Welding Tips and Tricks

HTP 221
miller 250 syncrowave
miller 140mig

A current observation. We aren't so attached to brands as most make it out to be. Everyone makes it seem like we can only buy one brand. It seems like most of us mix brands or have one of everything and like each and it depends more on process for preference. That's kind of neat to me that we don't buy only one brand.

Most of the places I e worked used either Lincoln or Miller but the place I'm at now uses Esab. I've not found too many major problems with any of them. Some of the machines were old models too and worked fine.

I have Miller/ Everlast/ Longevity/ Hypertherm machines.

Lincoln 180 using flux core only. --Hypertherm 30 Air --- Wen 5/8 variable speed drill press ---20 ton air operated press---2 ton cherry picker/engine hoist --Evolution 380 14in dry cut saw --Homebuilt air compressor ( 35 years ago ) and a pile of grinders -drills-air tools -wrenches -vise -clamps -anvil etc. etc. Then homebuilt stuff --layout and welding and cutting tables- set of 4 work stands adjustable from 30in to 4ft with various inserts --twin screw adjustable movable roller stock supports for cutting table and drill press --cart for welder and plasma --shop air cleaner etc, etc, No wonder my wife wonders why it took a few years to set up my shop so I like it. Other than paying for it buying the basic power tool part is fairly easy and quick --it's designing and building the support infrastructure so you can actually use the tools efficiently that takes the time. Best job I ever had!!

Farmwelding wrote:A current observation. We aren't so attached to brands as most make it out to be. Everyone makes it seem like we can only buy one brand. It seems like most of us mix brands or have one of everything and like each and it depends more on process for preference. That's kind of neat to me that we don't buy only one brand.

i can agree with you there

Farmwelding wrote:A current observation. We aren't so attached to brands as most make it out to be. Everyone makes it seem like we can only buy one brand. It seems like most of us mix brands or have one of everything and like each and it depends more on process for preference. That's kind of neat to me that we don't buy only one brand.

Ha! Nice pun.

I've never really been campy about what was better, mainly because I noticed that when you go somewhere to work, there really isn't a choice. You simply use what is there at that work position.

HTP and Miller.

Lincoln Idealarc 250
Forney C5 arc welder
Forney victor torch
The start of another victor torch rig.
Dewalt abrasive saw
A few cheap grinders

I currently have a Miller Dialarc 250 HF tig/stick welder, a Miller 211 mig, a Lincoln Weld-Pak HD flux core wire machine, and a Chicago Electric 40 amp plasma cutter...

I also have 3 oxyfuel torch rigs, 2 are Victors, the other is a Smith, I think, (I acquired it as part of a bulk lot of welding equipment almost 2 years ago and haven't even unpacked it to check it out)...

-Bear

Lincoln Squarewave 175
Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT
Lincoln SP 125
Lincoln Idealarc250
Miller XMT304
Miller Suitcase X-Treme 12VS
Millermatic 200
Hypertherm 85
Torchmate 4x4
Cincinnati Mill
Atlas 12 inch lathe
Atlas small horizontal mill
Shop built guillotine bender
" " Plate roller
20 ton press
And a friendly little mouse who keeps me company when I am here late at night

Parker Metalworking TIG/Stick
Miller plasma
Victor O/A
Harris O/A
Milwaukee portaband
Bosch and Dewalt right angle grinders (2-3 of 'em, keep a wire cup on one, cutting, flap disk, etc. on the two Dewalts)

Whatever brand of tools I end up finding deals when there is a need, and no glaring faults warning me away from.
Had a Lincoln SP135+ MIG until an acquaintance had great need for MIG, and I hadn't been using MIG in a while.

DrDogwood wrote:Lincoln Squarewave 175
Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT
Lincoln SP 125
Lincoln Idealarc250
Miller XMT304
Miller Suitcase X-Treme 12VS
Millermatic 200
Hypertherm 85
Torchmate 4x4
Cincinnati Mill
Atlas 12 inch lathe
Atlas small horizontal mill
Shop built guillotine bender
" " Plate roller
20 ton press
And a friendly little mouse who keeps me company when I am here late at night

Atlas small horizontal mill!
Now your making me drool! I've been loking for one for a while, I have the lathe and shaper.

Tom Osselton wrote:

DrDogwood wrote:Lincoln Squarewave 175
Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT
Lincoln SP 125
Lincoln Idealarc250
Miller XMT304
Miller Suitcase X-Treme 12VS
Millermatic 200
Hypertherm 85
Torchmate 4x4
Cincinnati Mill
Atlas 12 inch lathe
Atlas small horizontal mill
Shop built guillotine bender
" " Plate roller
20 ton press
And a friendly little mouse who keeps me company when I am here late at night

Atlas small horizontal mill!
Now your making me drool! I've been loking for one for a while, I have the lathe and shaper.

The little mill sets mostly idle since got the Cincinnati But it still gets used for the odd little job
I forgot the Makita carbide cold saw and horizontal band saw
I was building a lot of small Backhoe buckets for A while so I built the plate roller it will bend 37" of 3/16 plate around a 12" die

My shop is mostly a woodworking shop, with one part near the garage port for metalworking, usually I have it so I can roll out my metalworking stuff on the concrete infront. I got a single welder, a 23 year old Kemppi Minarc TIG 300A, DC only stick and tig combo that I retrofitted with a CK torch and homemade pedal. Before that I had a cheaper older kemppi stick welder.

I buy and use almost exclusively old quality machines, usually requiring some renovation. My oldest machine is my woodworking bandsaw which is anywhere from 60-70 years old. Future purchases would be a better drill press, preferrably something like a swedish Arboga or Strands, an older cast iron jointer/planer combo is also in the cards. But I got a small aluminum one that I am making do with.

I would someday like to expand into the smaller room in my garage, once I have built a whole new storage to put the stuff I currently store there into. Then I'd like to put a metal working lathe there perhaps. Maybe a swedish blomqvist (a metric southbend clone)

This is the welder and my welding table, it's onwheels so I can roll it outside for welding work:


I am into homemade tools as well, this simple belt grinder has been very useful, it was primary intended to sharpen chisels, but it gets used for all kinds of metal shaping, eventually I will build a bigger metal belt grinder.


I recently made a sheet metal brake, also the vise is homemade:

(quoted above)

Atlas small horizontal mill!
Now your making me drool! I've been loking for one for a while, I have the lathe and shaper

I forgot about mills & lathes!

Craftsman (Clausing) lathe, pops up at Sears Service Center as: "Yeah, we sold this once-upon-a-time" (part # on a blank sheet)

18" Russnok vertical (and horizontal!) mill from WWII US Navy. The base, (heavy cast iron), made by Singer Sewing Machine Co.

Unimat mini lathe & mill attach. (bought from Sears! catalog in early '70's)

Craftsman (Sherline) mini lathe.

motox wrote:HTP 221
miller 250 syncrowave
miller 140mig

Ditto except my mig is a Hobart Handler 210 (220V only) and Oxy/Acet rig, and Hypertherm plasma cutter. And plenty of machine shop machines.

cornmuse wrote:(quoted above)

Atlas small horizontal mill!
Now your making me drool! I've been loking for one for a while, I have the lathe and shaper

I forgot about mills & lathes!

Craftsman (Clausing) lathe, pops up at Sears Service Center as: "Yeah, we sold this once-upon-a-time" (part # on a blank sheet)

18" Russnok vertical (and horizontal!) mill from WWII US Navy. The base, (heavy cast iron), made by Singer Sewing Machine Co.

Unimat mini lathe & mill attach. (bought from Sears! catalog in early '70's)

Craftsman (Sherline) mini lathe.

Nothing wrong with Clausing

motox wrote:
HTP 221
miller 250 syncrowave
miller 140mig

electrode wrote:
Ditto except my mig is a Hobart Handler 210 (220V only) and Oxy/Acet rig, and Hypertherm plasma cutter. And plenty of machine shop machines.

hypertherm plasma too, should have bought the 210 instead of 140. here to plenty of machine shop and fab tools.

Miller 252 with spool gun
A Miller Dynasty 280 in the near future
72" x 40" x 1-1/4" welding table blanchard ground flat
Butt loads of clamps
CNC mill
CNC lathe
CAD and CAM software
Manual mill and lathe
4' x 6' x 10" surface plate and lots of precision measuring tools
Lots of good quality hand tools
Martin 00016 guitar
JBL sound system
2400 SF to put them in

I use this shop to make a living in but it is also my man cave. I'm there 7 days a week.

Welders
Lincoln 100 fluxcore mig, My first Mig experience.
Millermatic 140, I like this machine alot
L-Tec 250 heliarc with bernaard cooler and 18 torch, Like it alot! Stickwelds like a dream too!
WW 2 era Gisholt turret lathe
WW 2 era Milwaukee Horizontal compound table mill, I have made gears on this machine
Acet and ox
Harris E-16 I use for brazing and small stuff
A bigger smith for heavier cutting and rosebud work.
14" Chop Saw
Chinese Band saw
3 Angle grinders
Die Grinders
F clamps
Visegrips
I like making things from Steel, Stainless And Aluminum. Woodworking is NOT for me.

Notapro wrote:
I like making things from Steel, Stainless And Aluminum. Woodworking is NOT for me.

I am the same as you. I love wood but me and wood just don't get along. Metal is where it's at!

WildWestWelder wrote:

Notapro wrote:
I like making things from Steel, Stainless And Aluminum. Woodworking is NOT for me.

I am the same as you. I love wood but me and wood just don't get along. Metal is where it's at!

+ 1.

The # 1 trouble with wood is you cant weld it back when you screw up !

Hmmm....welders, huh?

Lincoln Ranger 8 (only 98 hours) and an AC/DC buzz box
3x Miller Dialarc 250s, two white face, one black face
An old Astro MIG 120 volt wire feed welder


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