Anything welding

Anything paid for and not needing a payment is always good

 

Used the old ironman230 for the first time in 3 years ( don't really do much at home anymore )
She ran like a champ and has been a flawless machine.
At work I is a Lincoln 256, Lincoln 216 and a Miller 252, I would put this machine up against those machines anyday. Learned on a tapped machine to begin with .
For you guys wanting a 250 amp machine without breaking the bank. Don't overlook the ironman 230, it's a Rock solid machine for $1300.00 and change.

 

First world problems. Not enough room for my tools. I have a 60" rollaway and a 60" knaack job cabinet at work for my personal tools that I don't have room for at home
My next house is going to have a 4 car garage or a separate shop.
Anyone else have this problem ?
I don't even have room to to do side jobs at home .

 

You are preaching to the choir, brother.

Every...damn...day...

 

I’m 25, living at my parents in Connecticut. Looking to change careers. Open to welding, automotive, whatever. I have a bachelors of science for industrial design, open to more school or relocating. Point me in some direction please.

No clue how to transition to a welding focused job. Currently cooking at a restaurant and happy to bartend some nights, not looking for strictly 9-5. Just want to use my hands and make a living

 

@deog With overflowing space like yours & mine, plus tool addiction, projects just keep getting smaller and lighter! Not necessarily faster turn around.

 

I don't forget many side jobs these days. My regular gig eats up 65 hours plus of my time. At that point, I just want to go home and stay in the Air conditioning. When it's not over 100 degrees out I do more side stuff.
105 here today.

 

Anybody here bought a dimple die set recently? Been looking at the Eastwood set but not sure if I trust the quality. Also took a look at Ruffstuff Specialties, they’ve got they’re own set but it’s only for a set of 3. Y’all got any recommendations?

 

I bought a set from swag off road and it’s been good. They also say they have lifetime warranty.

 

Just looked at the ones from swag. What sizes did you go with? I’m limited to buying one of their sets of 3 at the moment. I know that answer is largely dependent on application but I’ll ask it anyway. My plan is to use the dimple dies to create traction aids for steps if that helps any.

 

I bought the medium set and have only been using the 1.75” one. Wanna say it uses an 1.25” hole saw

The gap from the main square tube to the start of the outter tube is 3”

 

Lol. This is the exact application I’m buying them for. Fill plates on the sliders I build. This answers my question! Thanks!

What thickness sheet metal did you end up using for those plates if you don’t mind me asking? I’m thinking of using 16 gauge at the moment, but still haven’t made up my mind.

 

I bought my set from Eastwood and it’s been a great set so far! Very good quality. Haven’t had any issues and the price is right. These plates are 14 gauge (.078)

 

Nice. What size dimple die are you using there?

 

That’s a 1.5” right there. I plasma cut everything on my table and I make the holes 1.55” and the dimples go in like butter and press down easily on my HF 20 ton press with the air/hydro 20 ton bottle jack

The set I got was the

.5”
1”
1.5”
2”
2.5”

 

Lets be honest no matter the size of the shop the floor surface will get filled up!!

Any flat surface gets things stacked on it

Then growing up with people who lived through the depression between the wars nothing was thrown out till it had no possible use anymore .

 

Step 1- throw the degree out the window
Step 2- take welding classes at a local college. Tig and stick if you want a lot of hours and to work on the road. Mig and flux core if you want an average paying gig and home every night
Step 3- put in the hours and listen. You got 2 ears and 1 mouth. Use them in the same ratio.
Step 4- pass weld test and make connections and let’s your work show for itself
Step 5- move up and make bank

 

Nice. I’ll be doing it with a hole saw for the time being. Eventually a table is going to happen but I need a bit more space before I buy one. I’d like a 4x4 table at a minimum.

 

Oof. I can't imagine spending as much as a degree costs these days and switching careers now.

 

Anymore it matters not what the degree is in just that you have it.

Anymore saying you want to be a welder is like saying you want to be a Engineer such a wide range in both fields .

Anything from welding floors in garbage trucks and trailers to process piping with orbital Tig

Work for a small outfit 4 or 5 people or huge 500 plus Union or not.

Then things can be so much different when it puts food on the table then when it is for fun with no pressure

then your eye hand coordination might just be average so you will just be ok not outstanding as a welder.