air compressor, welder, etc.
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From: Wichita, KS
air compressor, welder, etc.
Finally got some room in the shed and some time to mess with things besides computers. I want a decent-quality air compressor and a small welder. 2 HP compressor should be plenty for me, I have an old 1 HP which is big enough for "almost" everything, airing up tires and maybe a few small tools like grinder from time to time. There's a Wal-Mart and various hardware stores around with the usual Campbell-Hausfeld compressors and welders, and a Harbor Freight store with Central Pneumatic compressors, Chicago Electric welders, etc. I have no idea what quality they are, other than the the C-H compressors owned by people I know seem to hold up well. What brands/ types should I look for?
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From: Bryan Texas
I wouldn't buy anything from walmart i have bad luck i bought the complete compreesor kit for like 250 dollars and within one week i had to ship it back to manufature for repair to the motor {sounded like someone threw a handfull of change in the clynder} And for a welder a miller is what i would use just my opion
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From: Gainesville, FL
Mike,
Answer some questions for me:
1. What kind of power do you have out in the shed?
Do you need your compressor to be mobile?
2. Do you have 240VAC available? Are you going to need to move the welder often? What are you welding? Material? Thickness?
KingFisher
Answer some questions for me:
1. What kind of power do you have out in the shed?
Do you need your compressor to be mobile?
2. Do you have 240VAC available? Are you going to need to move the welder often? What are you welding? Material? Thickness?
KingFisher
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From: Wichita, KS
Shed has 120V only, 240V is not feasible. I'm wanting to make some shelves from steel angle and channel, no more than 1/8" thick, and maybe a couple toolboxes or the like if I decide I'm equal to it. Nothing heavy. It would be nice if the compressor was at least somewhat mobile but for most stuff I do here I could use a reel line and the compressor could stay mostly in the shed.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
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You really need more power, a new power supply to the garage is in order first. You can go here to learn how.
http://forum.doityourself.com/forumd....php?forumid=9
http://forum.doityourself.com/forumd....php?forumid=9
Last edited by Sberry27; Mar 1, 2004 at 08:47 PM.
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From: Wichita, KS
Yeah, but I kinda hate to spend too much money here, 'cause I own the house but rent the land (mobile home--pictures of my truck also show a bit of my house). Also being on extended unpaid vacation sort of puts a crimp in the budget. I can buy necessities but the luxuries gotta wait until I'm employed again.
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From: Gainesville, FL
Mike,
Looks like we're staying with 120VAC. That simplifies things.
Keep your compressor mobile.
Lincoln makes some pretty good welders with 120VAC. Welder should run around $275. They don't get much cheaper, to my knowledge? I'm assuming you would buy a wire feed welder. A torch would offer you alot of different options including; brazing and cutting. What did you have in mind?
The best value for a compressor would probably be Harbor Freight, but check Home Depot and Sears, just in case there is some sort of wild sale.
Good Luck,
KingFisher
Looks like we're staying with 120VAC. That simplifies things.
Keep your compressor mobile.
Lincoln makes some pretty good welders with 120VAC. Welder should run around $275. They don't get much cheaper, to my knowledge? I'm assuming you would buy a wire feed welder. A torch would offer you alot of different options including; brazing and cutting. What did you have in mind?
The best value for a compressor would probably be Harbor Freight, but check Home Depot and Sears, just in case there is some sort of wild sale.
Good Luck,
KingFisher
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Friendswood TX
I just got a Miller off of E-Bay. 120V MIGs are on there, folks get a lttle guy and then move up, so go E-Bay'n. Heck, there are even some guys on E-Bay selling plans to use microwave oven transformers to make your own welder!!! If I see a glow on the horizon some night then I will know where you lived...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting
Last edited by Boltgunner; Mar 6, 2004 at 10:03 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Colville
Air hose is cheeper than extension cord, and there is no power loss with the air hose. when you put your compressor on a long cord than there is a power loss due to resistance.
I don't have a portable compressor but I don't need one.
I do have 200 feet of air hose that i roll up like extension cord.
I have used several cheap welders and none of them worked too good but the Lincoln 100 did work ok. it is a 120v machine.
I used a Century welder and the biggest problem was that the trigger only controlled the wire feeder, the wire was allways hot.
this ment that when you let off of the triger the wire would burn back into the tip and expose of the disposable tip. Thats because when you let off of the triger it stoped feeding the wire but kept it burning.
The Lincoln Is a decent welder for the money.
I don't have a portable compressor but I don't need one.
I do have 200 feet of air hose that i roll up like extension cord.
I have used several cheap welders and none of them worked too good but the Lincoln 100 did work ok. it is a 120v machine.
I used a Century welder and the biggest problem was that the trigger only controlled the wire feeder, the wire was allways hot.
this ment that when you let off of the triger the wire would burn back into the tip and expose of the disposable tip. Thats because when you let off of the triger it stoped feeding the wire but kept it burning.
The Lincoln Is a decent welder for the money.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
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Yes there is line loss with air hose, lots of it especially with long runs of small hose. To me this whole line of thinking is backwards. Tailor a bunch of underpowered junk just to be able to use it on a single underpowered circuit. It woulds make way more sense to put in another wire, even a 10/3 would give 7000watts of power compared to around 2000 max you are going to have now. As for a 2 HP comp,,, wont work, might as well keep what you have now,, and there is no such thing as a "good wire welder for 275$" unless you are buying used.
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From: Wichita, KS
Sberry, I'm guessing you are employed. I hope so, it sucks being not employed. First few months were fun, had 5 weeks vacation and got 5 weeks severance so had 10 weeks of full pay, but once that ran out and I started unemployment I got a 50% pay cut. At least the cars are paid for and I don't have a $130,000 mortgage like a bunch of my former coworkers (my house cost $16,000 and it's over half paid for now). I'd love to run 220 to the shed, heck I'd like to buy 40 acres and build a 100x100 shop but it ain't gonna happen for a while. I have some projects to do and I have enough money to do them on a LIMITED basis. This means some compromises. I can buy a good compressor or a good welder, but I need both so I have to look at cheap stuff. That means I check Campbell-Hausfeld instead of Lincoln, Hobart, or Ingersoll-Rand. I hope everyone here can afford the good stuff, and I sure hope I can one of these days. Today ain't that day.
Last edited by mikebon08; Mar 8, 2004 at 11:18 PM.
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From: Wichita, KS
Sorry if that last post sounded a little testy. Guess this vacation has been a little too long, school gives me something to do but there's still not quite enough $$$ to fill the free time.
Dfisher--yes, figured a wirefeed. I've done some torch welding, been a long time, and thought about that, but most of what I'm planning to do is light stuff--maybe 1/8" at most, probably less, and I suspect with a torch I'd make bigger holes than I could close. Several brands of 2hp/8gal compressors around here for about $150, Sears has a 3hp/15gal for $199 but not sure how much juice it needs. I have two circuits outside, one's from the house with a 20A breaker that also feeds the heat tape and outside lights, the other is a GFI outlet on the meter outside, not sure what amperage but I've had my saw and compressor both running on it and it didn't trip.
Dfisher--yes, figured a wirefeed. I've done some torch welding, been a long time, and thought about that, but most of what I'm planning to do is light stuff--maybe 1/8" at most, probably less, and I suspect with a torch I'd make bigger holes than I could close. Several brands of 2hp/8gal compressors around here for about $150, Sears has a 3hp/15gal for $199 but not sure how much juice it needs. I have two circuits outside, one's from the house with a 20A breaker that also feeds the heat tape and outside lights, the other is a GFI outlet on the meter outside, not sure what amperage but I've had my saw and compressor both running on it and it didn't trip.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
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No problem,, I do understand your position. You can weld sheet with a torch,, in fact it is a good option for that type of work. I hate to see guys buy that CH stuff and be disappointed. Ignore the HP ratings on the comps, if they plug in 120V the best they can make is about 6 maybe 7 cfm very tops.