For presidents week, I decided I should try to build a skidplate for my truck.

First I made a photoshop picture of what I wanted. I moved the KC lights on the bumper and made flared fenders just for fun.


After buying 12 guage stainless steel about 2' x 4.5', I made cardboard cutouts of what I needed. I didn't use a bender because I didn't want to have to pay the extra money.


Next came the 4 1/2" angle grinder with cut off wheel which was pretty much the most scariest tool I've ever used in my life at first, but I got used to it.


This was just the left over I thought was pretty cool. I'll save it for a zombie apocalypse or somethin.


Welded tabs to bolt on to the winch mount of the addicted off-road bumper.



First time welding to actually make something.



Basically what its going to look like. Holes were made at the bottom to match up with the OEM skidplate holes.


I also accidently made my skid plate theft proof a.k.a really really hard to take off and put on. I had to make a special tool lol.



After making some license plate holes, painting it (I really should have went with a lighter color), It's done.


Took me three days, spent about 179 dollars for the metal.
It's kinda off a little bit and not that strong, but it works for me.

 

schweet!

What kind of welder did you use?

 

I got a 90 amp flux-cored wire welder that I bought from Harbor Freight Tools.

 

You DID use stainless wire, right? ... and anti-seize everywhere a "regular" bolt went through the stainless?

 

I definitely used anti seize on the bottom bolts, but I didn't on the top ones because they have lock nuts on them.

I'm still new to the welding thing. The wire spool that came with the welder doesn't say "stainless" on it, I just figured that it works with all kinds of steel, and not aluminum.

So lets say that I didn't use stainless wire, what would happen?

 

It will rust, and potentially be quite weak at the weld due to the alloy segregation in the molten pool.

Take it 'wheeling, beat on it and see how it holds up. Worst case, you just need to redo it.

 

Oh okay. Thanks tc