You may consider going to your local welding store and see if he has a GOOD
used tig machine. I have seen them go for $500 to $800 for a 250 amp, water
cooled unit with a foot control and torch. This will allow you to weld
alumunium and steel. I prefer tig over mig as I can control weld penetration
with the foot pedal as I weld around the tubing. I can weld 1/4" thick
alumunuim plate without pre-heating.
I would suggest a tech school class on welding if you do not have someone who
can coach you. Welding is 10% theory, 90% practice.
>>> "Keith Turk" <kturk@ala.net> 10/08 10:02 PM >>>
I am in total agreement with Darrel here.... I have one also and it's the
only one required.... Until you get to the Geek level and have to have the
Tig.... Personally I think I just wanted one.... I didn't need it... the
little SP units are just fine...
Check with the Lincoln dealer in Louisville KY also... don't have his
Number but he sells cheap if it's factory direct.... and he has given me
some killer deals...
Keith
----------
> From: Dick Jurkowski <lsr_man@yahoo.com>
> To: Ferguson, Darrell <dfergus@bactc.com>; 'dferguso@ebmail.gdeb.com';
land-speed@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: Welding and Welders
> Date: Friday, October 08, 1999 12:44 PM
>
> Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to shop
> around this weekend, but based on your input, I
> will be limiting my search to the best price for
> the SP125+. Welding is a big business here (oil
> fields) and the largest local welding supply
> company is owned by a roundy rounder. Because of
> his love of racing, he has started a motor sports
> program which offers a minimum of 40% discount to
> all racers. It's probably going to be hard to
> beat the deal he will give me. I'll let you
> know.
>
> Thanks
> Dick J
>
>
> .....
>
> --- "Ferguson, Darrell" <dfergus@bactc.com>
> wrote:
> > It's actually a Lincoln SP 125 plus. It rocks !
> > I've put plenty of wire
> > through it, built the entire chassis with it,
> > and no complaints. My
> > recommendations for setting up the unit would
> > be to get a large bottle of
> > your 75/25 mix (CO2-Argon a.k.a. Stargon,
> > Stargold, Goldgas..) Get a good
> > flow meter (not the BS little regulator they
> > recommend for it) and use 10
> > lb. spools of wire. When you set the welder up,
> > make sure it's on a good
> > circuit that has at least 10 gauge wire running
> > from your breaker panel to
> > the outlet, preferably a dedicated circuit just
> > for the welder. Don't use an
> > extension cord if humanly possible, if you do,
> > use the largest gauge
> > extension you can find. Believe it or not, the
> > current capabilities of your
> > home or shop electrical system dramatically
> > effect the quality of your
> > welds. For pretty much anything you'll ever
> > weld on a race car, from
> > sheetmetal to rollcage tubing, this little guy
> > smokes every other compact
> > mig I've ever used. As to flux core machines, I
> > wouldn't trust my life to a
> > weld from one of those units. Visually the
> > welds look OK from the fluxcore
> > unit, but when the Mig is dialed in, you'll
> > have a tough time telling some
> > of the Mig welds on my chassis from Heliarc.
> >
> > Darrell ferguson
> > BLACK RADON ENGINEERING
> > # 939 BBFALT
> > http://my.cybersoup.com/blackradon
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: dferguso@ebmail.gdeb.com
> > [SMTP:dferguso@ebmail.gdeb.com]
> > > Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 8:54 AM
> > > To: land-speed@autox.team.net
> > > Subject: Welding and Welders
> > >
> > > hey dick j - i would recommend a lincoln mini
> > mig (sp - 130) i think, it
> > > should handle 1/4 plate no problem. my
> > brother darrell has a lincoln
> > > sp-100
> > > i think, but it could use a little more power
> > once in a great while- maybe
> > > he will speak up on the forum, but i would
> > highly suggest getting a welder
> > > that is NOT flux cored, and it must have
> > infinite heat range control and
> > > infinite wire speed control if you want tasty
> > welds (infinite meaning not
> > > a
> > > stepped switch control, rather a smooth-
> > wherever-you-want-it control).
> > > darrell and i have poured literally hundreds
> > of pounds of wire thru his
> > > unit, and i would highly recommend it , its
> > got alot of "balls" for its
> > > portable size and works GREAT - doug @ black
> > radon
> > >
> >
>
>
> =====
>
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