Holy Moley !!! I love this welder!

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I USED to use a Lincoln 110v MIG welder from Home Depot, but found I hit limitations pretty fast.  I picked up a MM 251 (not really ever used.... literally... maybe 2 pounds ever run through it).  I tested it out for the first time today and I love welding even more!Oh, it is so nice to weld with 220.  Difference is like night and day.Today I put this together.... I didn't want to bolt it to the floor, so I build this carriage.  The carriage is a little springy, and I do have rubber posts that the compressor is sitting on.  Between the two, and the locking wheels, this thing doesn't move at all when running.  After unlocking the wheels, this thing glides around so nicely.  I built it like you see it due to the location I have to put it (had to fit under an existing shelf by the drill press)Tomorrow I have to clean the garage. Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:A few more pics . . . . Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:I bet if you added some vertical 1/8" x 2" along the side and box it up a bit the spongy feeling would go away pretty quickly. Could add another gusset on the caster side of the 90* too and it would be solid.I love the simplicity, how stable is it? May do something like that to my future compressor.
Reply:Originally Posted by CrawfordI bet if you added some vertical 1/8" x 2" along the side and box it up a bit the spongy feeling would go away pretty quickly. Could add another gusset on the caster side of the 90* too and it would be solid.I love the simplicity, how stable is it? May do something like that to my future compressor.
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239Very, very stable actually.  No worries about it at all.  Actually, I kind of like the springiness (very subtle) for the compressor as it helps dampen the vibration (not that I planned it that way).  I thought about tightening it up a bit, but it works so well I figured I wont touch it.  If I need to do something in the future, and need something more rigid, I will beef it up a bit.
Reply:Originally Posted by Crawfordhow'd you make the bends? vice & a BFH?
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239I have a small press brake that I made, but at about 2" I am pushing it to its limits.  This is 3" x 1/4" steel, so I just paid the steel/fabrication place to bend it for me.  I think I am going to build a new press brake some time that will be able to handle this so I don't have to pay to have it done.
Reply:Hey, you got wheels on it and that's what matters. Those are some pretty nice beads there. Are those steel wheels or some composite? I've put some composite (plastic) on a mill drill and find that they set there and get flat spots after a long while. No big deal but you have to stop and think why it doesn't roll without an extra shove at first."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyHey, you got wheels on it and that's what matters. Those are some pretty nice beads there. Are those steel wheels or some composite? I've put some composite (plastic) on a mill drill and find that they set there and get flat spots after a long while. No big deal but you have to stop and think why it doesn't roll without an extra shove at first.
Reply:i have the mm251 its a great welder evenbetter than the mm252 that made with alum.over copper
Reply:Hello crawford, here's a bender that I use for various jobs, it's based on a 15 ton porta-power ram and will bend up to 3/8" X 4" stock. Requires a bit of machining, but once it's done it provides a lot of options. The main frame is made of cold-rolled rectangular stock and the stress points are keyed to allow for shear lugs to take the brunt of the force. The upper punch is A2 tool steel and the lower die is 4140. The design of the upper portion of the bender allows you to form down to a 1 1/2" spacing, works good for making floor joist support brackets. A little something for you to consider. Best regards, Allan Attached Imagesaevald
Reply:Hey Aevald, where did you get your dies at?The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldHello crawford, here's a bender that I use for various jobs, it's based on a 15 ton porta-power ram and will bend up to 3/8" X 4" stock. Requires a bit of machining, but once it's done it provides a lot of options. The main frame is made of cold-rolled rectangular stock and the stress points are keyed to allow for shear lugs to take the brunt of the force. The upper punch is A2 tool steel and the lower die is 4140. The design of the upper portion of the bender allows you to form down to a 1 1/2" spacing, works good for making floor joist support brackets. A little something for you to consider. Best regards, Allan
Reply:Hello gentlemen, I have a few machine tools at my home shop and machined the parts for it there. Nothing really too complicated, a vertical milling machine would be able to cut all of these parts very readily. I had the A2 left-over from some stock used for making shear blades for an ironworker at my work, similarly, the 4140 was from some left-over stock from another job. You wouldn't have to make the punch and dies from tool steel, but they last a bit longer that way and don't wear out nearly as easily. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Very nice tidy bit of work you did there. Hats off to you. The MM251 is an awesome machine. I just ordered a MM350P but I'm still keeping my 251.Nice job on the bender. Gotta love those home built tools. They get the job done. Here's a few pics of two benders I made. Keep posting your nice work. Miller 302 Trailblazer/Custom TrailerMillermatic 350P/Spool gunMillermatic 252Miller Spectrum 875Miller Dynasty200DxHypertherm Powermax 85Tracker CNC 4X8 Pro Table (Down Draft)Visit us @ www.specialtyrepairscustommods.com
Reply:Hello 4shorts, very handy and nicely done, looks like they have made your work much easier and certainly professional looking. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldHello 4shorts, very handy and nicely done, looks like they have made your work much easier and certainly professional looking. Best regards, Allan
Reply:I love little projects like these!
Reply:I, too, had used the Lincoln 110 unit for years and just recently got a MM251.  You are SO RIGHT.  What a NICE machine!
Reply:I know what your saying. I now have a Linc 140 but HAD a Linc 255c and it was awesome.Lincoln ProMig140
Reply:curious, how do you like that compressor?  I spied that one at HD for $398 and seemed like a good deal.
Reply:Originally Posted by grohlcurious, how do you like that compressor?  I spied that one at HD for $398 and seemed like a good deal.
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldHello crawford, here's a bender that I use for various jobs, it's based on a 15 ton porta-power ram and will bend up to 3/8" X 4" stock. Requires a bit of machining, but once it's done it provides a lot of options. The main frame is made of cold-rolled rectangular stock and the stress points are keyed to allow for shear lugs to take the brunt of the force. The upper punch is A2 tool steel and the lower die is 4140. The design of the upper portion of the bender allows you to form down to a 1 1/2" spacing, works good for making floor joist support brackets. A little something for you to consider. Best regards, Allan
Reply:Hello Scott, the bottom is keyed also, it does only have one bolt holding it in place and that is due to the depth of the bottom cross-piece. I didn't have any stock that was deeper or I would have used that and double bolted it as well. Good observation on your part, this was a build-with-what-you-got project. If I did it again I would likely take the time and get the proper sized components and build it slightly different. Thanks for the comments, best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Some nice benders there...  And to the OP- that air-compressor dolly is pretty cool.  Nice work. Originally Posted by 4shorts...were made for a light bar project I was doing for my old forklift.yep i got a lincoln 140 and also a 255xt love that big machine it does a really good job . But i still find myself grabbing the gun on the small one alot in the shop for tackin stuff togeather but when i am ready to weld it togeather for good i grab the 255 and get the job done.. 110's are good for starting a job but 220's finish them........Lincoln 255 XTLincoln PM140Everlast cut50 Plasma CutterVarious other Shop ToolsNew 40 X 60 Shop/GarageTrying to fill with new toysPrecision Tig 225 and love it.
Reply:Soon discovered I forgot to add a place to hang the hose, so I added one the other day. Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:Did you put some wheel locks on it?  I would guess that it will wander to either the low spot, in the garage, or wander right out of the door.  Of course, that is when the compressor is running.-Rhyno07 Fowler 200D65 RedFace04 Miller TB 302, 22hpMiller 12RCMiller HF 251-1Lincoln SP135HyperTherm PM 380and a few others... Originally Posted by RhynoBut, if I "all of a sudden disappear....  ...." hopefully I didn't suffer too much....
Reply:Originally Posted by RhynoDid you put some wheel locks on it?  I would guess that it will wander to either the low spot, in the garage, or wander right out of the door.  Of course, that is when the compressor is running.-Rhyno
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239Yes, I did.  Each wheel (3 of them) have locks.  It not only locks the wheels from rolling, but from rotating.  I have had the compressor running now for some time, and the thing doesn't budge.  I am really happy with the outcome.