Anything welding

I have bought most of my tanks with used welders or off craiglist and I never get issues on exchanges. I used to think it was from knowing the guys I was dealing with, but it’s been years since I’ve been a welding store regular and all the guys I used to know have moved up or left. The new guys that just know me as a walk in customer treat my exchanges the exact same as the guys I knew.

 

This was the question. Yes you can swap a tank but I don't think it's a good idea to recommend to this guy to drag his Nitrogen bottle into Airgas and expect them to refit the bottle into a CO2 and give it back.
Zim

 

I see what you are saying, I've read a ton of reviews on the machine and people have had nothing but good things to say about it. Even compared it to machines double its price. I also thought about customer support and read reviews on that and ppl have had nothing but good things to say about it. It in my opinion is a nice machine that's a better value than some of the other machines out there with the "name" on the lid. I'm not knocking them at all im just saying im not a brand snob at all when it comes to tools. I like the tools that help me get the job done. Im not a professional welder nor do i weld to make a profit. I simply like to tinker in my spare time and fix projects around the house. This welder seems to fit all those needs. Also really don't even need to buy one right now as our wedding is my main priority at this point right now but i would like to tackle a couple of projects that my welder right now isn't capable of doing. As far as consumables not sure how much of a difference using a different brand contact tip or other pice would make a difference as long as it fit. I'm sure i could figure that out with a quick google search. With all that being said im not discrediting what you said just simply giving you my input into the thought of it. Im not even 50% sure im going to buy a welder lol. Just wanted to see if there was any other input in here. I realize this was probably not the thread since there are a lot of ppl who do this by trade that would probably look down on a welder like this because of the name or not a miller, Hobart, Lincoln etc.

 

That is why my tanks are some of my most cherished items. They been in the family since I was born and have the title of ownership to go with them.

Had to sign some paperwork at the local gas supply when I swapped out one the o2 tanks for argon. Since it was bigger than there standard customer owned tank (250cf)

 

its a good idea to go talk to the place youre gonna be dealing with before you do anything. Asking a bunch of guys from different regions with minimal experience what your local shops are gonna do is a bad gamble to begin with, it its pretty crazy how much people in your guys reasons big deal these bottles.

 

My local fire extinguisher place let me swap out my big tank I got on craigslist. Both my big and small bottle I own thankfully. Would hate to be stuck renting. Just need to find the right business.

 

My partner was the welding supervisor, Submarine Base Kings Bay Georgia. He transferred from Charleston Shipyard and brought down 6 bottles he owned there. Same story as yours. Could not get anyone to fill them. Take the bottles and give you new bottles but not fill them on site, and hand them back to you like the old days. Insurance is the culprit. Bottles have to be tested. I used a CO2 beverage bottle for years on my personal rig and when I left the east coast, and arrived in the midwest, the story changed and I had to give it up. Paid the deposit like everyone else here.
Zim

 

In terms of a welding table, is it possible to store it outside without rusting? I have too much crap in the garage for It to permanently live inside. Would painting it be a bad idea?

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but you want it raw so you can clamp the ground to the table and just set your workpiece on it to weld. Occasionally I'll clamp directly to what I'm working on, just depends. But I would like the freedom of not having to clamp directly to my workpiece. Being in socal, you could probably get away with it though, storing it raw outside. Just paint everything except the surface and cover it with a tarp. If you get some surface rust on top, just sand it off with a DA sander or grinder.

 

Yeah, I figured they had to be raw. Would stainless steel work? If not I’ll just do what you said. Cover with a tarp, not like it ever rains in SoCal. Lol.

 

That I'm not sure of. Though I imagine a table made out of SS would be pretty expensive.

 

Figured I’d buy a sheet of SS and build my own frame/legs… though a tarp might still be a better option lol.

 

I think that’s the difference. We just swap our bottles. Never looked into having them filled. Everywhere here just swaps them, which I prefer, as I’m trying to get in and out the welding store as quick as possible. It would be nice to have them filled locally if it meant my argon bottles were vacuumed down all the way and made sure the argon wouldn’t be contaminated for the last bit of gas (not that it’s a regular issue, but I won’t run a bottle on my tig to full empty as that’s usually when you encounter bad gas, I’ll run my mig bottles to pretty much dead)

 

Babies and their bottles

 

I would like to hear your review on the setup. Not to much out there as it is a very specialized field. Debating if I should even set up my 255 for aluminum or save it for the tig machine.

 

No problem.

My fab table lives outside a lot of the time. I use it for small engine repair as well. Spilled motor oil residue keeps it rust free just fine.

I don't notice any issue with grounding my work either. I clamp the ground to the table for almost all my work.

 

I can't see an advantage to keeping and refilling your own cans.

I'm fine with paying the $25 hydro test fee.

I have come across cans that have bad valves. I am meticulous about logging my tank pressures between uses. The tank I'm on now is bleeding down 3x faster than it should.
I called AG and let them know it had a bad seal in the valve. They said they would make it right when I come in to swap cans. Just be sure to let them mark the can as having a bad valve.

 

I'm a super stainless noob. Here's a practice pass from today.

 

Really depends what type of aluminum parts you’re gonna be welding. I’m gonna set it up solely for these aluminum canopy frames.







I have a job lined up to do about 20 units. The 255 with alumapro will fly thru them. The ones in the pics we did with all TIG - Syncrowave 210 and Dynasty 200. It didn’t take toooo long with 2 machines running on opposite ends but might as well make it easier.

Now if you’re welding stuff that’s really thin then save it for the TIG.

 

So I am a youth leader for the boys at my church and we usually do an activity of some sort on Wednesday nights. We met together a few Sundays ago and made a list of things that they wanted to learn or activities they wanted to do and they told me they wanted to learn how to weld. So this Wednesday we got together at my house and I taught 5 boys age 10-16 how to weld and they loved it. It was a lot of fun and they really enjoyed learning to melt metal together

After some instruction and having them wear my spare hood and watch me do it, I let each of them have like 15 mins under the hood themselves. This was the first bead ever laid for all of them and one of the boys put this one down first try and I was thoroughly impressed! Fun time!