Pipe fence and Pole barn welder

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I am looking for a welder to do some pipe fence corners barbed wire in between and some pipe fence around a gate on 20 acres.  Also will want to build a pole barn using pipe as well.   I want to know if there is a good welder that I can do the entire job cutting and welding or would I need to get a portaband or torch with a welder.What is the best thing to saddle the end of a pipe?  Portaband, torch or plasma cutter?  I don’t have any of these so if a plasma cutter would work I can consider getting a welder/plasma cutter combo unit.  Final question.  No matter what welder I choose would it be wise to build the pipe corners and pipe H’s at home or weld them at the location?  The reason I ask is the time in the field would be saved if I made them at home and trailer them to the location.  The only problem I see with pre-making them is if the hole depth was different due to a boulder.   1500 is my budget for the tools needed.
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Reply:Originally Posted by joedirt1966I like your member name.
Reply:I have played this game for several years... I started very small with a Weldpak, a generator to run it and  I rough  cut the saddles at the shop with my 4" Makita cutter and then finished them with a 5" Makita grinder after the poles were transitted and set.  I am using 2 7/8" pipe mostly with a 2 3/8" top rail which is lighter and works well.   I'll get some pics for U if U like.   Finally,  I found these guys /WW and a ray of light began to break thru.Since then I've purchased more welders, read some here, went to a stick welding course at the JR college, and waited for Fall to work.  I do think your budget is marginal but  given used gear, good thinking etc, well you can get started anyway. I made the H corners as I went, on site, I set 3" posts and welded in the crossrails. Fence itself is RedBrand nonclimb.enjoy. Bretps: whatcha keepin' in, or out? My bud comes to see mine in progress one time. Bill: what pipe is that?  Me: "2 7/8" heavy wall etc ~~till zzz   ad nauseum"  (I was pretty proud of that fence)Bill: "whatcha plannin' on keeping Bret... Buffalo?"Last edited by PapaLion; 08-25-2010 at 08:08 AM.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Hey ya no good, build your H braces on site that way you can get all your pipe plumb and the cross piece level alot easier than a premade heavy SOB.  Most guys can handle a torch pretty good and probally have one on their truck, so really no need to buy equipment.  There is a saddle pattern you can buy that is hinged and fits on your pipe you want to cut, just mark and cut.  Again most welding outfits have all the little trinkets to get the job done.  So you can put your 1500 tool budget towards wages.  The barn should be pretty easy, use your drill stem for the main frame and then weld on some 1" or  2" square tubing to that so you can use self tapping screws to fasten your sheets down.  Just my two cents worth.Last edited by weldingroper; 08-25-2010 at 09:32 AM.
Reply:Absolutely Weldergroper, I will use the oxy to cut saddles for the next batch like u pros do. I didn't own a torch when I started.   I decided to do it myself because of $ some and just to have the pride of it all. One day I bounced off a rock with my boot and dropped my nose straight on into a saddle I was cutting... which cut me back and I got the thin scar across my nose like a boxer to show for it... the pride thing got less important about thenThese guys here have shown me lots of ways to do things better, safer and stronger. I'm grateful. pics of my humble efforts Attached ImagesLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:It is my Dads place and he is wanting to keep thugs out up front but the long term goal for him is to retire there and have some cattle.  I have 40 acres and want to get some pratice in on doing his pipe fence then do mine followed by a pole barn for hay and cattle shelter.  Where can these templates be found for the saddles?  I will keep my eyes open on CL for some used torches and welders.  What type welder i.e. mig/tig/stick would be the best choice for making pipe stay together?  I have some time with stick welding from my high school days and did pretty good.  I can learn pretty fast.
Reply:Hey NoGood, I've repaired pipe fence with a generator and Lincoln Tombstone AC welder  thrown in the back of the truck when it's all I had available.  I don't think I would want to do 40 acres of pipe fence that way but if your only doing the H-braces and corners then it might be an idea to tinker with.  If you could find a good deal on a used gasoline welder/generator that would be better.  If your going to be using the welder for more things than the fence then definately look for gas powered.Check your local welding supply for the saddles, $10-15.I try not to buy used O/A equipment, saving a few bucks when things can go boom isn't worth it to me.
Reply:What do you guys think about this welder?  Lincoln Power Arc 5500 Subaru Robin EX 27 Combination Robust AC Generator / 125 Amps AC Welder w/Accessorieshttp://www.bakersgas.com/LINK1429-11.html
Reply:Originally Posted by UpToNoGoodWhat do you guys think about this welder?  Lincoln Power Arc 5500 Subaru Robin EX 27 Combination Robust AC Generator / 125 Amps AC Welder w/Accessorieshttp://www.bakersgas.com/LINK1429-11.html
Reply:Originally Posted by UpToNoGoodWhere can these templates be found for the saddles?
Reply:Maybe this will do.http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/for/1880264391.html
Reply:35 hours, I dunno, it looks pretty worn out..........kidding. It probably will sell quickly, but something like that yes.Joe, you're killing me! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:So after doing some more reading I might go with the Millermatic 211 flux-core.Does that sound about right to handle pipe for fence corners and possibly a pole barn made from pipe?  BTW I do have a 4500 generator that has both 110/220 outlets so that would allow me to go remote.
Reply:WW has a few threads on using a generator to power a welder. It works, I've done it, but the engine driven dedicated welders seems to be the much preferred option for a couple of reasons.  The fellas with more experience can point those out way better than me.  Both Lincoln and Miller have been making engine driven medium sized machines for a long time.  For ex: I found a WeldanPower 225 Ac/Dc+/Dc- machine that has a 16 hp engine and a large aux generator for power on site. It was used, low hours,  had some dents, and had been owned by a cement contractor. He retired,  I spent a little over $600 for it, works fine and will use any stick I wish, like 6013 for the fence.  There are good Millers which will stack up to that too for about the same $.  Newer is better than way older I suppose, and like U R doing let these guys give U good advice on ones U find, they  got years using most of this gear.enjoy, BretLast edited by PapaLion; 08-26-2010 at 08:48 AM.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:I picked me up a Hobart 10,000 today.  The guy I got it from let me run it with some 6011's.  Would the 6011's be a good choice to weld the fence posts together?
Reply:here is a site that you can print out templates to cut saddles with http://www.harderwoods.com/pipetemplate.php but if you are using 2 3/8 tubing you can get a piece of 2 7/8 and cut a template that fits, split it, make it so you can clamp it, and use that as a guide it makes for a lot less grinding. As for using a plasma out in the field to cut those, its kind of like using a corvette when a chevy love would do, way to complicated and expensive. craiglist is your friend here you should be able to pick up a torch setup with owner bottles for a few hundred dollars.  I think you will enjoy using that hobart. try 6010 5P+ (I thing thats what its called)  if you have issues with the 6011.Last edited by idacal; 08-29-2010 at 12:07 AM.Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.