Nice equipment to get started...???

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Hi, everybody, I'm name is John. I've been taking welding and fabrication classes in college since last Fall and I only have a short Summer semester left before I'm done. Shortly before or shortly after I graduate I want to get a job at a fabrication shop not far from home, (1) to get that much better at welding and thinking about the best way to build something, (2) to make and save my money. I'll be living at home with my parents (I'm 19), so I won't have to pay rent etc... (Only way I"d move away is for ridiculous $ per hour, lol!)  Eventually I'll start my own business, and we even have the power here at home for welding machines (in our shop we store our landscaping equipment in). So I'll have a place to put my stuff to get me started. I'll be doing mostly TIG on aluminum, stainless, and carbon, and it won't be very thick materials. I'd like to prototype and then patent motorcycle/quad parts and they're not thick materials, I can't see myself going going 250 amps if I even get there. So now that I've been rambling and you know what I'll be building, what are your suggestions on everything? lol! In school I've gotten very comfortable with that Dynasty 200  My main question is if that's the best choice. If I'm going to spend the money to build what I want to build then I'm not buying something that later down the road I say "Oh, I wish I would've bought that one!" But I don't want something way overkill, and I will not be buying multi-process (One of the Dynasty versions with TIG and stick, ok. But I'm not getting something that'll do all 3 like the Lincoln C300's). So please give me your opinions on AC/DC TIG welding machines.Next part: to do what I want to do I'd also like a plasma cutter (hand-held, not automated yet, lol), eventually a pipe bender, and I'm probably forgetting something else I wanted.  Same thing with these, I don't want overkill but I don't want to be disappointed. I mean I've seen pipe benders that you just bend by hand with a lever, looked more like the pipe would bend the bender and it didn't seem to have many options with adjusting pipe sizes and the bend wanted. ???This is a ways off but when I'm thinking about buying something that costs a lot of money I like to start looking early so I know what to save up for and I know what I want when I can buy it. If possible, $10K for the set-up would be nice because it wouldn't take that long to get there, yes it depends on the job and $ph, of course. So just throw whatcha got out there, guys and gals! Website links, pics of your setups, opinions, etc. is all greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading, hope I didn't bore you, lol! John
Reply:You certainly can't go wrong with a Dynasty 200dx. Pretty much the top of the line in that class range. If you have the money, go for it. If money is an issue, you would get most of the same output and base functions from a Syncrowave 200 at 1/2 the cost new, and on the used market you can find used Syncro 180 and 200's for between $900-1500, roughly 1/2 what a new Syncro 200 would run. If you think you might need more power, I've seen used Syncrowave 250's going for less than $2K fairly regularly if you keep your eyes open.Plasma, it would have to be a Hypertherm hands down. A PM 30 or PM 45 would fit the bill nicely depending on how thick you needed to cut. Used, an older PM 1000 is a nice machine just to name the one I'm most familiar with..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:Keep an eye out for auctions. sometimes you can find good deals. I found a great deal on a vantage. If i didnt have so much money tied up in setting my truck up right now I would be all over a lot of stuff at this one! there are pics toohttp://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/au...708&category=0
Reply:Dynasty200DXHypertherm30Hobart Trek180The tig and plasma are dual voltage. The mig is battery/115volt powered. You might be able to run alum wire with the mig if you had a teflon or nylon liner. Everything on the list is "Made In USA", is professional equip, and has a high resale value.Then get a bunch of nice 115 volt power tools, compressor, Generac XG8000e generator, and a nice trailer.Look up YorkiePap. This is his setup which I am very envious of.Last edited by shovelon; 05-10-2013 at 12:50 PM.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Thanks, guys! Will start looking into all those machines!
Reply:Found my used/remanufactured Dynasty 200DX for $1800 on eBay.
Reply:Thermal Arc 186 AC/DC with a pedal is $1,700."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Cool, guys. Thanks
Reply:I have a tube bender that I built. It is a vertical style and uses jd2 dies. The plans came from plasma spider. I was buying a mm251 mig from a guy who had a cnc plasma table in his garage. I have since built that relationship and contract a lot of my mechanized cutting through him. It is cheaper than owning a table and works out well for me. Including the 1.75x180° die set and air over hydraulic ram I'm into my bender about $500. Works great and I can swap dies out quickly.As a newbie I would stress relationships. I've built one with my lws and I can negotiate pricing on anything. The service is improved because they know me by name. Also get to know people around you that can get you out of a bind. I got into a bind with some thick dom tubing and I needed a couple bends on a size that I didn't have a die set for. I wasn't expecting to bend the tube but it sure was good to know someone. I hope you get the dynasty, that is a nice machine and I am a little bit jealous. Good luck with your adventure.Miller CST280Millermatic 251Cutmaster 42DeWalt StuffPlans are worthless, but planning is everything.  - D. Eisenhower