Anything welding

You have a snapon welder?

I do not have a garage. I have a small backyard and a couple parking spaces. I hope that changes in the near future, however I am realistic in the requirements for that to happen for us. Greater income is the key.

Loans- Considered one, income again being an issue. Don't qualify for any, not at a reasonable rate that is. Problem with us is we are 100% debt free. But we also do not have excess funds right now. Paycheck to paycheck is an understatement. We are ever so slightly able to make all bills meet and take care of small creature comforts as they arise. Banking institutions hate people like us. Cash and carry. They want a sure bet that they are going to get there money and see a history of it. We lack that. Constant battle back and forth over this-

Plan was to get the welder for additional work/ products. Already have people asking me to help them with small projects.

 

I have Miller equipment. I haven't looked at any snap on equipment in quite a few years. I years past, I thought the quality was not up to their prices. Doing math, I could get a decent MM for the same price as snap on. It was just a matter of having access to a Miller dealer if I needed service, which Inever have beyond consumables.

I understand about the $. Cash is always a big part of a deal.

The 185 units are great units. I know several pro's that have them at home and they love them. If I did not have a shop and was forced to work in the driveway, I would be thinking seriously about them.

Good luck on whichever route you take.

 

portability is the main factor due to the cramped lifestyle we have. I would have control over it being portable and be able to transport it to wherever I was able to gain access to a place to do some work. Then, when I got home, put it in a corner in the house.

For his setup, I still need to buy the Aluminum Gun. That would put me out another $260 from whatever we put together as a price. for the AL feature and having 120, I keep looking at the 180 or 210 and thats where I'm stuck

I know it sounds like I am selling myself on the 210 r trying to justify it. Keep the screen. The interesting features I mentioned already.

Is this a quality MIG machine? What makes it NOT one. Duty cycle has me concerned. SO far, Thats the only real concern I have.

This is a field I am relearning and trying to build myself back up to speed with online material. Welding books, and video. I'm trying, just need the real information.

 

What is the duty cycle? I never get hung up on duty cycle. In 25 years of welding, I think I have tripped the breaker 3 times. There is just not that long of welds when mig welding in most cases.

 

I guess if you really need TIG capabilities, that would be the way to go.

I gave up on TIG a long time ago. My MIG welds look just fine and even better after a coat of paint. To make beatiful TIG welds requires lots and lots of practice and not out in the driveway. I just don't have the time to invest to maintain my TIG skills. It was a better use to specialize with MIG welding.

 

I want MIG , some buddies are asking me for MIG .

Duty cycle is 40% on 120, 29% 220? I posted it above in one of my posts..

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/1879930-new-lincoln-power-mig-210-mp.html

pirate 4x4 peoples talking bout it.

 

Read the Pirate thread, sounds like the jury is still out and they are looking for guinie pigs.

That duty cycle doesn't bother me a bit. Those welding times are with the welder set at max capacity. I doubt that you would have many welding project that required full output. Duty times are going to be much longer.

 

Not trying to discourage you but Aluminum is not the easiest to weld especially if you have infrequently held a torch. Like others here have said a weld machine is a long term investment, so put aside the $$$ and get a good machine that has the features you need now and the features you don't know you need yet.

 

Roger roger...

Sometimes the LCD displays on my machine will hang up; they'll get stuck between a number and fluctuate. Drives me crazy. Don't know if it's in the potentiometer, or just a sensitive range...

You sound like you're informed - I think that you've got enough information to make an intelligent decision.

I'll continue to steer people towards the Thermal Arc Fabricator series. I really like mine.

I'm like KO with regards to dual voltage. I was all hyped on it when I bought my machine, now it's more of an afterthought. If I've got a job, they'll be bringing it to me. No way I'm going to bother with moving my entire setup.

I think you're going to be hard pressed to find a multi-process AC/DC TIG/MIG/SMAW for under $1500 - with all consumables, etc.

I don't know what the Craigslist market is like out East, but there's quite a few decent machines in my region.

This is a damn good deal:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/tls/4826632194.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/tls/4826774028.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/tls/4826730799.html

 

Well I think I am finally going to look into getting a welding setup for myself. I have ZERO experience welding. My only experience is watching others weld but that hardly counts as it was more just fitting up a pipe hanger and then having them weld it. I never worried about settings or anything like that.

I don't plan to make a career or anything like that, it would truly just be a hobby for me and even at that not something I would use a whole bunch. but figure it could come in handy from time to time.

With that said the whole reason I am wanting to get a trailer is to build a "offroad trailer". Nothing fancy and mostly square tubing frame with probably some sort of sheet flooring and siding with a RTT of some sort on top.

MIG welding definitely seems like the easiest so that is where I would focus and probably be the only one I really learn....if I needed something else i'd take it to someone.

So with that said...what sort of machines would you recommend I look into? I was actually looking into this package since it looks like it comes with everything (kind funny jev posted it)
http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/tls/4826632194.html

Seems like the welder and saw alone are 1500 new. Not sure how much the other stuff is really worth though.

Anyways thanks for any suggestions. And don't worry Id be practicing lots on scrap metals before actually building a trailer!



I did look into classes around me but almost all seemed more geared to people looking into welding for careers. I know a couple guys who weld and could show me the basics instead of taking a class that would be way more than I need

 

I admit that I'm pro Miller, but the Hobart handler is a great starter rig and will serve you for 90% of any welding you may need to in the future. The Handler unit if you want portability or the Ironman if you want more stationary. I recently was in my Quality farm and fleet and saw an Ironman unit on sale and I was amazed at the price, I don't remember the exact price, but it was cheaper than my MillerMatic that I bought 20 years ago. It was a no brainer.

As for learning to mig weld, just do it. I'm self taught and encourage the sef tought route. People to day have many more advantages that we didn't 20 yrs ago. Utube vids are a huge game changer. You can watch 1000's of vids to get an idea on how you should be.

My side job IS building trailers, if you got any questions, let me know. For a decent off road trailer, there is only about a dozen and a half welds that MUST be structurally sound, the rest of the welds can be of less quality.

 

I emailed the guy who has the listing on Craigslist for that Miller you're interested; I was curious as to what he'd sell his cold cut saw for...

Everyone has their right to list stuff for whatever price they want - but I feel as though he's a little high.

Might see if it's still listed in a month or so and make him an offer.

 

Fabricated a set of Chebby Tahoe skids today...

(I built the front skid about a month ago, owner drilled those holes...)

 

Very nice! That should work great on keeping the guts in when it pukes them up.

Just kidding, nice work.

 

Yeah: it was a real pain in the ass to be under the truck for a few hours taking measurements...

I was pretty happy though - everything was spot on except for one hole that was about a 32nd off.

After several attempts (failed) at trying to scribe the lines for the frame bolt points; I dusted the skids in a light coat of paint... Kind of like prussian blue. Worked great!

 

I posted this in the WTF thread, but it's more fitting/appropriate here.

Posted on a non-TW tacoma facebook group.



Some of the responses...

 

Meh.

He's proud of it; and hopefully it's stout enough to not self-destruct when it's going down the road...

I don't see a winch or recovery points on it - that eliminates a huge risk right there.

Do I like it. No.

But that's just it, it's his and not mine.

'Murica.

 

I've got my bench parked in the driveway; finally snagged it from the powdercoater.

I'm amazed.

This guy is truly a master at what he does - it looks gorgeous...

For anyone needing blasting/powdercoating done in Western Wash., consider giving your business to JL Powdercoating just north of Bellingham.

Amazing how this:



Can go to this:

 

Is that to prevent snow from building up on the subframe? Reminds me of the belly pan we install on our snowmobiles, back in the day.