Anything welding

Awesome. Still needing to figure out additional equipment and stuff. I guess I just need your standard stuff like a welding mask, gloves, and some type of argon mix bottle. Not exactly sure what size bottle I should get.

 

I recommend a 60cf bottle of C25 mix. I have these gloves and like them

John Tillman and Co 50L Top Grain Leather MIG Gloves with Split Leather Palm Reinforcements, Split Leather Back, Fleece Lining, Seamless Forefinger and Elastic Back (Carded), Large

$25 John Tillman and Co Tillman Large 14" Gold and Pearl Top Grain Split Back Cowhide Fleece Lined MIG Welders Gloves with 4" Cuff and Kevlar Thread Locking Stitch (Carded), White/Tan (TIL50L)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WOW6ZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BRPEEb6QNH5RT


And this hood I’m sure others will chime in with rec but for welder, gas, cart, hood and gloves this’ll put you under a grand and you’ll be stacking dimes in no time.

 

Thanks for the insight and links! Even better that my wife's on board since it should save us money in the long run haha

 

Welded up the vband for my muffler. Ran out of piping for the exit though so that sucks.

 

Decide to make a mount for my little tank with left over from a cutout

started with this


Finished with



Welding up the bottom tomorrow after work

 

I’d get a bigger bottle than 60cf. That’s only 2-3 hours of welding before you’ve gotta refill... and a bigger bottle is a better deal when you refill and will last you way longer.

Also, pick up extra lenses for whatever hood you buy, extra contact tips, a few nozzles for the welder, and of course keep extra wire. I like a this little wire brush I have that fits into the nozzle to remove the splatter build up. Some people hit the nozzle to get rid of it but kills the nozzles fast and dents them to a square, ha.

I also run a wire cleaner before it goes into the liner, it prolongs it’s life. Many are like felt circles that slip over the wire, but poking the wire through a foam ear plug also works

Anyways good luck! Great skill to have

 

I agree with everything you said, except for the gas.

If you go thru that can in 3 hours, you need to check your flow. That's a huge amount to go thru.

Gas will be a small part of your investment. It last a long time.

 

60cf / 20cfh = 3 hours of welding (non stop)

 

I am glad I originally got a 120 bottle because the price to exchange only a 60cf at Airgas here in Hawaii was almost the same price as the 120cf! They explained that to me when I went in there to price out the gas. Gas is so expensive here, I needed the best deal possible.

 

Good Choice with the welding machine.!! Although the Harbor fright Vulcan Line being pretty much Lincoln Clones might be worth a look.

Know going in welding on vehicles is about the most difficult out of position lots of prep work all kinds of things to catch on fire.

If your going with the smaller 60cuft get 2 cylinders it never fails you will run out at the worst time .

With more and more distributors no longer open Saturdays or a Holiday weekend it can be a long wait .

If you have friends you can borrow a cylinder from your lucky.

 

All kinds of different things can influence gas consumption .

Arc time is when output is enabled and the gas solenoid is open.

Three hours of Arc time is ball park for 60cuft unless you leave the cylinder open most people only do that once.

Most hobby welders might see 3 hours of Arc time in 6 months

 

All depends on how much he plans on welding. As a hobby welder who maybe welds one or two things a month, a tank will last me ~6 months and is a very manageable size to wheel around. Plus with smaller bottles you own them, and don’t need to pay a rental fee like larger ones.

 

Different parts of the country I can buy any size cylinder I want if need be.

Just big nationwide distributors that won`t sell over 60cuft cylinders they make far to much on the monthly rental charges .

 

Thank you guys for the help! Lots of great info. I'm glad my questions didn't turn into a "Google it" response.

 

Since we're on the topic of gas/bottles;
I have an 80cf bottle and I've been debating getting another 60cf as a backup for those times you run out mid-job. I usually run my machine with about 12-15 cfm when welding in controlled conditions (in the shop with no wind...) and only crank it up higher than that if it's windy or I move outdoors. I haven't had any issues with weld contamination at the lower CFM, but I was curious what everyone else is running at?

 

As low as possible for me for a good weld and no gas waste. Usually around 12cfm

 

Yeah that's what I thought as well. When @snowboard704 posted he's running at 20, I figured he must've been outdoors, but it made me questions my settings.

 

Friend of mine is a farmer with some large equipment. This is a wing off a fold out hare. Piece was missing so made one and braced it up underneath.

 

I run around 17 but I’m welding in my garage with an open door, so I opt for that little extra bit of protection.

 

Our welder here at work is 10' from a 12' X 12' door, if I have it open I don't touch the gauge, if it's windy I try to lower the door a little.