Any welders out there?

[rambleonthruthefog]

Setting up a weld shop in my garage this Feb, and I've got a $6500 start up fund. My first priorityare a shed to move most of my yard/pool/misc. garage stuff to. A shed that is 10X8 should be great. My other first priority is the welder. i'm not sure what to go with. i prefer millers, and i'm deffinatly going to get one new. I may get a TIG/Stick rig and a MIG rig. I'm also thinking of getting the Bobcat 250, even though it ways 550 lbs. This machine does just about everything i could want. I just don't know how i'm gonna run it out of my garage for the next 1-2 yrs. Any good advice?
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/bobcat250.jpg

[BigVE]

In our industrial weld shop we have nothing but Miller welders...XMT 300 series, tig and stick combo. Migs too but not in the same machine. Dont know about the bobcat but its a miller so it should do fine. We weld up to 1" thick carbon and stainless steel and it works fine. I know they don't weigh THAT much. The machine is only about 2ft tall, 16inches wide and 2 1/2 ft long. These babies run all day 5 days a week no prob.

[Brock]

http://www.northerntool.com/

I wish I had 6000 dollars to blow at that site. I use an old Forney stick welder for big jobs.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

If you're getting a machine that heavy I would build a trailer to make it portable.

And easier to steal.

[UTChief]

I have a lincoln ark welder and a miller mig in my shop I think they are both good quality but If your just going with the mig defenitly go with the miller.

[PastorMikH]

If you're getting a machine that heavy I would build a trailer to make it portable.

And easier to steal.



That was my thoughts as well. Portable means you can go to locations for large jobs instead of limiting yourself to small jobs in the garage/shop. Shop around a bit you can probably find a used setup with a welder, generator, and torch for a decent price - Especially out in the areas where Hog Farmer and I are at.

[btlook1]

That was my thoughts as well. Portable means you can go to locations for large jobs instead of limiting yourself to small jobs in the garage/shop. Shop around a bit you can probably find a used setup with a welder, generator, and torch for a decent price - Especially out in the areas where Hog Farmer and I are at.

Good advice. I would really want to be mobile for those bigger jobs that can't come to you. If you limit yourself to the small jobs that can fit in your garage then I wouldn't expect a ton of business.
I also agree Miller on the mig is the way to go. The shop I work at we probably have 30-40 Millers. They work well and don't have a lot of downtime with them either. I'm not much of a welder but all the guys really like them at work. When to get totally worn out they employee auction them off and someone is always buying them and making them work again. Good luck it's hard to start a business these days with the economy.
IF you aren't busy might try selling some stuff cut out with the plasma...stuff like people buy and hang on their houses, novelty stuff like that. Horses, dogs stuff like that. You might find a niche selling some Chiefs stuff on here also. I would be interested in some Chiefs stuff cut out of like 16Ga plate if it looks good and it's not real expensive and I would guess there are a few other guys around CP that might be to.Good luck with it!

[rambleonthruthefog]

At my old job i used the Miller TIG/Stick rigs. Like a 350 i think, it was a beast. The reason i was thinking Bobcat, aside from the fact that it is a MIG, AC or DC TIG, Stick, Flux Core, Air Carbon and Air Plasma cutter, is because it is also a 11000 watt generator. not only can i take it out on the job, but i can plug a grinder or light or whatever i want into it. The trailor will probably be the last piece of the puzzle. other welders i was considering were the renegade 180. 5-6000watt generator and MIG. its no bobcat, but its half the price.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/Renegade_180.jpg
the maxsstar 150. Being able to TIG aluminum is mandatory, and this can handle most aluminum i'm gonna come across. I't will handle most mild and stainless steel i'm gonna see as well. its also light and mobile
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/Maxstar150STHwCase.jpg
Other stand alone MIGs i was thinkin the millermatic 180 autoset
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/Millermatic_180_AUTOSET250.jpg
or the millermatic 212
http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/graphics/00000001/millermatic212.jpg

[stumppy]

It's been many years since I made a living welding. If I were going to set up a shop/business I think my tool/equiptment list would be something like this.

Generator / stick / mig combo
Torches
Plasma cutter
Air compressor
drill press
grinders
band saw
press
and on and on and on
Make your own work table
Buy or make your own trailer to haul the main tools to a job site.



I could day dream about my new shop for hours at a time.:D


Used to build these trucks when we weren't out on a contract. Then take them out to the job site and work away. Ah, the good ole days.

Good luck. Hope you do good.