which Miller welder

[johnnymac46]

I haven't had any problems seeing yet, but then again I'm still 23.

However I do have problems with my hearing already thanks to four years of carrying a machine gun and explosions(training only not war symptoms dont want to give the wrong impression) so I use these little guys at work and on my car they are awesome ( http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-.../dp/B001T7QJ9O ). They are battery operated to cancel loud noises (wives) but can be adjusted to hear ambient noise, and they are MP3 compatable.

Just another piece of gear I thought some people might like

[GregWeld]

Yeah --- that hearing can be an issue..... lets see... I've played the drums (still do) for 50 years -- and I'm an internationally licensed pyrotech... HUH? What'd you say?

[johnnymac46]

Well played....

[johnnymac46]

Mr. Weld you appear to ne very knowledgable about metal work do you have any bias on plasma cutters?

I'm already looking one bigger than I think I'll need but I dont see a reason to be able to cut something I cant weld I was thinking Miller again one of these:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M13811

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M00243

My welder is rated to 3/8 and I really dont see myself doing anything bigger.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by johnnymac46

Mr. Weld you appear to ne very knowledgable about metal work do you have any bias on plasma cutters?

I'm already looking one bigger than I think I'll need but I dont see a reason to be able to cut something I cant weld I was thinking Miller again one of these:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M13811

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M00243

My welder is rated to 3/8 and I really dont see myself doing anything bigger.

Boy do I have you fooled....

I own Miller welders - and a Thermal Dynamics plasma cutter....

I use the plasma cutter so seldom that it's hardly worth owning.... But when I do need it - I really like it. But it's not a tool I'd recommend a home hobby guy buy unless he's got all the dough he needs to do everything and just wants one. So having said that.... I'd always buy bigger before I buy smaller or "enough" to do the current job. I had to cut some 1/2" steel plate the other day. My machine is rated to a max of 1/2" and they're not kidding.

SO -- if you're going to buy one - get the bigger version. YOU WILL end up sometime in the next 20 years wanting to build a nice work table -- or your buddy will want to build something... and that whatever it is - will be thicker than the clapped out floorboards in an old car.

SHOP AROUND --- there's so much USED equipment available from all the shop closures and guys hawking their stuff because they were laid off etc. Try to get a machine like this CHEAP 'cause you just won't use it very much.

Whenever I use the plasma -- I cut wide of the mark and take the piece to my Burr Kings for sneaking up to the line. The only cuts I've ever made that are 'nice' are the ones where I can use a "fence" and cut a straight line. They're great for freehanding - but if you so much as breathe you will wiggle.

If I was going to gut and cut the floors out of a car - I'd use the plasma to cut myself a work 'hole' so I could get inside and then I'd mark my lines and use my electric cut off wheel machine for big cuts and my smaller air cut off tools for the fine work.

I'm pretty sure I use my sawzall about 10 times as often as I use the plasma. Cutting off old exhaust or a bracket etc is just as fast (faster really) with the hand tools I have.

As long as we're talking tools --- the least used equipment in my shed is my oxy acetylene. It gets used about once a year.... and usually just to anneal some aluminum... or to heat something I want to bend.

Hope this helps!

[johnnymac46]

well now you have me stumped...

I want a plasma cutter, I cant really say need. If im going to rarely use it maybe I will spend a little extra on the air compressor and get an abundance of air tools to go along with it

[GregWeld]

You can never have a good enough air compressor! Even the one I have is BARELY adequate... and mine is the bottom of the barrel commercial version. It's still barely able to stay ahead of serious use. I have a Champion - 5 hp 230V single phase - two stage - soft start... 80 gallon vertical tank.

If I'm running a cut off tool or a grinder - it's running non stop... and while it keeps up and I never have to wait for recovery. Running a 100% duty cycle is never good for compressed air. Compressing air makes moisture.... and we have lots of moisture in the air here... so if you take one pound and press it into 10 pounds you end up with 10 times the moisture...

Forget the plasma cutter - get a killer compressor.... and then buy cheap air tools from Harbor freight or wherever else you can get them - toss 'em in the garbage when they quit working. I have Snap On stuff - I have Matco Stuff - and chinko stuff - the chinko stuff works just as good as the stuff I paid 10 X's the money for. This is true ONLY for die grinders and small cut off tools -- I would NEVER advise this for anything else.

[MoparCar]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

You can never have a good enough air compressor! Even the one I have is BARELY adequate... and mine is the bottom of the barrel commercial version. It's still barely able to stay ahead of serious use. I have a Champion - 5 hp 230V single phase - two stage - soft start... 80 gallon vertical tank.

If I'm running a cut off tool or a grinder - it's running non stop... and while it keeps up and I never have to wait for recovery. Running a 100% duty cycle is never good for compressed air. Compressing air makes moisture.... and we have lots of moisture in the air here... so if you take one pound and press it into 10 pounds you end up with 10 times the moisture...

Forget the plasma cutter - get a killer compressor.... and then buy cheap air tools from Harbor freight or wherever else you can get them - toss 'em in the garbage when they quit working. I have Snap On stuff - I have Matco Stuff - and chinko stuff - the chinko stuff works just as good as the stuff I paid 10 X's the money for. This is true ONLY for die grinders and small cut off tools -- I would NEVER advise this for anything else.

I agree completely! I have a 3 cylinder 5 HP Eagle air compressor that puts out 100 CFM at 95 PSI, 60g tank and it will run full time with the bead blast cabinet or die grinders/cut off tools. Don't even mention my pressure sand blaster....ouch. It kills the air compressor and I have 3/4" copper lines run through my garage everywhere. Bigger is better on air compressors.

I do not own a plasma either, but would rather have a good TIG next over the plasma. Plasma is only going to be good for rough cuts, not precision cuts if used free hand. If you have a mill to clean things up---great! TIG is my next purchase.

[GregWeld]

I almost forgot - until I read the above statement about 100 CFM at 95 pis...

Which it can't do.... but that's just a typo...

You want to be able to have a compressor that can actually operate the tools you intend to use - at the pressures you need to run them. Forget the HP and all the other facts and figures UNTIL you figure out the air requirements of your tools.

If the die grinder uses 15 CFM @ 90 PSI ---- then a compressor that is only capable of 12 CFM @ 75 PSI is USELESS....

THE AIR PRESSURE IT MAKES MEANS NOTHING if it can't make the CFM AT THE PRESSURE YOU NEED. This includes the biggest tank -- the tank will quickly run down in PRESSURE and your compressor will kick in and it will run and run and run.

#1 critical info you need -- FLOW RATE at the right pressure -- not the maximum pressure.

Mine is "rated at" 16 cfm @ 175 psi. I run it at 145 psi... no need for the 175 and regulate it down to 95 to 100 psi at the tool... but some of these tools are air hogs! Many are rated at "free wheeling" - in other words -- they aren't doing any work! You start actually using them and they eat more air.

Just warning ya.... those $800 versions at Lowes and Home depot... fugidaboudit.

[johnnymac46]

so I've been on the google machine again this is what I've found

http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catal...47/1710568.htm

http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catal...47/6112301.htm

http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catal...747/206953.htm

They should run everything I'll run in this little garage, I like the first two the best.

I plan on upgrading to a 40X80 shed after my next deployment I thing they would fit well right next to a two post lift and a personal tool Sherpa