I myself am partial to the full height tubular wildlife bumpers (probably from writing my favorite pickup off hitting a deer), but that bumper looks great on that truck.

If only Ohio was a little closer to Alberta, you'd have another customer!

Lyndon

 

[Puddles]

Looks great Lanse!
FYI, anything I build that is going to be painted I give it a good working over with a 36-grit sanding pad, and if I really want it to look good I'll use an 80-grit sanding pad after the 36. If there are too many imperfection after that I'll use glazing spot putty, and sand it with orbital sander.

 

[Az. Peapicker]

If the holes were cut with a plasma cutter it didn t do to good of a job, Holes in bumper looked Jagged.

 

[fixerupper]

Good job Lanse. Keep up the good work. I know you will. Jim

 

[Ron in NS]

Like I said before, send me the detail dimensions, finished dimensions, angles etc, hole sizes and locations, let me know where you migged and tigged, all that good stuff, and I'll do you up a professional 3d drawing and extra sheets with all the parts etc, and some screenshots to use in an ad if you want. That way you can get a rendering on paper to show customers. No charge for the first drawing if you like it, LOL.

 

[Lanse]

Thanks dude, I sure hope so, I like staying busy.
lol.

Ive never made a tube bumper before, but that might
be on the list of up-coming projects as well. I dont
have a bender, but Im thinking that two miters might
make a nice corner as well...

Im glad you like it!!

 

[Lanse]

Thanks Puddles!! I guess I know what I'm gonna pick
up before I start on bumper number two lol.

 

[Lanse]

Thanks dude, I plan too

 

[Lanse]

Thats a really nice offer, Ron!!

Unfortunately, I dont have the finished dimensions or anything here, but maybe I can take you up on that offer for something else?

Im not sure the bumper is the thing to draw out, everyone wants something different bumper-wise, even if someone wanted this same bumper, Id have to modify it like crazy to fit their ride, unless they too had an Isuzu...

 

[Ron in NS]

the screenshots are the selling points, but a good variety of photos from all angles will do as well, from a sales point of view.
Keep me in mind anyway. Good Luck with your fabricating.