My humble shop.

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Its in a half contractors bay. It has a loft and even a storage area above the loft(have to build a ladder to get up there).I have mainly been doing small time odd welding and fabrication on small things. I have been planing on doing production on some stuff but havent came up with something worth investing in. I have something on the horizon though that seems to be just the thing I have been looking for.Everything I own besides the Hobart has been bought off craigslist. The most I have spent was $200 on my weldanpower 150. I just got the table including the wilton vice a couple weeks ago for $100 its only 1/4" top but its been worth its weight in gold.I guess its one of my biggest welding related rojects since it seems to be always evolving. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by SkeluhtorIts in a half contractors bay....Everything I own besides the Hobart has been bought off craigslist.
Reply:I certainly would love a brand new trailblazer but there is still something satisfying about buying a tool and have it pay for itself the first time you use it and then still be able to sell it for atleast what you paid.Usually my rule of thumb on craigslist is to buy something for cheap enough that I think I can actually make money if I resell it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Skeluhtor...there is still something satisfying about buying a tool and have it pay for itself the first time you use it and then still be able to sell it for atleast what you paid... buy something for cheap enough that I think I can actually make money if I resell it.
Reply:You have a GREAT START.... you have smooth concrete to work on , sturdy tables with wheels, room to store stuff...clean enough not to start fires from sparks hitting the floor and rolling around....and got you stuff at a bargain price... I just got through raking up tons ( well , almost ) of Oak leaves out of my welding/grinding area... which does not have concrete where I need to weld...   Just be sure not to go under the minimum for protecting your eyes.... you may need to buy new on that item...otherwise you are doing great.Weldandpower Lincoln 225 AC,DC with Briggs 16hp gas engine.WW2 era Miller TIG.
Reply:Nice setup man. I should really get mine cleaned up and take some pics of it,
Reply:That concrete floor is 1/2 the battle  You have a good start. Just remember all of us with tons of stuff and work started where you are. Good luck with the new place. PS: You also have the right idea to buy everything for cash starting out. It will build.You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein
Reply:Thanks guys!As for a welding mask I got an Arcone Viper Industrial Extreme about a $400 helmet for $50 on Craigslist. Have a cheap old flip up as a backup I used to have a northern tool auto darkening as backup but my boss liked it so much he kept it when I got a new job.I know some items can be HOT on there and the Arcone sent up some red flags for me. But when I got there everything seemed legit. On Cape Cod its pretty easy to tell who the criminals are. The guy I got it from was an older gentleman who worked at a welding supply and this was the floor model for people to check out. I guess their policy wont let them sell it through the store so he put it on craigslist personally.
Reply:Looks good, keep an eye out for old filing cabinets for some cheap storage.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:That looks like a not-so-humble great workshop to me.Skeluhtor, you called your shop a half contractor's bay.I've never heard that term. I take it this is an industrial building subdivided for tenants?Fenced in, with some outside space too?Are your neighbors contractor-type businesses?Maybe you could buddy-up with some neighbors to get something going?If not, at least you can plug in to their power. That's a lot of questions, ain't it? Good Luck
Reply:Yeah its as you describe a steel building divided up. Its about 3 stories high in the middle and the half bays are half sized front to back. So my back wall is 3 stories. They have big overhead garages the doors must be atleast 20' openings. The land lord makes you sign an agreement that if you make any improvements to the unit they have to stay when you leave. So about half the bays have lofts built into them from previous tenants.There are other buisness's in the building thats how I got my bay. I worked for a metal sculpture artist doing producton pieces in the building. Theres another welder too who specializes on heavy mechinary, a mechanic, painters, carpet guy, and a couple i think people just store stuff. theres also a truck mechanic next to us.I would team up with them but I am the new "kid" and by "kid" I mean im only 27 so they are still trying to figure out if I actually know how to weld. I am also kind of big and some would say scary looking so nobody exactly came over with baked goods welcoming me. But I have since made friends with most of them.My power bill hasent been bad at all. The worst is the gas bill in the winter. I didnt have any buisness at all this winter and the landlord insisted I ran the heat so his pipes didnt freeze. So $180 a month for his peace of mind. I really need to talk to him about that this coming winter. I would be perfectly fine with no water at all. I am also certain the bays next to me turned their heat off and road my heat wave for free.
Reply:I didnt have any buisness at all this winter and the landlord insisted I ran the heat so his pipes didnt freeze.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallCan you drain all the water in your area if you splice in cutoff and drain valves?
Reply:OSHA SAFETY BLUE!  Your shop has the same paint scheme as the company that I work for does regarding work tables, surfaces, etc!  Hopefully your landlord covered some of the heat bill.Last edited by mb_welder; 06-06-2011 at 01:42 AM.