SOT -- A New Toy... (Welding Content)

davintosh · Post by **davintosh** » Oct 24, 2012 3:42 PM

... I mean tool! I've been watching CL for a welder for quite a while, and this popped up yesterday; I had the cash, so I jumped on it. I was hoping for something with a higher amperage rating, but considering the accessories and the condition of this setup, I think I did alright.

wirefeed welder + all accessories 350.00 OBO - $350 (Sioux Falls)

Date: 2012-10-23, 2:31PM CDT

Selling a Campbell Hausfeld Farmhand 125 flux core/ mig welder.
Comes with everything you need to get welding.
Two extra rolls of wire, bottle with plenty of gas still in it.
Gloves, 2 helmets, chipping hammer and owners manual.
I've had this for a couple years and only used it a few times.
Its like new. Call or text 605-XXX-XXXX

The seller runs a little trim & upholstery shop (yup; that's a customer's Z3 in the first photo, in for a new top) and took the welder in from a customer who ended up unable to finish a restoration. He's used it a couple of times since then, but mostly it just takes up space in his shop. The thing is just like he described it; nearly brand new. Came with a nearly full bottle of gas, the regulator, cart, etc... He plugged it in & did a couple of quick welds on some scrap metal, so it definitely works.

I also chatted with him about some of the work he does, and got an off-the-cuff bid on redoing the seat bottom on my 735. He also had a Miata in there for a new top -- my son just ordered a new top for his car -- and he shared some tricks to replacing them, but also offered to do the job for a couple hundred $$. Seems like a decent, honest guy; I'll probably be visiting him again.

Now to learn a little about wire welding and MIG. All I've ever done is with a torch and a stick, and that was ~25 years ago.

I already heard about http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/ from Tyler's comment in LJ's welder thread; any other good ones?

MicahO · Post by **MicahO** » Oct 24, 2012 4:12 PM

Nice score! I should be looking for something like that. :jealous:

Post by **Jeremy** » Oct 24, 2012 4:23 PM

Get some scrap metal and practice, that's pretty much the only way to get the knack for it. It's not that it's hard, it just takes some getting used to. Plus you need to get to know the welder.

Nice score, hope it works out well for you.

Post by **Brad D.** » Oct 24, 2012 4:50 PM

Having a MIG at home will open all kinds of possibilities. Enjoy and practice a lot.

Post by **tsmall07** » Oct 24, 2012 8:24 PM

I'm not familiar with the brand, but I've used some cheaper brands where the nozzle was electrified and would arc to the work piece if you touched it. Be careful with that. I found it really annoying. Also, replace the grounding clamp with a good one. Chances are the one it has is crap.

If you used to torch weld, you should pick up mig quickly. Practice on different thicknesses of metal, lap joints, butt joints, tees and corners. Done expect that welder to do more than 1/8" with a single pass.

Post by **mooseheadm5** » Oct 24, 2012 8:27 PM

Practice every chance you get. Buy good protective gear. Welding sunburn is a bitch.

Post by **Jeremy** » Oct 24, 2012 8:32 PM

tsmall07 wrote:Done expect that welder

You been hanging out at a lot of construction sites lately?

Post by **tsmall07** » Oct 24, 2012 8:35 PM

mooseheadm5 wrote:Welding sunburn is a bitch.

Truth. So do burned retinas, from what I hear . Always long sleeves and a good mask. Also, leather boots. The sparks will burn right through your tennis shoes and right into your fucking toes.

oldskool · Post by **oldskool** » Oct 24, 2012 8:36 PM

Schoot. . . take the face off of your home panel box, tap in and weld away. Even a few car batteries would do nicely in a pinch.

Post by **tsmall07** » Oct 24, 2012 8:37 PM

Jeremy wrote:
tsmall07 wrote:Done expect that welder
You been hanging out at a lot of construction sites lately?

Yes...

davintosh · Post by **davintosh** » Oct 24, 2012 10:03 PM

tsmall07 wrote:
mooseheadm5 wrote:Welding sunburn is a bitch.
Truth. So do burned retinas, from what I hear . Always long sleeves and a good mask. Also, leather boots. The sparks will burn right through your tennis shoes and right into your fucking toes.

I wish my dad's old welding gear hadn't been sold off when he died. He did a lot of welding (all stick & gas) and always used a leather welding jacket & chaps. I know I could get a new set for not a lot of money, but that gear had some character from all the years he used it, and some history. I'd give a lot to have that stuff back.

Post by **tsmall07** » Oct 24, 2012 10:18 PM

davintosh wrote: I wish my dad's old welding gear hadn't been sold off when he died. He did a lot of welding (all stick & gas) and always used a leather welding jacket & chaps. I know I could get a new set for not a lot of money, but that gear had some character from all the years he used it, and some history. I'd give a lot to have that stuff back.

Yeah, I feel you on that except mine happened differently. My dad has sold everything I could have wanted to inherit.

You can definitely tell which clothes are my welding clothes. Hundreds of tiny little holes. I need to get some leathers sometime.

freetoride · Post by **freetoride** » Oct 25, 2012 12:07 AM

Nice to get one with the gas hookup!

These little guys need the metal to be clean and shiny, they don't like rust or paint at all. Mine is a Lincoln with the same controls as your's, but it may be cheaper. I find that for heavier welding it helps for me to use flux core wire with the gas.... it seems to give a little better duty cycle (the last part might be complete BS to a good welder).

JohnH · Post by **JohnH** » Oct 25, 2012 3:02 AM

I'de chuck those helmets out and get a decent 3m speedglas.

Cactus · Post by **Cactus** » Oct 25, 2012 9:09 AM

You should always spend 3-4x as long preparing as you spend actually welding. You can't weld dirt. You want the nozzle as close to the work as possble without dragging it. It's easier to start with a colder setting and use a grinder to remove a crapy bead than it is to patch a hole you've melted in your sheet metal. Remember not to breathe if you're welding galvanized or aluminum coated steel.

slammin_e28 · Post by **slammin_e28** » Oct 25, 2012 9:42 AM

tsmall07 wrote:
mooseheadm5 wrote:Welding sunburn is a bitch.
Truth. So do burned retinas, from what I hear . Always long sleeves and a good mask. Also, leather boots. The sparks will burn right through your tennis shoes and right into your fucking toes.

My flip flops and toes tell a pretty good story....and I never learn to suit up.

Rich Euro M5 · Post by **Rich Euro M5** » Oct 26, 2012 9:54 AM

Congrats on the score.

My only suggestion, invest in a larger gas bottle. Those liitle 25 cu ft bottles aren't useful for much more than tack welding. I bought a new 175 cu ft bottle filled with my choice of shielding gas for $160.

The selection of shielding gas depends on the metal type you'll be welding. If most of your welding will be on low carbon steel, get a mix of 75% CO2 and 25% Argon. If you intend on welding mostly stainless you'll want 100% Argon. You can weld mild steel with 100% Argon, but Argon deosn't cool as well as the 75% CO2 mix, ie; you get hot weld beads which can impact the steel's hardness after it cools.

Have fun,

Rich

unt0uchable · Post by **unt0uchable** » Oct 26, 2012 2:37 PM

mooseheadm5 wrote:Practice every chance you get. Buy good protective gear. Welding sunburn is a bitch.

THIS! OMG I did this 2 weeks ago. Thought I was sweet and just bought a pair of flip up goggles. Wow was that a mistake. And I had to do an engagement photo session 2 days later. I was burned so bad my entire face peeled off that weekend.

Then I went out and bought a HF auto darkening mask and what a world of different. Not to mention, it really helps you make better welds.

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

SOT -- A New Toy... (Welding Content)

SOT -- A New Toy... (Welding Content)