Anything welding

Would you believe it's an 18 year old HF bandsaw I got free last year?

Wasn't even running.

Posted about it here -

Fast forward maybe a week or so after that and I got her cutting square -

 

I think he was looking at the bar reading being PSI now that I’ve thought about his explanation when we were checking it out.

 

I'm a hobbyists at best and I be lucky to even weld or cut once a month. That's why I chose to just give the cheap method a try and also transfer that knowledge into making a cnc router for my wood hobby too. Not hating on crossfire just know that they are entry level compare to what's out there. The jd design is very similar to the one you have too.

That's it. I'll look into more details once I do a test run. Mainly plan to use it to make tabs and mounting plates. Does mach3 require a cost to use?

 

No worries.

Just wanted to dispell the "buggy" rumor that's repeated by some out there.

You see it on the Facebook group often and when asked a few questions you quickly find out that they have not only 0 welding experience, but 0 fabrication experience or even any metal work experience whatsoever.

Fully expecting to just lay a sheet of metal, pressing a button, and poof instant sign. These are the same people that refuse to learn CAD and just buy all their designs off Etsy.

As far as my work? I'm also just a hobbyist.

 

That’s awesome - love bringing older stuff back to life.

 

Retired Hobbyist but if you get any compensation you lose your hobby status !!

I never learned CAD it was after my school days I learned Mechanical Drawing !

I no doubt could pick it up if I really needed .

 

I been going at it a bit more on my dump trailer build for once and it got me wondering I can have my life so much easier cutting the 3/4 plates with a table. It's easy enough to free hand for now but having a table would be nice for future cuts. I been holding off on the build since i dreading thinking about fabing the hydraulic mounting plates.



Welding upside down was interesting with gravity.

 

Do you mean 3/4" plate going to need a decent output plasma machine 80 amps plus

 

No the Hypertherm 45 handle it just fine. I never had plasma experience and after reading about needing clean dry air and how much volume it takes I had to address that first. Ended up with a refrigerate dryer in addition the the dissicant plus another air compressor. Just a very long rabbit hole. I just didn't know any better until doing it.

 

New purge plugs for a future project

 

Yeah I didn't know what 3/4 plates were; makes sense.

Fortunately a lot can hit that capacity. My chinese machine can do 7/8" plate, but many do 1" even.

Hypertherm rates their machines conservatively as they cut thicker than they're rated for.

 

Welding overhead is easy!

Plasma cutting overhead for me is where it gets interesting; was cutting overhead yesterday and I got some burn marks on my hoodie.

 

When you weld or cut at least one time you sooner or later will need to explain those interesting burns in the area of the family jewels .

That look like something really nasty encountered while exploring .

 

Oh man...not looking forward to that one!

I make sure to wear the 3350 hood for anything overhead; it protects against any slag, etc.

I can't say the same for the 1740 hood (haven't bothered to read the specifications) but it's made of the same shell material as my friend's Miller that is not rated for anything overhead so why chance it?

I've got a burn mark (permanent) that's on my tattoo...but on the lightly shaded part not the dark line fortunately.

Just adds character right?

I'm sure you've got a ton of burns.

 

Though most them when attempting to cook!

 

I would've taken you for a bonafide chef!

My goods are nothing to brag about, but I have made contributions to the other threads (regarding baked goods).

 

Perhaps exhaust manifold cooking ! over a fire ! Big Chunks of meat!

Now I am hungry!!

 

Found a cut ready file with even MORE good advice!

 

I saw that one! Almost got it for myself

 

On the hunt for a (lightly used/abused) small AC/DC TIG & ARC welder in Texas. Would I be happy with the "good" China boxes like the Vulcan Protig 205 or a Yeswelder? I'd buy a Lincoln/miller/hobart for the right price, but who has 3k+ to spare right now?

I weld on a Miller every day, I can run a decent dime stack on the boss's 250DX, but I'm saving a little cash to start up a side hustle and get my personal tools up to scratch be more independent. Let me know if anyone who welds/fab privately has any advice on how they got started. I'm all ears.