make DIY skidplates?

These prices are getting crazy. $900 for a full set of skids underneath.

Why not just buy a $170 welder from Harbor Freight, learn to weld, and then DIY make them out of 1/4 aluminum sheets made to shape? By cutting, bending, and welding

that way you walk away with your own welder tool that can later be used for other projects,
a new skill of using that welding machine
and still lower cost than buying new

I've used a welder before and it wasn't that hard
sure the welds might not look the prettiest if new to welding
but on something underneath the truck meant to take a beating and not be seen, that won't matter

 

Ok

 

Sure, it’s almost always cheaper to do it yourself. I’d make my own skids too but there are more factors than price. Even if you already have a welder (any decent setup that will give good results will be nearly a grand after you buy the 75/25 tank, hood, cart, machine, etc), the materials aren’t all that cheap. Let’s say materials cost $300, then doing it yourself will save $600. But there’s a huge time investment into making skids. For me, I’ll keep my welder turned off and spend the extra $600 on skids and invest my time into doing something driving or spending time with the family.

For smaller projects, simple bumpers, small frame modifications, axle trusses, and sliders, I’ll fire up my welder and build my own stuff. But skids just take too much time to do it right.

 

Looks fine, im sure it'll help protect. I figure the metal break would cost the most? Did you already have one or have a metal shop do it for you? Or maybe a trick up your sleeve? Heat it up real super good or just torch bevel then weld?

I cant imagine it costing very much just for a few easy bends but with that gauge it'll definitely require a heavier duty break (other than sheet metal)

 

It's been done once or twice.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/homemade-skid-plates.262726/

Most common trick for the bends has been to a score/gouge the bend line, bend along the thinned line, then reweld.
Definitely a lot of effort, but you get some additional design choices as well. With anything, cost is time or money.

 

You aren't welding aluminum with any welder for $170 bucks. You need a machine that can handle a spool gun minimally after that then you need time with it because they are unwieldly. Or you could go for gusto and get a push pull set up and be in a machine for a huge chunk of change or an AC/DC tig and learn to tig.

Surprised no one else caught onto the aluminum thing. Steel you could probably get away with a cheaper welder but still 170 buck welder won't even give you the results that even the 110v Titaniums will.

In the end what I am saying is how much do you value YOUR TIME.

 

X2 on not being able to fab aluminum skids with a $170 welder. Beyond the welder issue, you'll need other metal fabrication tools which add up really fast. If you can overcome those obstacles, you'll have to ask yourself how low do we want to set the bar? Available skids generally will be top notch with fit and finish. Home brew skids will be dependent on your skill level, budget, and available tools. Any area that you cut corners in will most probably reflect in the final product.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for DIY projects but one has to weigh in all the variables as well as what your goal is with the final product. We've all seen some really sweet DIY projects as well as some really butt ugly ones. I suppose it's all about what you'll be happy with at the end of the day......

For the record, welding is a learned skill. One doesn't get the equipment and expect good welds. I compare it to playing a musical instrument. A skilled welder has to know how all the variables react together and adjust accordingly. They do this automatically and it's second nature to them. I worked alongside highly skilled welders and I was always in awe of what they could do.

I can weld and do have a welder, but I do it poorly with mixed results at best. That said, I do love to do it....

 

Another item.... 1/4" aluminum isn't cheap.....

 

For aluminum you'll need argon not C25....

 

Just to add as well that if you are learning to weld on your skids to an untrained eye the weld might look ok (probably ugly) but if your weld doesn't penetrate properly it is useless and could break by looking at it wrong

Even after practicing im still pretty bad... thats why I'm a carpenter

 

True, I wasn’t talking about aluminum skids though. Personally, aluminum is a terrible choice for skids.

 

170 dollar welder will only get you to spot weld sheet metal, i think your looking at about $1500 for something that can do aluminum.

 

Yep once you get the machine and spool gun you're easily over 1g.

 

Aluminum aside, if you're buying a halfway decent welding setup + material, you're not saving any money on a set of skids. The savings would be then if you continued to use that welder for other things, like shock relocate, bumpers, etc. The lowest end welding setup I recommend to anyone wanting to get into welding is the harbor freight titanium line of welders. $420/$520 for 120v/240v. Then there's the cost of gas which is ~$200 for a small tank. Then the PPE. Decent hoods start at $150. Then the other tools necessary like angle grinders and clamps and stuff.

It can all be done cheaper. I know this because that's how I started out. I slowly accrued stuff over time, upgraded welders, upgraded from flux core to gas, etc. If someone wants to build truck armor though and have it withstand some shit, you'll want a decent set up and some arc time so you have some idea of what you're doing.

edit: metal isn't super cheap either. A 4'x8' sheet of 1/4" steel is $200 locally. For AL, probably $300 if I had to guess. Then there's the cost of consumables, welding wire, electricity, etc. You'll still save a bunch of money vs buying from a vendor, but something to think about.

 

OP We aren't trying to discourage you as there is something to be said for DIY and learning and gaining more skills. You just have to be realistic in your assumptions. Hell me and buddy's did my whole rear suspension but I didn't DIY everything I purchased a lot of brackets. Making the frame plates for boxing in the frame was a biotch in hindsight I would of rather bought some. But having all the brackets and stuff if we were to of made all of that first it wouldn't of been as good secondly it would of taken at least 2x longer. But we used our welding skills and some fabrication skills to get it done.

 

It looks like it’s almost done.

 

The 110v Titanium 125 Fluxcore welder was $170 when I got it last month. It’s not bad for the price.

 

That welder is very weak for any kind of welding that you are doing for structural stuff. 3/16 max and that is crancked up and at it's max duty cycle. There is also NO way to run aluminum with it. Minimally I'd look at the 140 for anything in the 3/16-1/4 range and even at those thicknesses it's getting worked hard. Even with the 140 being spool gun ready it can't handle the thickness the OP was wanting to do for his skids.

 

Well yeah...it’s a 110v flux core welder. Works fine for what I need it to do which is run of the mill square tubing

op also going to have to understand welding aluminum is hard mode when starting out.

 

so much truth lol