Welding setup on the farm

admin

I thought I would post some pics of our shop in progress on the farmThis is our new shop we just had installed on the farm, a 50'x60' Sentinal with a 30"x16" doorthe bumper on the white truck was my senior welding class project!we have been gathering many welding tools and other basic fab toolsso far we have:Hobart Stickmate AC/DC stick welderHobart Handler 125 Scratch start TIG torch (my toy)Medium duty victor torch setup with 75 and 80 CF cylinders a Dewalt chop sawand other various welding tools that I have at school with memy little cart i got for the 125HTP Regulator There will be much more to come, plans are a 3x6 or 4x8 welding table with a 1/2" top, pedestal grinder, large air compressor, air tools, 16 foot long work bench that is slightly underway and much more.remember this is our first real shop on our farm. I plan to replace the 125 in the future with a much better MIG welder, but this will get me goingThanks for looking, Mason Last edited by Minimeh93; 04-27-2012 at 07:51 PM.Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:Nice shop, but it's way too clean..............even for a new building.  Toss the Hobart 125 ('cept for sheetmetal) & obtain a 250A machine.  My experience welding on the farm, stick is used mostly & lots of heat.  If you really want the GMAW process, a 250 Amp machine will really help you out.Still, you need a huge welding table, a smaller roll around table, Vertical Mill, Lathe, clamps, clamps and even a few more clamps.Oh yeah, did I mention you need a work bench too?Nice shop BTW, even if it makes me jealous.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkBall2Nice shop, but it's way too clean..............even for a new building.  Toss the Hobart 125 ('cept for sheetmetal) & obtain a 250A machine.  My experience welding on the farm, stick is used mostly & lots of heat.  If you really want the GMAW process, a 250 Amp machine will really help you out.Still, you need a huge welding table, a smaller roll around table, Vertical Mill, Lathe, clamps, clamps and even a few more clamps.Oh yeah, did I mention you need a work bench too?Nice shop BTW, even if it makes me jealous.
Reply:Originally Posted by Minimeh93.... with a 30"x16" door
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYou must have a really WIDE dog... I'd cut back on the milk bones and treats for him if I was you. Nice looking shop.
Reply:How do you get them thru the 30 INCH wide, 16 INCH high door?  .No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWHow do you get them thru the 30 INCH wide, 16 INCH high door?
Reply:I dunno Minimeh93, your ratio of tractors to newish pickup trucks and 4-wheelers is backwards.  How ya' gonna get any actual WORK done?      (Nice shop)
Reply:I think you will be happy with the mig.  You can do alot with a 110v, they are pretty mobile too.If you need to do thicker you have the arc to weld with.You have a great start going and about the same size shop I want.  That 110v is good for little projects like art work to hang on a wall, or chairs/benches and such that you can sell.  Big problem for you may be location though.  Play around some you'll have some fun.I will also add, I would go for a bigger table.  Never hurts to have more if you have the room for it.
Reply:Nice CHEVROLET trucks!!!!!!!!  Their "hanger" looks great too! Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Nice work area, wish I had a quarter that much room.How you set for power? What's a typical (if there is such a thing) panel amperage for a building like that.Have fun fillin' it up.
Reply:Looks good so far. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to keep the bench and table, plumb and square. This message will self destruct in 5 seconds ..... 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:right now the shop is running on an extension cord from an out building..... electricians are coming next week, we will have 1 or 2 220v outlets for sureHobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:I'm with MarkBall2. Big a$$ stick machine, gas driven if possible. Stuff never breaks down in the yard, always breaks in the fields.Also, get the biggest meanest hydraulic press you can find. Things have a habit of being unreasonable and need a press for removal some times.I have serious shop envy......really nice place. Enjoy.Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:I'm jealous With the equipment you have/will have, I would have them put in more than one or two 220 outlets, and dozens of 110 outlets!The insulated walls look nice, what are you going to do to protect them from sparks?Ken
Reply:Great building,  I will second the hydraulic press and get a good low speed, gear drive drill press.  A good band saw won't hurt.  Can you put three phase in?  If so, go for it.  Put at least a couple of 220V outlets by the big door so you can weld outside.  Put up plenty of lights.  I feel a good stick machine is better for farm repairs than MIG.  A Miller XMT 304 or 350 would do your stick needs and you can add a very nice wire feeder to increase your capacity in the MIG area with out another power unit sitting around.Oh ya,  Put in a jib crane over the bench or a bridge crane.  Even a roll around gantry crane is very handy for heavy stuff.I'm done spending your money now.Dan
Reply:Originally Posted by k45I'm jealous With the equipment you have/will have, I would have them put in more than one or two 220 outlets, and dozens of 110 outlets!The insulated walls look nice, what are you going to do to protect them from sparks?Ken
Reply:Originally Posted by Minimeh93...as for the cranes and presses, i highly doubt that will happen. In my dad's words "it's a farm shop, not a welding shop"
Reply:about the tractor to truck ratio, it is a little off, but we have about 150 head of cattle and two goose neck stock trailers so the 2 HD Silverados are needed. We have 3 older JD tractors so it is not too bad  the white 1996 is my old DD, but it is now my dad's work truck since I got my 2003 Silverado  so yes we have 4 full size trucks (all silverados) and my mom has a Buick Rainer. we are a very GM centered family! my 2003 the 1996i bought the bumper on the front from the friend, but I made this bumper my senior year in HSLast edited by Minimeh93; 04-28-2012 at 02:21 PM.Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:did my first job with the hobart, welded up an exhaust for my 2003 silverado today. The Hobart Handler 125 did great!. I set it on highest voltage and a little bit lower wire speed and it welded beautifully!Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcNo offense to one poster, but I chuckled at the "get 3 phase" in there.  Huh???? What for, just for a farm?????
Reply:That is a nice shop sir !
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI know a couple farms with 3 phase. It's not uncommon where they run large blowers, heaters, pumps, large conveyers and other power heavy equipment. I'm willing to bet the guy up the road from me with the small local dairy farm is running 3 phase. Given a choice I'd go ahead and run 3 phase if it was available.
Reply:Originally Posted by tbone550The farm I grew up on had 3-phase.  Maybe SuperArc still pictures farmers using horse-drawn implements and pitchforks all day.  Or maybe he's thinking of hobby farmers whose farm is just a dumping ground for tax write-off purposes.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcNo offense to one poster, but I chuckled at the "get 3 phase" in there.  Huh???? What for, just for a farm?????I think in many places, having 3-phase run would take you out of residential service and into commercial service rates for all of your electric use.   Ken
Reply:Great shop you will fill it up quick! Also crane real handy in shop if by yourself, or ya'll got 20ton winch truck hid out around there. Pull gangs off 28ft disks plow without either total pain. Press needed, good air compressr" Black Maxx" 5hp 175psi 2stage 60gal tank 40amp 220volt. Alround unit handy for plasama cutter that you [want, need, got to have] hint to dad! Get him to play with one you have one tomorrow. Im hooked on Hypertherm 220 volt.
Reply:Originally Posted by k45I think in many places, having 3-phase run would take you out of residential service and into commercial service rates for all of your electric use.   Ken
Reply:on your 120 receptacles, my suggestion is where ever you place them put in a double in a 4x4 box, it seems if you want to plug in any thing you will want to plug in more things in that location, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I have 3 phase in the shop and it is nice, before I use either a static or a rotary converter for the items that were 3 phase,  It is considered a light commercial account, and is what is called an open delta 240,  only two transformers are needed (cuts the cost to the utility),  and is used for low amp needs on three phase, and the majority of loads are single phase,
Reply:a few updatesgot my air cooled tig torchthe dewalt chop sawdad made some progress on the work benchHobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:I need a workbench like that!  One big enough for all the junk I pile up on mine and still have some room left to workKen
Reply:Originally Posted by k45I need a workbench like that!  One big enough for all the junk I pile up on mine and still have some room left to workKen
Reply:not much going on in the shop other than we finally have water ran to the shop, but no electricity yet!!!!! Im itching to try out the stickmate!!!!!Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:Hey! Welcome to welding web. Knew I reconized that OBS from somewhere. We're GMT400 brothers. :P
Reply:Really? who might you be, i may need a picture to refresh my memory! lolHobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:Originally Posted by k45There isn't even 3 phase power available around here.   The main lines were put in during the REA in the 30s and 40s and haven't changed.Hobby farms are not a tax writeoff unless you can show a profit.   IRS will disallow any writeoffs if you aren't making a profit within a few years.Ken
Reply:Originally Posted by ANVIL  Seems like everybody claims to have been raised on a farm, ah blah blah...
Reply:Originally Posted by k45No, I was raised in the suburbs.  Didn't get to a farm until I retired
Reply:update on the shop......... WE HAVE POWER!!!!!!............. kindaelectricians came out today and ran power lines to the shop and hooked up the breaker panel, but only installed one outlet under the box, but soon they will be back to install the lights, outlets and wire the doorsalso some progress on the work benchdrawers are in the works for the work bench too, the top is just 2x6's for now, but we will top it off with thin sheet metal soon. also now that power is installed, it is time to start on the welding table!!!!Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:some more recent pics of the benchHobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:we finally have everything wired up!, we got two 220 outlets in the welding corner, a 4'x4' piece of 3/8" steel for the top of the welding table too. My dad hit up some auctions and now we have a ton of tools!on to the pics!6013!old metersonce we actually get everything organized ill post more pics!Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:wow its been a while! got a few updates2 tube heaters have been installedjust got a new Hobart 190 mig welder todayright now we are installing our old kitchen cabinets and sink, have have a new large air compressor from TSC with 2 air hose reels installed on both sides of the shop.we hit up a few more auctions and picked up A LOT of random tools and many portable work/ welding tables.I don't have many recent pictures, but I'll try to keep this thread updated!Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:Nice building!  I have pretty much the same setup on my farm, only the building is about half that size.  A couple of things I'd throw in:1. Yeah, like he said. A good welding table.2. Install a LOT of electric outlets. I'm constantly wishing I had one over here or over there. Same goes for lighting in the work areas.3. Very soon, you're going to wish you had some kind of portable welder so you can go out into your pasture and build that cow shed or hay feeder or H-brace or whatever.  E.g., a Miller Bobcat, or maybe even just a generator.  Having to constantly haul/drag stuff to your shed to weld on it gets old REAL fast.-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:Originally Posted by RuarkNice building!  I have pretty much the same setup on my farm, only the building is about half that size.  A couple of things I'd throw in:1. Yeah, like he said. A good welding table.2. Install a LOT of electric outlets. I'm constantly wishing I had one over here or over there. Same goes for lighting in the work areas.3. Very soon, you're going to wish you had some kind of portable welder so you can go out into your pasture and build that cow shed or hay feeder or H-brace or whatever.  E.g., a Miller Bobcat, or maybe even just a generator.  Having to constantly haul/drag stuff to your shed to weld on it gets old REAL fast.
Reply:found a near completion pic of the table, It is very stable, level, and doesn't rock!Hobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:so I got bored and went out to the shop to snap some pics. It's still messy from moving stuff around for the heater installers to work, so be kinddad's recent project, painting up the 4555where the cabinets and the sink will beHobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:air compressor and fridge (very important)work bench and shelvingHobart Ironman 230 MIGHobart Handler 125 MIGEverlast Powertig 185 DV (2014 model)Collossal Tech cut 50Evolution Rage 2 Black Bull Bandsaw
Reply:Coming along nice man! Love the JD 4555. Those are solid tractors.
Reply:That " old meter" on the top left looks to be a simpson if it is and if it works, take damn good care of it. They are in my opinion the cadillac of meters. I need to get mine sent in and fixed.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:Wow, really nice building. Should be a great space for your shop.  I hope to have something like that someday, probably 5+ years.