Subject: Welding Equipment

From: Barry Thomas <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1993 21:57:21 GMT

I need to do occasional repair/reinforcement work on my old farm
equipment.  I've been taking small work to the local welding shops, but
they are never open when things break and large parts (like loader
buckets) are a problem.  So, I'd like to get some welding equipment. 
Naturally, I have no experience and little money.  I would appreciate any
advice, suggestions, warnings, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Barry Thomas
[email-masked]
Indiana University

Opinions expressed our my own and do not represent the University

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From: [email-masked] ("Robert F. Enenkel")
Date: 9 Jul 93 13:53:13 GMT

>advice, suggestions, warnings, etc.

Please post replies.  This sounds intersting!  Robert Enenkel

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From: Andrew Michael Cohill <[email-masked]>
Date: 9 Jul 1993 14:07:00 GMT

Lincoln and Miller both make what are called 'buzz boxes' which are low 
cost ($250-400) and heavy enough for what you want to do.  Their name 
derives from the hum that the AC transformers in them make.

A few tips:

No matter what anyone tells you, you need a welder that runs off 220 VAC, 
at about 30 amps, at a minimum, for the work you describe.  The little 110 
VAC boxes have very low duty cycles and do not have the heat to weld much 
more than 1/8" mild steel--useless for around the farm jobs.

There are lots of nice little wirefeed welders out now, at low prices, 
that the welding supply houses are going to flog mercilessly.  Be 
careful:  they like these because the cost of supplies is much higher, 
and you may be bringing them in for frequent repairs because of the 
mechanical complexity, compared to the ultra-simple buzz boxes, which 
never wear out and have no moving parts aside from a small fan.

Look at the motor-generator rigs;  they cost more, but as a bonus you get 
a very nice auxiliary generator and real portability.  Equipment broke 
down out the field?  No problem...throw the welder in the back of the 
pickup truck and drive it to the breakdown, along with portable AC to 
drive power tools like drills and grinders. A final bonus is that these 
babies provide DC current for welding, which is *much* nicer than AC.

Don't think you can get away for a few hundred bucks. The *minimum* you 
will need in addition to the welder is a good heavy duty portable grinder 
(i.e. *not Sears) for $125-150, an oxy-acetylene welding rig and tanks 
for $200-400, and a helmet, gloves, wire brush, chipping hammer, and an 
assortment of welding rod for $100-175.

If you have any money left over, you will find yourself wishing for a 
good bench grinder (6" to 8") at $125-$200, and a good, heavy 1/2" 
portable drill for $125-175.

Finally, don't buy any of this stuff from Sears, no matter how cheap it 
is.  You'll live to regret it, unless you drop dead of a heart attack the 
day after you buy everything.

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From: [email-masked] (Lawrence H. Smith)
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1993 14:22:17 GMT

>advice, suggestions, warnings, etc.

Advice: Track down someone in your area offering welding classes; often
available through some sort of VoTech/Community College/Night School 
arrangement. Or perhaps one of your local welders. A little formal training
can be very useful. 

Arc welding books - Lincoln puts out a good one.

Gas welding/cutting books - Linde puts out a good one.

Gas is more portable, Arc is better for heavy welding (like loader buckets).
OTOH, an arc welder that can do heavy welding is expensive, and you may need
new electrical service to run the thing. Stop into the local welding supply 
and chat with them a bit.

As for getting your big things fixed now, most working welders have a truck
with a portable rig, and can come out to you.

-Lawrence Smith, MSC Computing Staff - Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
 [email-masked] [email-masked] (607)255-6064
-Cats, Coffee, Chocolate... Vices to live by.

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From: [email-masked] (Pete Lancashire)
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 93 15:24:32 GMT

>Please post replies.  This sounds intersting!  Robert Enenkel

There has been a limited discussion going on in rec.crafts.metalworking
about MIG welders. And I think there is now an addition to their FAQ.

What you have to first look at is the biggest piece of work (metal) you
think you will encounter and the next is the duty cycle. 

For me I have 24 hour access to a Millermatic 250 Wire feed MIG.
Bigger then I've ever need. Except the time I welded a cracked D4 blade.
Real nice, but I didn't win the lottery.

At home I have an old Airco 200 Amp 100% duty cycle stick
welder/generator, I normally have it hooked up as my emergency power
source but I've used it for welding.

Once you've used wire it is hard going back to stick. But because of
that you can find some real good buys on commercial stick welders.

-pete

          --------------------------------------------
          ----- Pete Lancashire [email-masked] ----
          -------- Kid in spirit. Big Brother --------
          ---               and now                ---
          - Adopt ? ME ? Am I going crazy ? HELP :) !-
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