Anything welding

Looking to teach myself to weld.. what do you guys recommend as a good starting rig? I've been looking at miller migs on craigslist but man they're expensive or old as hell. Like I said I still need to learn, but also need a machine that'll be capable of welding a hole shut on the frame of my el camino and whatever else may come. basically a welder that's middle of the road, but still not too expensive..

 

The biggest is 300cf. If you get your gas for that, it's a great deal

 

Hobart handler

Or tweco fabricator

 

I learned on a hobart handler 140.

 

Yeah if your getting 350+cf for that it's a great deal!

 

Im not 100% sure but its about 5.5' tall, when I initially set up the account I was told anything under the big one I had to pay outright and I would just own the cylinder but I could only rent the largest bottle. it takes up the full length of my bed

 

Yeah sounds like a 350+

 

Don't feel bad, I've been welding for 30 years and I still can't keep the tank sizes straight.

 

lol yea, I just go in and tellem to swap haha
IDC about the sizes, if I want a smaller bottle I give a guy that does my powdercoating $30 and use on of his, its more midsize to the one I normally use

 

So I've found a coop here in Houston called Houston Makers Space that looks to have a very nice metal shop in the works. I live in a loft so owning a welding rig isn't really an option. The coop is only a mile and a half from my place and costs $35 a day, or more for extended periods.

Tonight I'll be taking my first welding class! The class is taught by the guy that runs the metal shop at the coop. I will still have to test on the coop's equipment before I'm let loose though. Tonight is the first step towards having this equipment at my disposal.



We'll see how I do. I've only tried to mig weld once with flux core, and that was years ago.

 

$649 for hobart 190 (no spool gun) at TSC until the 15th. http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/hobart-handlerreg;-190-mig-welder-spool-gun-ready

Very tempted to go pick one up

 

Well, I think the class I took went pretty well. It was a one on one class so I basically spent two hours welding. The machine was a Miller 211 using 0.035 wire and mix gas. I think that's the wire size he said we were using.

My first beads

16ga flat bar



1/4" bar stock with a 1/8" overlap on a 16ga square tube, downhill



Also played around with some thin stuff, this is 24ga.



So, how'd I do?

 

pretty good. Need more wire for the heat. and a stead pace either forward or down. You got it bud

 

Thanks

I'm looking forward to getting some more practice in. That skid plate of mine isn't going anywhere all tacked up. Need to get it finished.

 

Real world ugly. On the job amored cars

 

What kind of vehicle? Looks like a shitload of weight

 

Look up Cyclone swat

 

That's pretty sweet. 17-19klb!!

 

To see all we do. Go to armored-cars.com

 

Thats sweet... Do they re-do the gearing and suspension on the suv's/cars or just let them rock?