I use a 14'' chop saw, a cheap hand held dewalt 4'' side grinder, and a torch but as my favorite to cut with is my metabo....that thing will cut anything! got to be really careful using it not to cut your welding table in half. I dont know what it cost (it was a gift) but if it ever goes out I will buy a replacement.

 

Welder comes in the mail today! Going to try to find some gas this afternoon. Made a few calls I know a place that carries it for sure. Thx for all the advice everyone I've learned a lot from this thread alone! Ax I should have took your advice I went out to lowes and bought 2 6 ft 1x1 square steel tubing so I can make a frame for my 69 stang gas tank that's going under the bed, also got a 3x3 sheet of 16 ga only a whopping $75! I should have looked at the prices before I took them to the register! For my first Weld I was going to make the frame for the gas tank, I've read the install article several times. I need my first how to lesson Ax.

 

I recently bought 20' of 1x1 tubing for 40.00, 1/2 sheet 4x5' of 18ga sheet for 45.00. Lowes and HD charge about 2-3x the going rate for new steel. I only buy there if I need a small piece of material.
PM me with your phone and email and we can set up a day and time to get together. I'm retired, so I'm available almost any time. Get yourself a self darkening helmet awhile. Square tubing is real nice material to weld. We can cut it nice and square with my chop saw.

 

It's in! Headed to AXracers Sunday for some welding lessons!

 

Looks very similar to my century except painted black.

 

Nice! Wish I could get a lesson or 2!

 

Come on!

 

Go Ax...I use a miller mig welder, I'm very happy with it. Argon and Co2 is the gas I'm using. Glad you're going to see Ax, welding is not that hard if someone gives you some pointers. Hey Ax, I read in another post, I think it was Nightmare at Bob's, that you did custom jewelry. So do I. Have you done any silversmithing ? Anyway sorry to hijack the thread.

 

Depends on how strict you are with definitions: according to strict definition of the smithing trades, the difference between a silversmith and goldsmith is in what you make, not the materials you use. A goldsmith makes decorative body ornaments primarily in precious metals like gold, silver or platinum, but body ornaments made from base metals would also qualify as goldsmithing, a silversmith make fine utilitarian objects such as table ware, serving vessels, candlesticks etc in any metal but primarily precious metals or base metals plated in precious metals. A pewtersmith makes everday utilitarian pieces from base metals. (now you know more than you really wanted to ) I am primarily a goldsmith, making jewelry, but have done a few pieces that would be considered silversmithing.

 

Back on topic: I highly recommend using ESAB Spoolarc Easy Grind wire for body work and most mig welding.
from the ESAB catalog for 0.025 diameter (also comes in .030) 8" spool:

part # Desc UPC code
130TF43 EASY GRIND 025X11#SPX44#CT 662303520656

It likely will need to be special ordered from your local ESAB dealer, it is seldom stocked and many dealers don't even know it exists. Insist on no substitutes! The beads are softer than standard wire so less heat is generated in grinding and the bead can be hammered without cracking. Minimum order is two spools, but my dealer let me order 1 of each size. The .025 is perfect for sheet metal to 1/8".

 

That looks just like the Lincoln I use. It's a Lincoln Weld-Pak 3200 from Home Depot. Basically the same as a Lincoln 135.


Here its on a cart from E-Bay that dad modified to have the welder sit level rather than angled upward. That would be the size of bottle you're looking for. Works great, perfect size for the welder and yep, it's 75/25 mix.