air compressor, welder, etc.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
Look at pawn shops,, newspapers. Someone gave me a comp, I made head gasket from hi temp material and cleaned the valves. Works well. 16 cfm unit. New one was over 1000$. Couple days work and it made great second unit for me. Look for other ways to get some stuff. Pal up with some old timers in area and do some trading maybe,, that works, they glad for the help sometimes and let you use stuff. When I was in those positions I got ressourceful. Found a lot of scrap that could be useful. Find a piece of wire at salvage for power. A 6 space panel at HD is 16$, a couple breakers and you have 240V. Its think out of the box time when cash is low.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
For Mig welding, get a Miller-matic or an ESAB. Nothing against Lincoln, I use SA200's and Classic IIID's all the time, but their Mig welders suck in comparision. I don't care if NASCAR endorses them or not. Hobart's are better. Lincoln wire feeds sputter and spit and make uglier beads. The portable Lincoln stick welding machines like the SA200 are the best of that type. However, Miller's mig welders make much better welds than Lincoln, and it's faster and easier. IMHO, the Miller is the best shop mig welder. ESAB makes a great 3 in 1 shop welder that can handle mig, stick, and tig. ESAB is a European company, but the ESAB welders are made in I believe North Carolina. You want a good machine from an established company to make good quality welds. What ever you do don't get a Wall Mart special, because you will probably end up buying two machines before it's all said and done. That's actually more expensive than just getting a Miller or something to start with.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
Hmmm, I agree about the walmart welders and any small 120V feeder that isnt brand name. (and the home depot models,, 100's and weld paks) I have an SA200 also and its a good machine. If I was buying a new feeder today it would be a miller too, but that doesnt mean the Lins are junk. I have a 255 and 130t that have given great service. In fact the SP175T is considered the best in its class although the HH175 is going to be easier to operate. Guys with a lot of stick experience often have trouble with feeders and its compounded with infinate voltage adjustments. The step machines are so much easier to set correctly. I am not particulary brand sensitive,, as long as it works its fine by me. Just like these pickup trucks, I have both, the only reason I found this board was due to some POS some retarted chimp armed with a metric crecent wrench and a six pack at Ford designed. It aint cause I have a big ****** for Ford trucks.
Last edited by Sberry27; Mar 9, 2004 at 02:27 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: New York
Another thought for a cheaper welder that works good is the wire feed welders that Tractor supply sells. Dont no if there is any of them in your area but I have a small farm hand wire feed welder. cost around 250 dollars i think. its worked great for the last 4 years now. Reason i bought it was i wanted a welder that i could use off my truck. I got a power inverter to run this welder. I also have a big gas driven welder for the seriuos stuff but that wont weld thin stuff.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
If you go to weldingmart.com, they have the same Lincoln welder that is at HD for $209. It is reconditioned, probably just one that somebody used once and took back. Those welders are for flux core wire (expensive and very brittle), but there is a kit for $80 to use gas with them. So, for $100 less than the one at HD, you can have the upgraded version.
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SSCX2
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