Heavy-duty Welding Boom Has Reach

Deciding where to install an overhead welding boom, Herb Walter looked to the 6-inch I-beam near the 14-foot overhead door of his Odessa, Washington, shop.

He saw he could put a pipe support against the beam (which is near the overhead door) and make a jib boom for working both inside and outside the building.

Slides 20 Feet

A Miller remote unit with a spool roll travels the length of the boom on a dolly, another component he built. It will roll the feeder and welding stick all the way to the end of the boom. A brace on the top adds stability. An added plus is, no cords are strewn across the floor.

Rotates 190 Degrees and Lifts and Lowers

In addition to lateral movement and rotation, (see inset image above) the boom lifts and lowers, too, with a come-along. A hinge and a come-along let the welding boom reach all parts of the shot and outside the overhead door.

Among other tasks in Walter’s shop, the welding boom is used for building 40-foot-wide aerators with 1-inch-wide teeth on 16-inch drums that puncture the ground. “I call it the Pokomon. It’s similar to one built by Savage in the Midwest, but it’s wider,” he says.

Besides the Pokomon aerator, Walter also manufactures geothermal units that use underground source for heating and cooling any size building. The component he builds is the interior unit.

Walter ([email protected]) has used the welding boom for almost four years.