Anything welding

You’ll be happy with it, it’s a great hobbyist welder.

 

All right! Now buy yourself a nice helmet.

 

Just got the email for their new hoods.

 

Pretty stoked about it! Seemed cheaper than paying someone else to do my gussets, shock relocation, etc. Lol.

Been looking at some helmets and YouTube videos, gonna scrub through this thread too!
In spirit of HF, this helmet had decent reviews and I believe it’s been compared to the Lincoln electric 3350 as being rebranded for a fraction of the price.

 

Shit even a passive with a decent lense.

 

You would also be happy with that hood, I’ve had the same one for a few years. It’s awesome, hasn’t given me any trouble.

 

Damn inflation. I payed $100 for it a few years ago

 

Welcome to the rabbit hole! I have that Lincoln helmet and really like it.

 

I see everything in my house as a possible welding project now

 

Been thinking about picking this up since it’s $110 off right now. Also can weld aluminum so that’s a plus. Anyone got it?


YESWELDER MIG-250 PRO Aluminum MIG Welder, 250Amp 220V, Gas Gasless MIG Welding Machine MIG/Lift TIG/ARC 3 in 1 Welder

$560 YESWELDER MIG-250 PRO Aluminum MIG Welder, 250Amp 220V Advanced Digital Display, MIG/Pulsed MIG/Flux Core/Spool Gun MIG/Lift TIG/Stick 6-In-1 Multiprocess Welding Machine, Spool Gun Compatible

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CBCB4M5?_encoding=UTF8

 

You get what you pay for

There’s also a ton of value in readily available consumables

 

Can’t go wrong with a fixed Jackson or Pipeliner. Personally, I think everyone should start out with a fixed hood.

 

explain?

 

Unless you can find a "Billy Joe Bob's" gas company. Owning your own tanks these days is almost impossible. The gas companies have CO2 bottles for use and you can get the regulators for them. Small initial expense but worth it.
Zim

 

I think that’s a regional thing. It’s really easy to own your own bottle in California. You can walk right in airgas, Gordon woods, or praxair and buy whatever bottle you want (can’t say that about many things in California)

 

There have been times that I unknowingly ran out of contact tips and had to finish the project that day. I’m able to buy Hobart / Miller supplies from a local store to finish what I need if that happens.

Customer support, readily available replacement parts, wider knowledge of the machine, etc. are worth buying a nicer welder.

 

Definitely a regional thing. I own my tanks outright and use a regional company (all over most of the southeast) to buy from.

 

We built SFI chassis in Kingsland Ga for a decade starting in 2003. We couldn't get a older bottle filled anywhere from Charleston to Jacksonville. Airgas and Praxair would not do it. If your bottle is stamped 1985, good luck. Just my experience.
Zim

 

My tanks were bought within the last 1-3 years. None of the shops I talked to had issues selling a tank up to 80 cu/ft and some would sell 125s. No issues with swaps around town either.

That being said, I bought my tanks from the gas supplier as it was significantly cheaper than any other method I could find to buy a tank.

 

We just swapped and out of date take and upsized it with a different gas for $70 at my local chain supply, but from reading this forum over the last few years it definelty seems like a back East issue, hell they even exchange owned tanks out here and that’s at airgas and praxair.