What's that $$$$ maker in your shop?

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As the title says, what welding machine in your shop makes you the most money or gets called on the most out of all your machines? Why? As far as that goes I don't guess it even has to be a welder, it could be a special skill you have or the tubing roller you just picked up.
Reply:After my brains and my hands, I would say that my grinder makes me the most money cuz it touches every single job and I don't know what I would do without it.  After that, maybe my Maxstar if you're looking at money made vs. money invested in the tool.My name's not Jim....
Reply:I would have to say my pro 300 because every job I do I wouldn't be able to do it with out that machine it is sorta the bread and butter of the operation.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:My Syncrowave 250makes the most for me, I love that unit.  2nd up would be my good ole' Milwaukee 4 1/2"grinder.Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:My geka hydrocrop HY50 50 ton ironworker.  Since it is the cadillac of ironworkers and pretty much can do all of the metal working I need at a xtremely fast rate of speed.  After that my XMT350MPA, since is the cadillac of multi processors welders and I used it both for stick and mig work.Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:Lincoln SA 200Welder....after that?How about the Lincoln +p rods....1981 Lincoln SA 200Miller Trailblazer 302gMiller 211 Mig Welder w/ AutosetI'm learning to stick metal together
Reply:I have a very lucrative contract editing WPS and PQR documents so I have to say it is my computer.  All day every day on the PC.  It searches 12 volumes of ASME at 900 pages each electronically by keyword!
Reply:its number 1 no me sig list  good o'l  Lincoln Idealarc 250 Tig ac/dcbeen running for 20yrs. down once with a timer board alum, SS and the now and them  now #2 machine is a BIG old duel arbor grinder-- 2x132 in. belt on one side other is the buffer padsit can eat some metalidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Originally Posted by prop-doctorits number 1 no me sig list  good o'l  Lincoln Idealarc 250 Tig ac/dcbeen running for 20yrs. down once with a timer board alum, SS and the now and them  now #2 machine is a BIG old duel arbor grinder-- 2x132 in. belt on one side other is the buffer padsit can eat some metal
Reply:That would be the 20X80 tool room lathe, all of the welders I own have can't make the money the lathe and CNC mill can. They hold thier own though.LarryMiller XMT 304 CC/CVSyncrowave 180 SDLincoln PowerMig 255XTTermalDynamics 52Lincoln 305GComlpete machine shop to back it up
Reply:my $300 SA 200.  keeps the bills paid and food on the table.
Reply:Makes the most money?  If you mean highest profit margin it would be the old atlas drill press with the big box of left hand bits and easy outs under it.  Most overall would be the Bridgeport then the lathes.
Reply:I would say two tools, my Synchrowave 200 TIG/stick welder, and my air die grinder with Roloc sanding disks on it.  That makes two votes for grinders, I just use a smaller grinder.Sculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:My little AC/DC 225/125 Buzzbox. Between that and a set of Forney torches, I've made over $40,000 over the years. Not bad for less than $700 paid in 1992 between the pair, and part time work.E-2C Hummer PilotLincoln IDEALARC 300/300 TIG Welder Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 BuzzboxLincoln Weld-Pak 155 MIGForney (Harris Style) TorchesoooooOoooooWhen in doubt.. ADD POWER!
Reply:My Sa-200 hands down. The 3 in one lathe mill drill comes close though..............................."Look Good Doing It"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:my lincoln squarewave has payd for itself dozens of times over....funny , but the ONE little $500 tool that has been apart of EVERY single job since 1992 and probly earning half a million $.......... a little "walcom 92 fx" spray gun.. it alone has done ALLL the final clearcoats on ALLL my jobs...while half a dozen other top brands and dozens of others did the kolors through tha years , wtf..is it all in our heads        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:My Power MIG 140 has been there and done that from large scale, on site fabrication to minor back yard repairs, its versatility has proven to be an invaluable asset to my operation.Trailblazer 301GDynasty 200DXSuitcase Xtreme 12VSHypertherm PMX45Powcon 300SMPower Mig 180Power Mig 140Millermatic 210
Reply:Hands down... no question at all  ===== CNC PLASMAPaid less than $20,000 for it (PlasmaCam), about 2 years ago and it has paid for itself 50 times over Best investment by far we have ever made at the shop... by far.Steve1946 Shorthood  -  1958 Blackface  -  1962 Redface  -  1967 Redface  -  1968 Redface -  1970 Blackface  -  2005 300D -  2008 Vantage 300  -and a ton of other welding stuff
Reply:telephone.without that all the equipment would be idle!G
Reply:OK it s WORD OF MOUTH one tells an other then an other, then  the snow ball word of mouth can make ya or break yaso do your best....  if not the public will knowidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:ok, would it be bad for me to say that my #1 money maker is a dude named juan miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:lol....... when he swims the river or goes under the fenceidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:My 2 hands and that big thing that sits on my shoulders and keeps my ears apart.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Hey guys,Well, since I do a lot of production runs, my Porter-Cable Dry cut saw & TD 52 plasma are the most productive/profitable because of the amount of material I can produce. Next would be the 4.5" grinders. Each welder is set up for a particular application & they are used evenly. I find that having equipment set up ready-to-go per job/material, saves much time & enhances profitability which is the bottom line. That's the equipment area. Those in the production arena will know these methods & utilize them so as to maintain a PROFIT. Word of mouth, quality of work, having mobility options, & all the cards I pass out to each customer has provided steady incoming.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:My 4x4 cnc plasma  (PlasmaCam, Powermax45). Very easy to bill $100 per hour with this machine. I have paid for the whole setup a few times over...with part time work.JimPortaband and an Esab Migmaster 251
Reply:No telling which welder has paid for itself more times over.  CNC plasma has been in the shop 10 months and paid for itself a couple times already.  50 year old, 60 ton press brake is still going strong, used every day.  Edwards iron worker has punched a million holes.  6' x 3/16" slip rolls have been in the shop approx. 12 years, used at least once a day...sometimes for days at a time.Tough question to answer.  But without quality help to run the machines it would all just be scrap iron.  Without my computer and AutoCAD I would doing all my layouts by hand
Reply:The Bobcat on my truck has made me the most money.Kevin- Springtown, TexasTruck:Chevy cab/ chassis 1 ton dually, big block and flatbedMiller BobcatVictor cutting rigTool boxes crammed full of stuffShop:Millermatic 250Lincoln 135Lincoln 225AC tombstone
Reply:No doubt my 4 1/2'' grinders. Cutting,grinding,wire brushing,cleaning. They have done lots for me.Ya gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:for welders my 40 year old Linde VI-400's and Miller CP-300's. are the workhorses of the shop.  and for equipment my biggest money maker is my biggest pain in the *** and thats the old marvel-8.   I really need a auto infeed saw so i don't have to pay someone to babysit it all day long.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.