Questions and Advice to Novice

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Hello,My father-in-law passed away and left me with quite a bit of equipment including a Lincoln Arc Welder model AC-225-S, a Millermatic 200 and a Miller Spectrum 375 CutMate plasma cutter plus a bunch of accessories, a cutting torch and an assortment of helmets, gloves, goggles and whatnot.I've got a small farm and plenty of potential welding projects.  I've also got a fair amount of metal (much of it has a coating of rust, though) that I could practice on but I haven't done anything yet with the equipment.  I just moved his stuff out of his old garage to my place a week or so ago.I've got probably more questions than people probably have patience to answer, but one question I had was about a machine like the Millermatic 200.  It has a tank of Argon (I believe it is mixed with CO2, but I might be wrong on this) that is a rental.  I don't know if I'd do enough welding to warrant the rental of the tank and was considering whether I should sell that machine and get a smaller one that might use the flux core wire instead.  Again, I'm a pre-novice and mostly trying to assess what I have, whether I need it (or will need it) and if there is a better solution for a guy wanting to learn to weld and do some minor repairs around the farm.  I'm pretty cautious about things and know that I don't know enough about this stuff (yet) to even plug them in.  I'm hoping to get some time with someone local who welds, but it hasn't panned out yet.  Maybe in the spring.Any advice or suggestions about this equipment would be helpful and much appreciated.  I had hoped to learn a bunch from my late father-in-law but I guess it wasn't in the cards.  Anyhow, thanks for your time.Matt
Reply:Hello Matt, sorry to hear about your dad.  He did leave you with some good equipment.  If it were me, I would contact the LWS where the bottle was rented from & see what you need to do with it.  Continue the rental, return it & purchase a new filled bottle, lease a new one?  A lot would depend on that.You should be able to run Flux-Core with the MM 200, just don't turn on the gas & change the polarity of the wire.  You can get manuals & such from both the Miller & Lincoln websites that are specific to your machines.As far as learning what to do with them, look at the local extension office & see if they have any recommendations about welding.  If you happen to have a local community college, contact them about classes.Owning a farm - regardless of the size - you best be learning how to weld.  I wouldn't put it off until spring if given half a chance.  Once you learn how they plug in, grab some of that spare steel sitting around the place & have at it.  After you have read the manuals first.Also, look at all the threads here so you can learn to recognize cold welds, undercutting, too hot, too fast, too slow & try to absorb what these guys are saying.  You would be amazed at the wealth of knowledge available here.Good luck & we need pictures as you progress.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:I would hang on to all the equipment, for now at least. It is too easy to get rid of something and wish (unsuccessfully) that you still had it. Sounds as if you have the room, and do or can have the power to run it. If you someday decide you want to upgrade to something with more bells and whistles, you will know better what you have and what you want by them.Meanwhile, welcome to the Forum. BTW, you might find it helpful to add a little more information, such as where in the country/world you are, to section where you signed in.
Reply:Hello Matt. My prayers for your family. Your dad left you with a quite a welding shop! Keep the Mllermatic 200 and return the bottle if you must, but I would personally look into keeping or replacing it with a purchased tank. That will get you "mig" welding which is an old term that everybody still uses.  Originally Posted by itsmattHello,My father-in-law passed away and left me with quite a bit of equipment including a Lincoln Arc Welder model AC-225-S, a Millermatic 200 and a Miller Spectrum 375 CutMate plasma cutter plus a bunch of accessories, a cutting torch and an assortment of helmets, gloves, goggles and whatnot.I've got a small farm and plenty of potential welding projects.  I've also got a fair amount of metal (much of it has a coating of rust, though) that I could practice on but I haven't done anything yet with the equipment.  I just moved his stuff out of his old garage to my place a week or so ago.I've got probably more questions than people probably have patience to answer, but one question I had was about a machine like the Millermatic 200.  It has a tank of Argon (I believe it is mixed with CO2, but I might be wrong on this) that is a rental.  I don't know if I'd do enough welding to warrant the rental of the tank and was considering whether I should sell that machine and get a smaller one that might use the flux core wire instead.  Again, I'm a pre-novice and mostly trying to assess what I have, whether I need it (or will need it) and if there is a better solution for a guy wanting to learn to weld and do some minor repairs around the farm.  I'm pretty cautious about things and know that I don't know enough about this stuff (yet) to even plug them in.  I'm hoping to get some time with someone local who welds, but it hasn't panned out yet.  Maybe in the spring.Any advice or suggestions about this equipment would be helpful and much appreciated.  I had hoped to learn a bunch from my late father-in-law but I guess it wasn't in the cards.  Anyhow, thanks for your time.Matt