Dog Boxes??

[stusamples]

Hey Gang,

Does anyone have plans for building dog boxes? I am looking to build custom boxes for my two search and rescue dogs. Need something fairly light, super durable and able to transport my dogs in safety and comfort 4 seasons out of the year. Plan to use aluminum, but do not have a spool gun. Any plans or reccomendations out there? If I bought a box like this, it would cost about 500.00 each, and I need two of them, and want to be able to customize further, so I figure I should build them myself- - -plus I need a project for this winter! Most are made of diamond plate aluminum, but I have no idea what thickness. Rough dimensions= 36long, 24 wide, 30 tall, with doors, and vents, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Stuart Samples
Dallas, GA
Millermatic 175 Mig
Stuart_samples@us.crawco.com

[aametalmaster]

I have looked at a few, just checking them out. I have mini weiner dogs so the glove box works fine for a hauler . Just kidding. One had like 14 ga alum the other had 1/8". You could prob get away with welding them with your Miller but you have to watch the heat on your mig gun. I would go with the 1/8" if you can get a deal on it. You can cut it with a table saw or hand circular saw both with a carbide blade. I don't think they make a Teflon liner for your welder so you will just have to wing it. Maybe someone on this group is closer to you and could weld it...Bob

[stusamples]

I was thinking about getting a spoolmate 3035 spool gun and the, SGA-100 spool gun adapter to go with my Millermatic 175. Has anyone on this list used this combination successfully to weld aluminum? Are there better options, or is this the best way to go without spending a fortune?

Thanks for the advice on the thickness, I did a little more research, and most of the manufactures appear to be using .080 thickness, or roughly 1/8 inch, so you are dead on. Thanks again, and any more advice on acutally welding the aluminum is appreciated. never tried it, but I am willing to learn!

Stuart

[aametalmaster]

Check with the guys over at the Millerwelds Motorsports group, maybe someone has that combo...Bob
http://www.millermotorsports.com/mboard/

[Miller Kevin]

stusamples,

The SGA 100 along with the Spoolmate 3035 work very well off the Milermatic 175. 1/8" diamond plate would be no problem capacity wise for this combo.

Kevin

[stusamples]

Thanks again for the replies, I will let everyone know how they come out, and will post my shop drawings and pictures as well as I progress!

Happy welding,
Stuart