Got my MIG

[waxb18]

Hi Guys,
Ive finally got my Clarke Mig Pro 90 welder and am practising laying beads of some scrap metal,

This is what i'll be undertaking as my first project

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/welding-projects/Pages/metal-welding-table-detail.aspx

But the question i have...
I will be primarily working with sheet, tubular and box section steel,

what are the tools that i will need to be able to cut mould and shape these bits.
At the moment the only tool i have to cut the pieces is an angle grinder which is a little clumsy

 

[Wallace]

If you are sticking to the material sizes in the Lincoln build a hacksaw with the correct tpi blade will do the job. The angle gringer will be fine if you use a thin cutting disc. What part of Londinium are you in?

Mike

 

[waxb18]

Thanks Wallace,
I was thinking of getting a reciprocating saw to help with the cutting, my dad has a habbit of losing my saws, but its more the folding and bending that i was thinking of

Im actually based in St Albans, just off J23 M25

 

[Wallace]

I would prefer the hacksaw or grinder over a recip saw, both tools are more versatile. Have a look at Gabro sheet metal tools, box & pan in a small space and you can pick them up at good prices.

Mike

 

[Wallace]

Forgot to add, if you make that Lincoln welding bench project you might want to avoid having the piece of tube they suggest using as a torch holder at the front as it is easy to lean against and snap the neck off the torch!

 

[elie]

been fabricating since i was a boy, this is what i have learned in 50 yrs of it ! if you intend doing a lot of this stuff, think carefully about your kit.

1. a decent mig welder ( 200 amps single phase, european standard torch ) + auto shield
2. a decent plasma cutter, for easy cutting of large sheet steel
3. a decent metal cutting disc chop saw, for fast cutting round/square tube/bar
4. a decent guillotine for chopping small pieces of metal not worth setting up plasma for
5. a decent drill press for accurate holes
6. a reasonable cheap 4.5 inch angle grinder( expensive ones break when you drop them)
7. a decent air compressor, for the plasma and lots of other things
8. a decent engineering vice and a selection of welding clamps
9. a decent bench grinder, 8" preferably
10.a sturdy metal bench to weld and fabricate on

a selection of basic hand tools for marking, measuring, fileing, hammering etc

and guess what!!! a decent sized shed for all of the above with a good lock on it and a big hard pit bull terrier to watch over it

might take a few years to aquire this lot, especially the pit bull terrier as the ones that eat theiving ******** are illeagal to own now

best of luck mate. most of it you will get at machine mart at reasonable prices if your not intent on full production. if you are then look else where, spend more money, happy fabricating

ps i'm new to this forum stuff, but if you need any help, i'm always happy to oblige

 

[aametalmaster]

Yup i agree 100% with elie and he seems to be about 5 years older than me ...Bob

 

[Wallace]

Great Post Elie, I went down it ticking the boxes and nodding then remembered how often the basic hand tools are taken for granted and overlooked.

Mike

 

[elie]

Yup i agree 100% with elie and he seems to be about 5 years older than me ...Bob

cheeky swine ! how dare you suggest i'm 93 !!!