Owning my own welder

admin

Ok so here it is. I usually single hand but the wife wanted me home for a bit and uncle sam had a year tour for me so I took it. So here I am with a nasty itch to weld but I have no welder at the house. I never touch aluminum so I'm not looking at ac machine but I'm open to anything that welds good and is portable some of my buddies are out on farms and no electricity when they need things fixed. I really just looking to stay in practice and fix what my buddies bring me. Now I know it's overkill but there is an sa 250 and an sae 300 for sale near me for very reasonable price I beleve ( 2k for the 250 and 1600 for 300).  Went and welded on the 250 yesterday and it stacks metal like it should but it had a few things that worry me. It has the perkins 152 diesel with 800 ish hours is what he is saying hour meter is broken showing 752. It started very easy welded and ran my grinder easy. The auto idle doesn't work but I can live with out that it will go up and down on the switch. The temp gage wasn't working and when I looked at the coolant it looked like coffee with cream it but the oil was clean so I'm hoping rust will have to check if it bubbles later got dark on me. Oli pressure held at about 60 the whole time. The tank had some good rust in it but was solid.  Some seeping at the lift pump but figure it just needs a new gasket. The sheet metal was swiss cheese with rust frame was solid and mounted to a trailer.  The doors are no on it and I don't know if theses machines need them. It also had a hard time getting into high gear looked like the insulator was bent a bit making it hard for the leg to slip in. I would prefer a diesel engine as I'd only have to have one fuel around but I don't know if it's worth getting into. The sae 300 has an f227 going to look at it hopefully this weekend the guy has no idea what the hours are on it. It's on a trailer with leads and some boxes. Looks to be I good shape from the photos. I'll know more once I get a good look at it. I know that it is thirsty motor but haven't found anyone saying they have huge issues with one. Only thing I'm worried about is not using it all the time a the poor gas we get these days. Just looking for opinions and information.  Also should I just find a newer inverter style?
Reply:Well u said u singlehand, so i guess that means ur a pipe welder of some sort. Id buy a nice machine that will enable u to rig up and subcontract with ur skills. Any welder will do for farm stuff but me personally. Id get a brand new pipe pro, or a trailblazer 325 if ur cool running gas.  Sounds like that machine ur talking about would be a headach
Reply:If you are interested in a non-engine welder, I have a Maxstar 200 STH I'm looking to sell, probably for around $1200. It's got the 110V plug, but with an adapter it'll go all the way up to 480 3 phase if you want. I live in Denver but currently working in GA, and about to drive down to FL this weekend and back up to Denver in two weeks, so if you were interested at all and somewhere along my route, I could let you check it out.
Reply:Pipe welder of sorts is close enough never rigged before. I'm use to using whatever they hand me usually a vantage or what ever they have in the 6-8 pack. I was thinking that was a headache but figured I'd ask
Reply:Originally Posted by SakemageThe temp gage wasn't working and when I looked at the coolant it looked like coffee with cream...
Reply:ThebfaYou coming through Arkansas on your way back? If so or close by I'd take a look. The coolant killed it for me as much as I love the way the machine works I'm not taking on that headacheLast edited by Sakemage; 04-29-2016 at 11:12 AM.Reason: Cause I can
Reply:My usual route takes me up through St. Louis but cutting through Arkansas wouldn't be too much out of the way. I made up a stinger with a tweco connector (doesn't fit the machine terminal) but bought an extra connector for the machine and will make an adapter with that with a female tweco connector. I need to check out the machine this weekend though just for a heads up. I got it off one of my pipefitters that needed money to buy a car, and have been working 7/12s for weeks and haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'll make sure everything is good to go before letting it go. I'll include an argon hose with a small lead, and a flow meter. He gave me a tig torch with it, but it's missing the handle and no power line for it, but I might be able to "aquire" one from this jobsite. All we have are number 9 torches here though (which I normally prefer anyway). I'll check it all out this weekend and get everything together and get you some pics and possibly some video of it welding. Then if you seriously consider it, I'll plan on coming through that way to let you check it out. I will most likely be leaving Jacksonville on the 16th or 17th of May.
Reply:Oh and I'll have a power block for the TIG rig with it.
Reply:Sounds good if and when you get it set up send some photos to [email protected].
Reply:Got a TIG rig for it. That's what happens when another contractor on the jobsite leaves their mess for us to clean up in the boiler and leaves a rig behind haha.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mr. SmithNot a good sign. That's the big red NO-GO for me.