Bare-bones tools necessities for "home" shop????

[Mark @ Everlast]

Yes, the unit is 220/240.50-60hz.

Here are the specs for amps:

220V=40 A max inrush, 32A operating
230V= 38 A max inrush, 30 A operating
240V=36 A max inrush, 28 A operating.

Depending upon your actual output at the plug, your draw will vary. But a 40 amp breaker should easily handle it. The inrush is the momentary surge of current that occurs at maximum demand. The low current draw is quite visible here with these specs.

And rereading my cobbled together earlier info, I found that I had spliced to entirely different sentences together.
The part about having a long arc does not result in a stuck rod. I had edited it and erased part of a sentence. On a transformer welder, A longer arc is held to PREVENT a stuck rod with a transformer welder or the amps are turned up higher to compensate. Just wanted to clarify.

 

[BXpanded]

Come to think of it... My youngest son just did this! He finished college in May, accepted a job out of state, and started his life's greatest adventure. He couldn't stand the idea of not being able to make things, so the "shop" was underway within the first week.

He had no tools but having worked in my shop he had a really good idea of what he needed.

What he bought:
MIG welder and gas. No flux core for him.
Inexpensive autodarkening welding hood.
Drill press
Milwaukee Dry Cut Saw
Two 4 1/2" angle grinders (1 cheapy, 1 decent)
5 inch vise
A few cheap clamps, a couple of small welding magnets and a builder's speed square.

First project: Welding/work table. 1/4 inch thick steel top on square tubing frame. About 60" long x 30" wide made from a "drop" from the local steel service center. The table is MANDATORY if you intend to fab anything!

He really didn't spend a lot and he has equipment he'll use forever. Buying reasonably good stuff cost just a little bit more than just "gettin' by" but he avoids the frustration of things that just don't work well.

He's knocked out a few projects for his new buddies and is really pleased with his set up. Not too shabby for a compact garage shop.

 

[Big Wave D]

BXpanded,

That's really neat to hear. As a father, I bet that it is really neat to see your son stretch his wings and really start to fly on his own. I'm sure that it does the old "Dad pride" some good to see that not only was he paying attention all those years helping and watching you, but that he also wanted to follow in your foot steps, so to speak.

My Dad has passed on, and he was a great Dad, but he wasn't mechanical in the least. My Great, Great Grandfather on my Dad's side was, so I guess that I got some "fix it" genes from him. My Mom's Dad was also pretty handy. I got the carpenter gene from him. Alas, I have no "metal working gene" on either side. I'd really like to find a "metal mentor", but haven't so far on that account either.

I'm glad to see that some people still pass on the ability to be self reliant in this day and age.

 

[Big Wave D]

mustangsallysdad,

How do you go about getting that little piece that's just right but down in the very bottom?

Seems like tipping ye olde barrel over every time would get kinda old. :confused2:

However, the not throwing away anything part, I TOTALLY agree with. :thumbsup:

 

[gauthier]

Well amps is important when buying a welder,[of course],but the most important part to me is amps at time,[duty cycle],your machine might have 200 amps max,but it might have a 10 percent duty cycle at those amps[how many min. out of 10 it will produce those amps before tripping a breaker or over heating],so 10 percent duty cycle at 200 amps means it will run[produce these amps],1 out of 10 min.,not good if you plan on using 200 amps.

Stick machine you want at least 60 percent duty cycle at amps you are planning on running,[1/8 rod 120 amps] so you want 60 percent duty cycle at 120 amps.
Mig machine,duty cycle is even more important than stick,cause you can weld longer at a time,with out stopping,. .035 wire 120 amps 20 volts,be nice to have 80 percent duty cycle,at least.

Course 100 percent is best at amps you plan on running,most bigger machines accomplish this,but many smaller machines and most cheaper machines don't.

 

[zman007007]

RJMACK are you sure of the cfm of your compressor? Just wondering, because I have a 4 h.p. twin stage compressor with a 80 gallon tank and it is only rated at 12.6 at 90 psi and 12.2 at 175 psi. Just wondering because I have a 80 lb. capacity sand blaster and it pushes it with no trouble at all. And most air tools require no where near 18 cfm.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

The little Everlast unit has 60% at 200 amps.

But MIG duty cycle isn't higher, its lower on almost all machines...Most rated amps are at only 10% or so. Unless you get to a 400 amp unit or so, I doubt you'll find a mig rated over 60% duty cycle, and most will be much lower.

 

[gauthier]

10 percent at 120 amps for most mig machines?

 

[BXpanded]

BXpanded,

That's really neat to hear. As a father, I bet that it is really neat to see your son stretch his wings and really start to fly on his own. I'm sure that it does the old "Dad pride" some good to see that not only was he paying attention all those years helping and watching you, but that he also wanted to follow in your foot steps, so to speak.

My Dad has passed on, and he was a great Dad, but he wasn't mechanical in the least. My Great, Great Grandfather on my Dad's side was, so I guess that I got some "fix it" genes from him. My Mom's Dad was also pretty handy. I got the carpenter gene from him. Alas, I have no "metal working gene" on either side. I'd really like to find a "metal mentor", but haven't so far on that account either.

I'm glad to see that some people still pass on the ability to be self reliant in this day and age.

Thanks BWD. I have 2 sons. Both fine young men. Mom trained 'em well. You're right, it is fun to watch as they "take on the world". We're quite fortunate and proud. I've just tried to pass on to them the things my dad taught me.

 

[rjmack]

RJMACK are you sure of the cfm of your compressor?

i guess it's 18.5 cfm, at least it says so on the side. 5hp single phase electric.

as you can see, it's a 3 cylinder single stage. i'm thinking they will flow a bit more at similar hp because they don't have to do the second stage work of bumping from 125 to 175 psi.

as i said, the pressure shut-off is set to about 100psi and i don't require anything more than that in terms of pressure. i have found that the lower cfm units will cycle frequently to the point that they spend more time running than not, even using simple air tools. i read a number of places that 18 cfm is the minimum standard for bodywork and paint requirements, and the capacity of the unit, combined with the 80gal tank results in something that i am comfortable with.

i have been reading the projects section and am envious of some of the shops that other members have to work out of... maybe someday i'll be in that boat too.

btw, have included pics of a couple quick/cheap backyard pedestals