Tool and equipment question for my new shop

[weston]

I am just getting started in the world of pro touring car building and I have many many many questions, but this thread is about shop equipment. I'm just at the age to get out on my own. I work out of town about 80% of the time and when I am in all I want to do is work on my 69 Camaro. I built a shop with apartment on one end and I need some tools and equipment. I'm on a budget after building my shop/house so I'm wanting to ask about some cheap starter tools. I'm thinking about the Eastwood mig, tig, and plasma cutter. Has anyone used the Eastwood products? They are much cheaper than Lincoln or Miller but like I said I'm just starting. Also, what is a good manual or hydraulic pipe bender that's not too expensive? I want to build my own cage. Thanks for any help

[Che70velle]

You wanting to buy tools for a business, or are these just for your shop, to mess around with your personal projects? I hear good things about Eastwood products, but I've never owned any personally.

[weston]

It would just be for personal use. Just as a hobby and fab work on my car

[GregWeld]

Personally -- I think a guy is always better off saving up the extra money and buying GOOD tools rather than cheap tools. Tools are an investment - and most good ones will last a lifetime.... so rather than buying cheap - then selling them down the road at a loss and upgrading... why not just start out buying stuff you don't need to upgrade. Save up - and shop - and I'd buy a great USED tool before I'd buy new cheap stuff. There's usually a reason cheap stuff is cheap.

On welders -- you have to pay attention to the "duty cycle".... many times the cheap ones have a real short duty cycle. Or they just really don't weld real well - the arc isn't stable etc. That's frustrating. The other thing is the gauge they are TRULY capable of welding. While it's easy to think you're never going to weld more than 1/4" material.... the minute you own a welder - there's all manor of people that need you to fix something for them -- or even fix stuff for yourself. If it's MAX is 1/4" --- while it might weld it... that duty cycle will be even shorter...



At 130 amps -- this welder has a 30% duty cycle.... so that's weld for one minute and wait 2 minutes before welding any more.... pretty crappy duty cycle!

http://www.eastwood.com/mig175-welder-and-cart-kit.html


This is also true of the cheap Millers etc.... very poor duty cycles.... Which is why I'd prefer to buy a larger used Miller or Lincoln or Esab (not my favorite)... that have 60% DC at far higher amps...

[weston]

I am a big believer in you get what you pay for. I was just thinking I could get mig tig and plasma cutter for the price of just a Miller tig, but if they won't hold up then it would be pointless to get them. I didn't even look at the duty cycle and I'm an electronics tech. thanks for the advice

[renegade6]

I have a Clarke welder (off brand) and it has worked well for minor body repair. That being said, If you are in no hurry, I would wait and see what you can find used on Craigslist.