Road Armor Front Bumper installed - Page 6

**mrblaine** · 01-09-2005, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opiv

I am suprised people are concerned about how pretty the welds look. To me as long as they are functional that is all that matters. But to each his own. If I did not already own an ARB I would consider buying that bumper - I like the integraded light pods and overall design. I would still lean towards the ARB though.

Why would you be surprised? That is not a cheap bumper. If it were a 100 dollar throwaway built in some beginning weldor's garage, then they are perfectly acceptable. But, to stick that price tag on a product with that quality of welds staring you in the face, well that says volumes about the company.

If the owner says they look fine, he needs to be in another line of business. They are pathetic, thoroughly downgrade a product with a hefty price tag and clearly appear as though a beginner did them.

I wouldn't accept them on a 300 dollar bumper.

**Oman Jeep** · 01-09-2005, 11:05 AM

Wow... didn't expect it to be that big of a deal... I'll forward your comments to him but as I said, I don't see much need to be concerned. Yes, the pics you posted are nice Blaine, but I'm happy with the bumper as-is.

I see your point about demanding perfection at that price, but I dunno... as long as it doesn't fall apart I'm happy. You do have far more experience than me Blaine, if there's a reason the weld quality makes the bumper weaker I'd like to hear the explanation but if it's just a matter of looks, I can deal with it as-is

**Oman Jeep** · 01-09-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

way too big as well... at least in my opinion.

If anything I think it's a bit small. When I finally get the Warn 7" flares I'm considering having it extended to fit flush.

opiv · 01-09-2005, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblaine

Why would you be surprised? That is not a cheap bumper. If it were a 100 dollar throwaway built in some beginning weldor's garage, then they are perfectly acceptable. But, to stick that price tag on a product with that quality of welds staring you in the face, well that says volumes about the company.

If the owner says they look fine, he needs to be in another line of business. They are pathetic, thoroughly downgrade a product with a hefty price tag and clearly appear as though a beginner did them.

I wouldn't accept them on a 300 dollar bumper.

Maybe you are right. That is not a cheap bumper so I guess you can expect perfection in with the welds. I am just used to poor quality welds since my friends and I are terrible at it. I still think the bottomline is that there is no difference in function with the nice looking welds you posted and the ones on this RA bumper. You are probably right though that you should expect better for that price.

**mrblaine** · 01-09-2005, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oman Jeep

Wow... didn't expect it to be that big of a deal... I'll forward your comments to him but as I said, I don't see much need to be concerned. Yes, the pics you posted are nice Blaine, but I'm happy with the bumper as-is.

I see your point about demanding perfection at that price, but I dunno... as long as it doesn't fall apart I'm happy. You do have far more experience than me Blaine, if there's a reason the weld quality makes the bumper weaker I'd like to hear the explanation but if it's just a matter of looks, I can deal with it as-is

Those weld pics I put up were me teaching a friend how to weld. Those are his very first welds. The lumpy one is me telling him what to do, watching him, and then making a correction with the second being the result.

I am not asking you to demand perfection, just acceptable quality that looks like it was done by a professional.

For the money you paid, they can afford to hire guys that weld like my buddy.

If I paid that much for it, all the welds would look like the one above.

**mrblaine** · 01-09-2005, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oman Jeep

Blaine, if there's a reason the weld quality makes the bumper weaker I'd like to hear the explanation but if it's just a matter of looks, I can deal with it as-is

It's not whether or not the welds will break or the bumper is weak. It's an indication that the weldor is not experienced and lacks skill.

A weldor will not only turn out strong welds, but his skill at what he does will also cause him to make welds that not only appear good, but are good.

Rule of thumb is that any weld that looks good, is good, because it takes a bit of skill to make their appearance look like someone who knew what they were doing.

The inverse is also true. If your welds look like a kid in his garage is subbing out work from RA, that's probably the case.

Look at this guys work on a diff cover. Mind you, it's a diff cover and it has to survive the rocks.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317087

**Oman Jeep** · 01-09-2005, 02:01 PM

That one looks good... the ones that are holding the pre-runner tubes in place look similar but much more space between what looks like each fish-scale.

I will try and get some close-up photos of the welds for you all tomorrow... It doesn't bother me too much because MOST of the bumper is perfectly smooth... it's only at the join between the main part and the "wing tips" and the joins for the tubing. A lot of the bumper is formed from a net cut-out and completely smooth. In a way to me it almost seems that the other welds are deliberately crude to give it a rough-and-tough appearance, to avoid it looking like molded plastic.

And if that's the results of your teaching, I would love to spend some time with you for some lessons... looks very nice.

neosheer · 01-09-2005, 02:09 PM

I own a metal fab facility one of the biggest in GA. You can take those welds grind them down and sand them smooth and there will be no diff in strenth. I have welding certificates and my father has been doing it for 35 years.

Those welds are done that way mearly for cosmetic appearance. I have hang 4 ton metal beams with less welding than that. It goes by the penetration of the weld not how much you can smear it and heap it up. Infact that much welding is not always good as it will warp the metal and it is alot harder to work with as the heat from the welding will actually take that 100lb bumper and make it look like a banana if not clamped down.

Also metal work is metal work. If I did it or if Roadarmor did it. They just get their $$$ cause people believe that their product is better than someone who is asking $800 for something that is the same. It is all about the reputation.

I will post pics of my mods I made myself and we can compare em.

urbanassault · 01-09-2005, 03:07 PM

Just my 2 cents on the welds. I don't think anyone is going to fly to Oman and look at the bumper with their own 2 eyes. Every weld that has been posted for comparison will look damn near the same when you have cameras with flashes and welds reflecting in the sun, especially with black paint on top of them. it is going to look way different in a picture than it does in reality. Not justifying the guys that make the bumper and of course they could of made it prettier but it looks to have good depth and consistant bead. Aside from that strip of weld, the others look quite good.

**mrblaine** · 01-09-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanassault

Just my 2 cents on the welds. I don't think anyone is going to fly to Oman and look at the bumper with their own 2 eyes. Every weld that has been posted for comparison will look damn near the same when you have cameras with flashes and welds reflecting in the sun, especially with black paint on top of them. it is going to look way different in a picture than it does in reality. Not justifying the guys that make the bumper and of course they could of made it prettier but it looks to have good depth and consistant bead. Aside from that strip of weld, the others look quite good.

Ya think?

urbanassault · 01-09-2005, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblaine

Ya think?

http://www.justaddrocks.com/images/i...f/DSCN6733.JPG
http://www.justaddrocks.com/Jeep_Mod...s/DSCN4233.JPG

Yes sir! you take the rigght most weld and put it in the sun, it's going to look crooked *** hell. someone took tha pic on a nice cloudy day... The point is, I have seen many pictures throw perception way off, I'm sure if Mr. Oman is pleased with it, as critical as he is with his Jeep!, It couldn't be as bad as the picture portreys...

urbanassault · 01-09-2005, 06:24 PM

Those are some damn pretty welds someone is doing

**mrblaine** · 01-09-2005, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanassault

Those are some damn pretty welds someone is doing

With the exception of the learner ones I posted above and the pitman arm that my buddy tig welded for me, all the rest of the welds and fabrication are mine.

**igofshn** · 01-09-2005, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblaine

Ya think?

Blaine, quit showing off.

ProfessorCRX · 01-09-2005, 08:31 PM

Thank you mr blaine for backing me up. The welds I do at work are all xrayed. As for explaining how a crappy weld is crappy? It's self explanitory. If it looks like shyt, chances are that it is shyt. (on the flip side, you can have a great looking weld, and it's all on the surface.)

Anyway, the welds done at my job are all x-rayed. They have to be able to take the pressure of 1005F superheated steam, at 3000+ PSI for 15 - 30 years before the boiler tubes are replaced. If any of the welds looked like that, they'd laugh at it like it was a joke.

Anyway, while the bumper won't have that kind of strain on it, it should still be able to take an impact.

Mrblaine, that diff skid is pure sex. To get heat distortion on the sides like that, of 3/8" plate, he got some serious penetration.