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Thought I'd start a thread to share a few thoughts. I have used a few inverter stick welders before, but never a name brand one. I have had a positively ancient Idealarc TM 400/400 for the last while that I am basing my comparisons on. I unfortunately no longer have my less expensive inverter...

Morning everyone. Doubtful anyone actually remembers me after disappearing for the better part of a decade.... Long story short I'm off living on an acreage and running a machine shop in Canola farming country now. Not really doing any social media anymore so I figured I'd come back here...

I have finally got started with tig welding, but I am having a really hard time with the tungsten and work turning black. A few questions to start with. First, will a contaminated tungsten cause the work to be dull, black, and seem not shielded? Second, how far should the tungsten stick out of...

I finally have everything I need to start tig welding. I have my argon hooked up, and yesterday I got a pack of 1/16 inch thorinated tungsten. Anyways, I am wondering how I should sharpen them. I don't have a bench grinder that can be dedicated to tungsten, but I do have a kalamazoo 1x42 belt...

Due to the unique (non existant....) advertising of esab products, I cant find anywhere with the O-rings for my purox torch tips and cutting attachment. Its a w201 and cw202 handle and attachment. I believe it is virtually identical to the current w300. I am wondering if I have to have purox...

I don't think I did too bad. It's a purox w201 torch handle, with cutting attachment, 6 welding tips, and 9 cutting tips. I also got a set of purox regulators, and a spare liquid air acetylene regulator. Also included were 4 airco tips, and 3 NOS Harris calorific cutting tips. The welding tips...

Question for you guys. I am picking up a purox torch tomorrow (used) that comes with 6 welding tips. My question is, will these standard acetylene welding tips work with propane for brazing? Is there anything dangerous that could go wrong? Should I just give it a shot? I am thinking of getting...

I have finally ran out of scrap steel for practice pieces. With the amount of fillet welds I am needing to do for practice, and testing, I have decided to just buy it. I am looking for a bit of advice before I shell out the cash. I am thinking of going with 1/8x1 hot rolled flat bar. It will...

In using my latest B tank of acetylene, I have decided to get something else when it's empty.... I can close the tank valve, and bleed the whole system, and within a day or two, the inlet gauge reads 150psi..... The tank valve is bad. I think the main issue is the darn square shank on those B...

Well, I have wanted to try 7024 for a long time, but I couldn't make myself spend the cash for a can of blueshield rods... Anyways, under the rod cabinet at the museum I work at, is a few hundred pounds of very old and possibly scrap welding rods. In that pile was a very old box of liquid air...

Well, it's not my nicest, prettiest, or strongest build, but it works, and it only cost me 4 7018s to make. It isn't quite to my normal standards, but it's not too bad for something built in an hour, from scrap, with a "designed on the fly" plan... It solidly holds an 80cf argon tank, and with...

Well, after 6 months, I am finally back to welding. I got my stickweld 250 wired up yesterday, and with simon's help I got it right on my second try.... Darn 3ph cable... LOL Anyways, I burned a few rods today, and I was surprised how fast it came back to me. These were my first welds since...

Well my stickweld 250 is back. They ended up sending me a brand new one. They also included a tig torch and argon regulator! :thumbsup: Now for the not so good part. Just a few little issues. #1, The electrode holder had a chunk of insulation missing. Not an issue for me, because I put a new...

I think I did pretty good on this straight torch. Only cost me $4 (yes really!) It's a really old Harris model 76. Some bits look a little rough, but everything seemed to check out alright. The valves all work properly, and nothing seems to leak. Any thing else I should check before lighting it...

Well, I was looking around on YouTube, and this came up. Try and spot how many bits of bad advice he gives. Things like "insert a rod into the electrode holder, then plug in the power cord"

Well, if any of my job applications pan out, I hope to be adding a mig to the fleet before long. I am looking on suggestions of used full sized Migs (250 class) to look out for. So far, my watch list consists of the L-tec/esab migmaster 250, and the hobart beta mig 250 (Just saw one for $450...

We did an air liquide run today. Finally got the torch filled (only been empty for a year... :ashamed:) Also upgraded oxygen to an 80 cf tank. Only $40 with trade in of 40 cf tank. Fillup costs about the same, real good deal is you ask me. Than came the real sticker shock. A new bernard...

I just thought I would let you guys know. Diamond ground products has an offer where they will send you up to 4 free 7 inch tungsten electrodes of whatever size and type you want for free. They even include a free guidebook of your choice. I asked for the 1/16 2% lanthinated. Lets see if this...

I have been getting back to knife making lately, and am wanting to try some knives in the style of john nelson cooper. In order to do this I will have to weld a rod/bolt onto the high carbon blade blank. What would be the best way of welding the end of a 1/4 inch rod onto the edge of 3/16 tool...

The title says it all, I am wanting to get a head start on pipe welding, and need some help. My questions are: What size pipe is good to start practicing with? (small? Big? What wall?) Would I be better off starting pipe welding with 6010 or 7018? (I am going to learn both, which is better to...

First, Im sorry I have been away for a while (again :ashamed:) I have joined another forum, and have been busy there for a bit. Anyways, I am sure I will be spending a lot more time here. Now onto the news. I am still in the application stage right now, but if all goes to plan, I will be...

Well I have finally finished restoring my old stihl 08s. I was able to salvage both piston and jug, the scoring was light enough that it turns over easy, and has compression, so it was suggested by my father to just leave it. He has fixed enough old machines that I am trusting him on this one. I...

Well I have finally got back to work on my old stihl 08s that has been taking up space half painted for the last few years. Anyways I pulled the muffler off, to prep for paint, and as I look in the port, I see some marks on the piston. Seeing as this is a 50 year old saw I have never started, I...

Well about 10 minutes ago I got back from picking up my ideal saw. A 1992 stihl 034, with new jug and piston 4 years ago. Started up on the 3rd pull, and I fell in love. It was used as a back up saw by a professional firewood cutter, but it hasn't been used much the last few years. A little...

Just wanting to hear what everyone's favourite mix oil is. Mine is the castrol super 2-stroke. Exact same oil as the stihl, just a different bottle, and far cheaper at my local hardware store. About $5.60 per litre. If you like the stihl mix oil, please try castrol. They are both bottled in the...

Well hopefully in the next week or so after a trip to air liquids I am wanting to try my hand at gas welding aluminum. I don't really do any work with aluminum, mainly because I have no real good way of attaching it. I have been reading a bit about gas welding it with a normal o /a torch...

Well first I'd like to say that after over 2 months, I am back on. Now, to my question. I have found a rusted up, very old 40# stake anvil that I am hoping to buy. Now it is rough, but I think I could get it to be a decent bladesmith anvil. It was looking great until I touched the grinder to see...

Well here it is, I have finally got the before pictures. Stay tuned for updates.

Well in a few weeks I will be starting on a cosmetic restoration of my uncles old case 730. He just bought it from a retired mechanic, and it is in perfect mechanical condition, I am just dealing with the looks. Anyways, this will be my first tractor restoration, and my biggest ever restoration...

Well after trying to freehand a torch cut yesterday for some coupons. (read only perfect one was the one done with a grinder) I decided I need to make a guide for it. I have seen on weldingtipsandtricks clamping a piece of angle on, and running the side of the tip against it. I am wondering if I...

Well after yesterdays welding went so well. (perfect smooth 7018 beads, slag falling off on its own..) I decided to try and get some nice t-welds done for some pictures. That didnt happen. Each time I layed a bead on a flat plate, it was perfect. Each time I tried to do a joint, it sucked. It...

You may remember many months ago, I asked about sharpening drill bits on a grinder, and I said I had someone to teach me. Well I never did get around to talking to him, but I had watched a few videos. Yesterday, I decided to grab a dull bit, and try sharpening it on the new grinder. All I can...

Well we will be changing to propane soon, and trying to decide if we should keep the acet tank or not. I know we will have to give up gas welding if we sell the acet tank, but I can live without that. The main issue is I will still need some way to work with sheet metal. What I am getting at is...

Well I am a 14 year old high school student, and I just took up wood carving. Insted of easing into it like I should have, I jumped right in, and practiced for a few days. Well my hand and wrist have been very sore, and some lumps have apeared on the back of my hand. My shop teacher (an expert...

Well I just tried out my new longevity stickweld 250, and I love it. It welds very smooth, and is so quiet. I am totally lost on the settings though. It seems the amperage needs to be differnt for DC, and I have no idea what settings I should use. Then I have the arc force and surge control. I...

Well today I was doing some torch cutting for the first time in probably 2 years. All the torch cutting I had done then was melting my way through some rusty re-bar. I have been watching a few videos on it, and looked up the settings online. Well here it is. I was using 5 psi acet, and 25 psi...

Well I finally have a welding table, and I have to say I love it. The frame is made of some heavy pipe, some small box, and a really overbuilt shelf, all of which I got at a salvage yard for $0.45 per #. The top is 36x24 1/4 inch plate, bought new from metal super market. (I had to buy a 24x48...

Well I just finished my welding table, and I was making a few practice beads on a piece of scrap sitting on it. I was using a lincoln 7018 ac 1/8. I got it stuck, and went to free it like I have hundreds of times, and in the process of that, every single piece of flux on the rod fell off. The...

Well I have seen a few videos of saws like the Evolution rage circular saws, and I think something like that could be really useful. Well I dont have the spare cash for one of those, and I am not sure how long they would last. Now heres my question. We have an old 8 1/4 inch skill worm drive...

Well I have yet another stick question. I am wondering what the rule for rod size to base metal thickness is. Also, I would say I am a hobbiest welder at best, so any tips regarding practice will help a lot. (I hope to be considered a good welder someday...)

Well I just got a set of milwaukee thunderbit split points, and I am wondering how I could sharpen them when they get dull. I cant seem to figure out if/how you can hand sharpen them, and I will not buy a drill doctor. Can I sharpen them any way? Or will I have to send them out?

Well right now I have a blueshield cutting torch it, and a smith aircraft torch for welding. I still want to keep acct around for welding, but I need something cheeper for cutting and heating. Basically what I am wondering is what fuel gas would be best to switch to, and what (other then a grade...

Last time I was doing some gas welding with my smith AW-1 aircraft torch, the handle was getting so hot that I couldnt touch it without a glove, or it would burn me. The handle on my blueshield torch has never got hot to the point where I couldnt hold it, so I am sure there is something wrong...

Well the title pretty much says it all. My favourite rod now is the blueshield 6011 from air liquide. I am thinking that might change when I get dc and start using 7018s. So whats yours?

Well the harbor freight tools that dont suck thread has been very active, but I was thinking us canucks could use a thread about our cheep chinese tools store. Ill start it off with one to stay away from. A few years back, they had a battery charger on a limited time offer for like $19. I used...

Well I will be getting one of the cheep siphon sandblasters soon, and I am wondering what abrasive to use. I have a high end 3M cartrage resperator, and I am wondering if it is safe to use silica sand with that, I know all about the hazards of silica sand, but will that make it safe? If not...

Well my backup angle grinder, a cheep old clarke strongarm, finally needs replacement. I was using it with a wire wheel, to try and clean rust and paint off the bender I am building, and the side handle snapped in half. This thing vibrates alot, and is way too loud (compared to my makita), so I...

Well there is a thread talking about harbor freight tools that dont suck, but I think there needs to be a thread that is all about the worst of the harbor freight tools, the ones that are unsafe, dont work, or you just would never buy again. Also, feel free to add tools from princess auto, the...

Well for the first time in two months, I had the time to do some welding. I started with my normal rod, the 6011, and it welded like crap, I tried differnt heat settings, and it just wouldnt make a decient bead. Then I tried a 6013, I have never liked this rod, it has always made a mess, and no...

Well here it goes. I had bought a Campbell Hausfeld DA air sander at home depot, to use for stripping paint, rust, and mill scale before welding. At the store it was listed as 10 CFM, when I got home and looked at the manual, it says it comsumes almost 20 CFM. I cant stand when they list the...

I saw this truck on the local on line classifieds, and I really felt sorry for this guy. "1990 toyota 4x4 pickup $900" "I took my truck into the high school shop with minor engine trouble... and now it needs a new engine, I dont have the money to fix it so I have to sell it" I have also heard...

I am starting this thread to see what the stuipdest welding question is. The stupidest one I have heard is "If I hook gas up to my mig welder, can I use it as a cutting torch".

I was looking at princess auto's website, and I saw that ALL of the powerfist mig welders had an ac output. This was strange, because almost all mig welders (except princess auto and harbor frieght) are dc. Also, I recall hearing ac mig welders wont work properly, so would the powerfist and...

I am wondering how all of you bevel the edges of plate before welding. I use a 7 inch angle grinder, but there has to be a better way.

I was looking through ritchie bros archives at welders, and I saw that someone bought a lincoln idealarc 350 amp power supply without cables, FOR $15, why cant I ever find deals like that.....

I just noticed that the local KMS tools has the lincoln electric sp-180t mig on sale for $650, $150 off. I have a bit of experance with a stick welder, and really want to learn how to mig weld. I was wondering if any of you have one, and what you think of it.

i have restored a number of chainsaws from the 50s as well as a few other machines but i am wanting to restore a tractor and i am wondering how good a 8n would be as a first project.

I have a green machine backpack blower that I bought for $40 and it overheats and stalls after running for 10 minutes or more. I know that it is doing this due to it running too lean and i just have to adjust the carb. But i can't find any place on the carb to adjust it, there are no screws on...

Right now the only chainsaw I have that is less then 40 years old is a stihl 009 with the electronic chain break.:thumbsup: I have a fairly big collection of vintage logging saws but have almost no knowledge on the new 60+cc saws, and know absolutely nothing about echo products.:confused: I am...