Setting Up Shop

[AntrimMan]

Let's say, hypothetically, that the missus has been charmed into liberating a few shillings to buy herself a decent welder. She has decided on a Millermatic 210 and will run Co/Ar mix.
She already has a Bridgeport and the various trinkets needed to make it useful. She also has a 14" abrasive cut-off saw, compressed air and 100A single phase 220v and an oxy-acy setup. Period.

She has everyday access to a 6X48 vertical belt sander, vertical and horizontal bandsaws, 6X12 surface grinder and wire edm.

She will be fabricating and installing various attachments for our tractor ranging from welding on bucket hooks to a toothbar to QA pallet forks, perhaps a grapple for the bucket, maybe a thumb for the backhoe, a cab would be nice, and other items over the next fifty years or so.

Without duplicating anything she owns or has access to, what additional items might a simple country girl need?
What would be the order of importance or priority?
She's not going into the business so would name brand quality make a hugh difference?

I know there are a lot of questions above and I sincerely thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to help.
But don't take too long, my birthdays right around the corner. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Thanks, Martin

 

[boomer4snow]

Drill press, get one that will run as slow as you can get. Try for at least 200 RPM or slower for the big holes. Lessee, Cherry Picker, 20-40 ton press, Largeish ball bearing toolboxes, Maybe some air lines for that air compressor to allow drop every 10' or so. For me, I would spring for a 2 post auto lift first off!!

 

[bobodu]

Sounds like you're (oops...she's) doin' pretty well already.Lucky Lady there!!Be neat to get her a gift certificate to the used steel place...if ya happen to have one near by.
You might wanna consider a contribution tp BobAid!! It a program set up to help a po'boy in Indiana who's spent a whole lot of future income puttin' up a pole barn.

 

[theonlybull]

bandsaw cut off saw, automatic welding hood, rip saw, 5" grinder, lathe....

 

[MadReferee]

Almost sounds like my shop.

Get yourself, or build yourself, a sturdy welding table. Make it as big as you have room for. This will give you a great platform to fab things on. There are plenty of examples on the Miller/Hobart welding forums.

Since you already have a Bridgeport and it's tooling you don't need a drill press.

Sooner or later you will have a need for a lathe. A 12"-15" lathe (like a Monarch or Southbend) with a 36"+ bed would work well. I have a 9" Southbend Model A with a 42" bed and it's a little small for any real heavy duty production work but does just fine for 99% of what I need.

A plasma cutter that will do at least 3/8" steel.

A 185 amp or better TIG welder. I would go with an inverter model.

Finally, tooling, tooling, tooling. Clamps, magnets, locking grip pliers, large drill bits 1/2" thru 1"+, milling cutters, end mills, lathe bits, boring bars, accurate levels and other measuring instruments.

 

[slowzuki]

To go with what you have? A smallist Lincoln / Miller Mig for sheet metal and tacking paired with an old AC/DC buzzbox stick welder.

Cheaper than a big mig or tig and can be setup for both operations.

I can't recommend the plasma unless you're doing a lot of fab work. I have one and it is awesome but it ties up a lot of capital for something the torch can do with some grinding.

I would get a decent drill press, not a huge one since the mill is there. Seting up a mill for drilling is much slower than popping a few holes through on a drill press. Don't need the slow speeds as the mill will do that.

I'd recommend buying some stock of steel! Flat, angle, tubing, etc. It amazing what you use it for once you have welder.

 

[Rch]

Is the shop heated ? A gas heater in the wall or hanging from the ceiling makes it a 365 day place.

An exhaust fan on a timer that will clear the smoke.

A good vise that will open up to 6 or 7" Watch out for chinese crap.

Make sure a compressor is QUIET and big enough.

Air hose and electric cord drops so the floor is not an obstable course.

Serious lighting plus task lighting.

Pipe bender

Steel rack and some hurky shelfing.

Chain hoist on a track.

Carbide chop saw.

Water & fridge.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/ TBN for welders ! Register on "Weld Talk"

 

[Mith]

I recommend you get a lift on rails up in the ceiling. Or cheaper and more practical an engine crane. Saves your back adn is the only tool you need for lifting metal, tyres, engines, anything really.
I love mine, use it all the time.

 

[Tractors4u]

A Hydraulic Press!

 

[notamustang]

I would say that she would love a 210 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif She could build those ornamental tin bird houses that she loves and even put a trailer hitch and a sub frame on her sport utv. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I think that she made a good choice

 

[rdln]

A lathe, forge furnace and anvil, granite surface plate and height gauges, Iron worker, drill press, computer with CAD.

 

[AntrimMan]

Well, thanks very much boys.
I had thought of some items you mentioned.
Some things I overlooked.

boomer... the lift is a good idea, I've wanted one eversince we poured the floor but it's just not in the budget. The next shop will have higher ceilings and higher doors to avoid the battered rops syndrome and then the lift will be up for discussion again.

bobodu... what can I say except the checks in the mail.

bull... the hood and grinder, good ideas and at the top of the list along with gloves.

mad... a nice welding table, yeah, thats one thing I overlooked. You know, I'm used to working and lying in the dirt. A table puts things at a more comfortable elevation. Yeah good idea. Plasma and Tig would be nice, and I have been eyeballing them, but maybe later.

slozuki... I dont' want to say I've been dump pickin' and dumpster diving but I don't miss much and there is getting to be a bit of a pile already.

rch... I have given the heat issue consideration for some time. The big drawback is condensation on cooldown. If I maintain heat out there they'll want it to be warmer in here too and that isn't gonna happen, 60F is comfortable.
The exhaust fan is a must, I've gathered some bits for that already. A good vise, yeah, another one I missed. They aren't cheap but I need one. Lighting is a big yes. There are 12 4' florescents up between the joists right now and all thats needed is task lighting. I visited a plant in Anniston, Al. once and the darkness was scary, then I took a job locally (here) in a shop that was reminescent of the Pennsyvania mines. Let there be light and there is! BTW is rch what I think it is?

mith... I pulled many engines with 4x4's and 2x10's and a comealong, not very mobile, you elevate the engine, push the vehicle away and lower the engine onto a creeper, but now we have the loader and backhoe and substitue those for a crane sucessfully.

brent... yeah, a nice hydraulic press, along with a set of dies for bending pipe like rch suggested, yeah, another good idea.

notamustang... the 210 is a decent machine. If you compare features it looks competitive and if you look at the price per pound it looks better. I wouldn't want to carry it too far. Get yourself one, heck get two and give one to the missus.

steve... the surface plate and height gauges are available whenever she needs 'em, now the forge and anvil, oh my, a very good idea indeed. The torches work ok but I do have a half ton of Lehigh Valley pea coal left over from when we heated with it. A forge is basically a firebox with forced air and could be easily constructed outdoors. I have been on the lookout for an anvil but no sucess. I have an idea to make one from a serious piece of H beam though. I got the CAD well covered. Yeah, a forge is a good idea.

all... thanks for the effort and consideration.
I have discovered one more difference between men and the fairer gender...she thinks music and a TV are a must in any shop.

so let's see what all this will cost...welder=diamond earrings, grinder=nice dinner out, hyd. press=nice new shoes, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
thanks, Martin

 

[gbick]

Belt /disk sander. Much nicer than a grinder for deburring and radiusing the corners of your projects. The ultimate would be to have a sealed-off "dirty room" that would contain it and your sandblasting cabinet, grinder, etc. This keeps the grit contained. Of course the "clean" section would contain a fridge- we must remain hydrated /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Rch]

Martin, here is a task lighting link

As far as 'rch', it's just my initials in lower case. Maybe there is something about myself I don't know though... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ronjhall]

Martin
I see where one other person mentioned a Lathe. A valuable tool to make and fix anything round.

 

[AntrimMan]

I'll have to be patient for a little while yet but it looks like I may get to choose between a SB model A or a Clausing model 5449. When the firm finally buys a turning center they will be up for grabs and either one will do what I need.
And I looked at your link Rch, thanks for the tips, that task light setup is not goint to blow away in the wind any time soon. Thank you very much.
Bye,
Martin