Har, when I got a mig and was teaching my self to weld, first thing I made that actually did some thing was a tail-pipe made from galvanized conduit. Luckily had the garage door and back door open and the fumes blew away from me really well. I did not know how sick the fumes could make you before that. Didn't get sick at all. Then welded copper to it which of course can't be done. But not knowing that, went ahead and did it. So then beat the weld with a hammer to prove it held. Took me two whacks to realize it was doing the copper no good, lol.
That's great Dan! I like doing things before someone tells me that it can't be done too!
When I was a kid, and first learning to weld (before MIG and TIG were around), I used to weld with anything I could find to use as a welding rod. I'd take the arc welder and use brazing rods, copper wire, aluminum rods or anything else that was conductive that I could find.
I even used it as a cutter when I was putting a V8 into my 1960 Chevy truck. I had to cut out the old engine mounts that were riveted to the frame. I was in a hurry to get it done, and didn't have a torch to cut them, so I cranked the old Lincoln up to 230 amps and melted them off!
Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do! LOL
Oh yeah, the build is looking good Lurker! I like the kickstand.