Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Hybrid dock system..

So lately I've been contemplating going from a floating dock to a solid mount.. I have alot of older guest that just don't feel comfortable on a floating dock so I figured WTH.. What I'm planning on doing is attaching these brackets around the outter edges ( 2 on each side of the corners then 1 on the middle of each side and a couple up underneath to support the middle.) I plan on attaching the brackets running a pipe down through the bracket and pounding 3-4' into the ground then using a come-along on the 4 corners to raise to the desired hieght and run the bolts in on my brackets through pre drilled holes in the post, this will also make it moveable up or down if I make a few holes in the post every 6 inches or so. Once I have my height ill cut off the excess post and cap it.. Anyways I made up the brackets last night ill keep everyone posted with pics as the process goes on.. Any feedback or ideas would be appreciated..

I have to paint the brackets yet..

Thoughts:

Put the brackets on a lazy susan and have someone slowly turn it to get a better looking weld on the nuts.

Not that I don't think that what you did won't hold, it'd be prettier, that's all.

Make a pipe with a bar going thru it, make it from a smaller dia pipe so it fits into the pipes you put in the pond bottom. The bar is the stop so it doesn't slip all the way down in the pipe. That way if you ever have to pick up/lower the dock, just slip that extension in the dock pipe, attach the come-along and you're in business.

I like what you did with the brackets. Good thinking.

Wish I has one of those foot controlled motors that rotate for welding, kinda limited with equipment, they definately won't go anywhere though.. Anyway if someone starts inspecting my welds on the dock their outta there lol..

Like your idea with the come along bracket ill do that..

A buddy and I used to build go-fast cars for a 2nd job and some stress relief. The chassis had to be certified, so what welds look like are one of the things that gets my attention. Not saying that a weld that isn't picture perfect isn't strong, just saying that welds are one thing that I look at.

We TIG welded everything.

I'm using a 20 yr old piece of crap mig that you have to adjust yourself to weld with you can't adjust the machine lol.. It lays down good beads when you got a nice area to work on but trying to lay in that nut/pipe crevice and having to rotate it 2-3 times its hard to lay dimes around it.. If I had a nice tig that'd be another story.. Can't complain much I got to build them at work so getting paid to work on dock brackets ain't bad

I've built a couple frames myself and with these newer migs and tigs its hard to lay down a crappy bead on clean material..

Also I work for a gas company so our welds have to be xrayed, and pressure tested to 5000+ psi sometimes pretty neat when a pipe splits at the seam and all the welds hold no problem..

Yeah, the new machines take all the fun out of welding!

I took a class, on stick welding and the first day the instructor said:

"Take a handful of welding rods and lay them on the bench. Now take your hammer and knock all the flux off of them. Once you can strike an arc and lay a bead with that bare rod, then I'll let you use a rod that has flux on it."

That's a good idea for someone wanting too learn.. I might try that just too see what I can do..

Let me know how that works. I'll bet you say the same things I did. This was before they made auto darkening helmets too, so you gotta use one of those also.

That's the only kind ofo helmet I ever use.. I had an auto darkening helmet go bad on me, still darkened but not correctly and not as fast as it shoulda, unfortunately I didn't find out until that night when I was trying too sleep with what felt like sand and salt in my eyeballs.. Ill stick with the flip down..

My car building partner was looking down his nose past his chin to do some welding under a car. Couldn't tip his head any more towards what he was welding. He had the same thing happen to him that night.

Just got all my pipe cut for the dock.. 12-3" 16 footers.. 1/4" wall them babies aint light I'm completely soaked through with sweat.. Hope to get on the dock Sunday or Monday.

OOFF!! Roughly 128# each.

They were 32 footers when I started. Just gotta find the middle and balance the weight still not fun though..