Show off your kit

[MigTig]

Well, signed up a couple of weeks back, I have now got a nice little kit together. I work in maintenance, so we get all sorts of odd jobs. I also want to weld more, as I studied welding in a workshop for one year at a practical college (got an NVQ certificate). Really enjoyed it, mostly got on with Gas/Tig, I could do the tidiest welding with them. Although I was using large scale expensive industrial wleding equipment, im still happy I have put together some hobby kit here. Bring on warm summer evenings

Tig: GYS 140 HF/DV
Mig: Clarke 135te
OxyTurbo kit, runs of an Oxygen bottle and Turbo gas, for very small welding applications. I have a small kit that adapts the torch for welding on jewlery etc.

Also, I would like to say thanks to Weldequip for sorting me out with spares, a welding autoshield mask, and good advice, down to earth prices

Lets see your photos of the kit you use

 

[weldequip]

Showing off kit

That's a good idea although I doubt many will be as immaculately clean as yours! It's a credit to any workshop.
weldequip

 

[MigTig]

Im currently building a welding shop/bay in a barn, I will use fireproof board to line the walls, and make a concrete floor. It will do for now, bring in a few pennies untill I can find a steady job somewhere

 

[weldequip]

If you have all the kit & a nice set-up you may not need a steady job!
weldequip

 

[malcolm]

My welders are bigger than yours

The big blue thing is a Miller Syncrowave TIG welder circa 1980. Ignore any wiring you might see in the photo - I've done it properly now. It's based on the back wall of the garage, but the torch lead is 8m long, so the welder doesn't need to move.

The MIG is a trusty Portamig 181. It's a very forgiving welder. Both are running BOC size Y bottles for an idea of scale.

 

[MigTig]

Very nice thats one big Tig welder!
Weldequip, thanks, I would love to be able to make money doing a job I like. But about 80% of people nowadays arent doing their dream job/a job they really enjoy. So il see what happens.. maybe im onto something.. maybe Il never get that far

 

[weldequip]

But about 80% of people nowadays arent doing their dream job/a job they really enjoy.

I'd put that at nearer 99.9% actually!
If I didn't have to do I would be up some mountain somewhere or close to the wind in a yacht!
weldequip

 

[MrFluffy]

The big blue thing is a Miller Syncrowave TIG welder circa 1980.

You weakened to a old 3 phase tig off fleabay in the end then did you?

I havent even commisioned mine, havent got a argon bottle big enough yet!

I wont snap a shot of my taskmaster 150en turbo thingy, its er... had a very hard life

 

[Cappy]

I have an old air-cooled 140A MMA set in the garage (can't even remember who's make it is - and I ain't going out to look ).

But I am spoilt at the railway where I have the choice of 3 phase 180A Oil-Cooled Oxford MMA sets, or a SIP Ideal 500 MIG (which I'm still learing how to use)

Also in the garage is a Warco 220 lathe and a Warco Minor Mill/Drill waiting for a workshop to be built <wistful look><sigh> one day

 

[MigTig]

Nice one! I started off on an old MMA welder, they really are a usefull tool.
They are still used for some of the most advaced welding today

We have a Myford7 lathe/combo Mill on the way, dontated from a good friend. Also awaiting workshop space, oneday...

 

[lexi]

Errr ...Malc. Do you not need planning permission to put an electricity sub station in a garage...lol

Alex

 

[malcolm]

You weakened to a old 3 phase tig off fleabay in the end then did you?

It has a 208V single phase input setting which I'm using. I can go up to 40a input which is as much as I'll need for the sort of things I do. Cheapie from eBay though as it was described as 3 phase.

 

[Leanne1979]

Hi all
Well my compressor (2HP 50L) arrived yesterday along with all the air tools, the bench grinder and my bench drill, so my garage is progressing nicely. Next is the oxy-acet torch but not until i have finished my course (altho i do fancy one of those little burning torch outfits that Migtig has in one of his photos (where did you get babe?)
Leanne xx

 

[Leanne1979]

Here are my air tools i bought, took ages to put all the couplers on lol is there anything else anyone thinks i might need in the way of air tools?
Leanne xxxx

 

[Drains]

Here below, the Lincoln 300A mig , separate wire feed with 20 metre cables which the boat was stuck together with; the Norman Butters and Co, of Coventry, NBC300 mig in the workshop at the other end of the yard; the ESAB 140A MMA machine I bought this morning for a tenner (note the comedy electrode holder); and last but by no means least, the No4 Thor rawhide and copper faced hammer, which is probably my favourite tool of all!

 

[Country Joe]

Might have to send you a brush to sweep up some of that swarf!

Cheers
CJ

 

[Drains]

Might have to send you a brush to sweep up some of that swarf!

Cheers
CJ

What's a brush?

 

[lexi]

That`s all excellent stuff Simon.

Alex

 

[lexi]

Remember Leanne.....you wont get a lot of power on the air tools with 2hp compressor. OK for spraying and blowing but you may be disappointed when you drill and grind. I found it out myself years ago....

Alex

 

[Drains]

That`s all excellent stuff Simon.

Alex

You are too kind, cheers bud.


Leanne - how much did you pay for that nice looking set of air tools, if you don't mind me asking?

Si

PS other useful air tools:- a 4" angle grinder, if you're really into the air tools thing. They're less tiring to use than electric ones. And a wee shot blast gun can be really useful. But the main problem with all airtools, as alex says, is that you need a compressor with a bit of grunt. Which means one that uses every amp available on a 13A supply, minimum. Otherwise it's just a toil.