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Rebuilt Welder Rides On Shop Built Trailer
Frank Surber isn’t afraid to tackle any repair or building project.
Early in 2025, he says, “I decided to get my 1972 Miller Big 40 welding machine running that I hadn’t used for 12 years. After cleaning the points, changing the oil and filter, draining the coolant and refilling it, putting in a battery and clea
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Rebuilt Welder Rides On Shop Built Trailer
Frank Surber isn’t afraid to tackle any repair or building project.
Early in 2025, he says, “I decided to get my 1972 Miller Big 40 welding machine running that I hadn’t used for 12 years. After cleaning the points, changing the oil and filter, draining the coolant and refilling it, putting in a battery and clean gas, it started right up,” Surber says.
“The big problem was that gas was pouring out of the carb, so I put in a new one, also an ignition switch, a choke cable and wiring from the alternator to the switch. The gas tank leaked from a hole rusted in it; some of the wiring was rat or mouse-eaten, and only two of the range selections still worked due to broken connectors.
“I removed the top cowling, pulled the gas tank, repaired the broken range selections and dropped on a temporary gas tank. It ran like a charm, so I used it for a week to power my carbon arc gouge while working on a dozer.”
Surber says he needed a way to move the welder around without always having to use his backhoe, which led to another project.
“I’ve got a large amount of scrap and other miscellaneous junk that I use for different projects, so I decided to build a little trailer to haul the welder,” he says.
Not one to draw up plans, Surber first visualizes a completed project, then gathers pieces and starts measuring and cutting. His trailer build grew from an old metal frame that used to hold sheet steel. It rides on an old steering axle and wheels from a ‘48 Chevy truck. For tires, he put new inner tubes in a pair of 40-year-old white walls from a camper trailer.
The welder slides onto the trailer floor guided by two pieces of angle iron. Supplies are carried in two bedside toolboxes from an old pickup. With the frame, floor and side complete, Surber primed and painted it, then added a new hitch coupler and a tongue jack.
“Now I’ve got a heavy-duty trailer that will take my refurbished heavy-duty welder anywhere I need it,” he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Frank Surber, Peacock, Texas.
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