New Welder Advice Needed
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
Wow Ax, I should just come over to your house!! OOPS, too far to commute. Oh well, I'll just have to make my own. Thanks for sharing.
This weekend should give me plenty of time to finish my cart. I think I'll paint it red to match the welder.
Note: I went to Harbor Freight this last weekend with my coupon to buy there weld cart for $32. They wouldn't honor it because it came out of a sale paper that said the prices were only good June 4-7. The manager said sorry, you'll have to come back then.
Right then is when I made up my mind to build my own! 
Thanks everybody, Jag
This weekend should give me plenty of time to finish my cart. I think I'll paint it red to match the welder.
Note: I went to Harbor Freight this last weekend with my coupon to buy there weld cart for $32. They wouldn't honor it because it came out of a sale paper that said the prices were only good June 4-7. The manager said sorry, you'll have to come back then.
Right then is when I made up my mind to build my own! Thanks everybody, Jag
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
I like the 3M quick strip wheels that look like grey plastic steelwool for removing paint and rust without removing metal before welding, and the red fiber disks in 40 and 80 grit for dressing down the welds. The disks last surprisingly long and do an excellent job when backed by a rubber sanding disk pad on my 4" angle grinder. Both are available in the tool dept at Lowes or Home Depot.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
Likes: 5
From: Valley Center, CA
OK, it's done! Sorry I took so long in posting the pix. They're in my gallery under "welding table." It's nowwhere near as nice as many of you have, but it does everything that I want it to do. I believe it to be the only portable welding table anywhere with a built-in fire alarm. :-) Jag
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Texas
A welding cart is a great first welding project, as is a welding station/bench with a steel top. Buy or lease a good sized shielding gas tank (the ones that are ~ 4' tall) not one of the baby ones, and include a place for it on your cart.
A welding bench is one of the handiest things you can have! Make the top out of a plate of 3/16 or 1/4" steel at least 24x36" and overhang the edges 2-3" beyond the base so you can clamp projects to the top. Stick your ground clamp onto the top plate anywhere, clamp or lay the work on the top and weld. No fighting with the ground clamp and cable pulling the parts out of alignment and you can use a corner of the table as a square.
Here are a couple picures of my welding bench before and after the garage walls were finished:
The basic bench using 1x1 square tubing as support.
After the walls were finished. Note Hardie cement board heat shield on wall, moveable spot light. A strong light helps to find start point when using a self darkening helmet.
Accessories you will want ASAP:
Self darkening welding helmet, preferably one with adjustable darkness. Make sure it uses readily available batteries (Radio Shack carries a lot of the less popular button cells). Typical cost for a servicable one 85.00 up.
Dedicated pair of needle nose pliers with wire cutting capability. You will use these constantly when welding for cleaning splatter out of tip cone, cutting off end of wire (ALWAYS start each weld with freshly cut wire end!) changing tips. I have a holster for mine right on the welding bench (or put holder on cart) so they are always at hand.
"Tip dip" Jelly like substance you dunk tip in to clean, reduce spatter sticking.
Spool of ESAB Easy Grind 0.025 wire. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE there is none! The only wire to use on your truck, especially for sheet metal work.
2-4 triangular welding magnets.
Vise grip type welding pliers, several pair, especially the type that look like a giant metal "C".
A welding bench is one of the handiest things you can have! Make the top out of a plate of 3/16 or 1/4" steel at least 24x36" and overhang the edges 2-3" beyond the base so you can clamp projects to the top. Stick your ground clamp onto the top plate anywhere, clamp or lay the work on the top and weld. No fighting with the ground clamp and cable pulling the parts out of alignment and you can use a corner of the table as a square.
Here are a couple picures of my welding bench before and after the garage walls were finished:
The basic bench using 1x1 square tubing as support.
After the walls were finished. Note Hardie cement board heat shield on wall, moveable spot light. A strong light helps to find start point when using a self darkening helmet.
Accessories you will want ASAP:
Self darkening welding helmet, preferably one with adjustable darkness. Make sure it uses readily available batteries (Radio Shack carries a lot of the less popular button cells). Typical cost for a servicable one 85.00 up.
Dedicated pair of needle nose pliers with wire cutting capability. You will use these constantly when welding for cleaning splatter out of tip cone, cutting off end of wire (ALWAYS start each weld with freshly cut wire end!) changing tips. I have a holster for mine right on the welding bench (or put holder on cart) so they are always at hand.
"Tip dip" Jelly like substance you dunk tip in to clean, reduce spatter sticking.
Spool of ESAB Easy Grind 0.025 wire. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTE there is none! The only wire to use on your truck, especially for sheet metal work.
2-4 triangular welding magnets.
Vise grip type welding pliers, several pair, especially the type that look like a giant metal "C".
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
And only took 4 months... sounds like some of my projects. Like all the bling, mine is just plain black. I've recently had a chance to do some TIG welding on steel and aluminum (stainless is next) now I'm Jonesing for an ACDC Tig machine. I've been reading good things about the Everlast welders even tho they are imported. 200A ACDC TIG and stick with all the whistles and bells for 14K or 16K with plasma cutter added to it.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Dont know the capabilities of the one you are looking at but if you can run a 210/220 circuit I would recommend a lincoln 180C. I have a 110v weld pack also for lighter duty stuff but the 180C will do just about anything you need to do on an old truck. It is simple, easy to use and built like a brick sh&thouse. Lincoln is running a special on these now....with the $75 rebate you get it for about the same $$$ as the home depot version (180T). You probably will not outgrow it for a long time. This is assuming it is in your budget of course. Just make sure that with whatever welder you end up with you use the appropriate size circuit and extension cord if needed..... this makes a big difference in performance. Good luck. Regards
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Obsolutely. Actually I was addressing the original post, but yes a Tig is nice. If one can only afford one welder for a home shop, and on a limited budget, a portable 220v Mig is the best all around machine IMHO. Regards.
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