Tools for school

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I start welding school July 6th and need to have my own equipment. I am not very familiar with which brands/features are more dependable than others so I would like some insight from people who use these every day. I would like to keep the total around or under $500 as I am 17 and paying for this all myself and don't have a ton of excess funds currently.I need the following:*Safety Glasses*Goggles, Acetylene Welding & Cutting, UVEX*Gloves, Welding (gamlet type) *Tape, Measuring, 12’, Metric & American **Pliers, Rib-Joint, 6 ½”, Utica 507-6 1/2C **Welding Hood with Shade 10 Lens, Sellstrom #293RS     **Welding Jacket **Chipping Hammer, Lenco #2434 **Wire Brush, Hand Type **Hammer, Ball-Peen, 16 oz. **Chisel, Cold (3/4”)       **Adjustable Wrench, 6”, Crescent     **Tool Box with Lock     **Combination Square     **Welding Cap (Skull)       **Soap Stone and Holder (round)some of these tools are common household items. more wanting input on the equipment specific to welding.
Reply:Welcome here. You should have no problem staying under budget I would not think unless you go crazy with your toolbox, hood, or sleeves. Personally I would not go with a auto dark hood. Maybe if would help you starting out, but some will blind you if you block the light receptors in front while welding. A good passive Fibre-metal hood should be $40-60. If you go with leather sleeves, they can get pricey....and too hot for most situations. I have a light pair from AirGas that hold up to everything including some gouging if you and not trying to catch on fire purposefully. I think they cost around $15. Good luck with your school.SA-250 TMDSquarewave 200Thunderbolt AC/DC1951 G.E. welder
Reply:One question I have. 6“ adjustable wrench, really? I don’t think a 6“ adjustable wrench will fit the nut on oxygen & acetylene gauges. I would buy a 12“ adjustable wrench my self.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Go to flea market and garage sales. I bought many tools for chep and good quality . Check craigs list too. What's your location ?
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOne question I have. 6“ adjustable wrench, really? I don’t think a 6“ adjustable wrench will fit the nut on oxygen & acetylene gauges. I would buy a 12“ adjustable wrench my self.
Reply:I prefer an adjustable shade hood.Otherwise I agree with most of what's above.Try and find it used, pawn shops and such.8" over 6" wrench.You're going to end up with the same stuff as the rest of your class, having used tools with character makes it easier to recognize yours.I say ENGRAVE  your initials on everything 3x each and make sure some of that is hidden.Plus I use a stupid colour like yellow or pink and give everything a splash of spray paint or paint marker.You will be surrounded with thieves and fools.  It's nice to prove "yes this is mine and it's not my fault you're too stupid to keep track of your stuff."The lists they put out and the reality of what the teacher recommends or prefers can be different.If you have any doubts, keep it ready to return.(The welding hood specifically, as I said, I prefer an adjustable shade variable, auto darken.No sense having a $600 hood, as someone will steal it on you.But I definitely like asjustable auto darken for learning.If you wear glasses get prescription safety glasses, extra safety's over real glasses sucks.Pliers Utica rib jointI'd use channel lock, available at Home Depot  and to me it's the "original" of that type.For combination squares, get one of those extra wide ones.https://lasquare.us/I'd throw in a scribe, a white or yellow paint marker and an industrial sharpie marker-silver ink http://www.markal.com/liquid-paint-markers/Toolbox, how big ? I'd wait and see what they tell you . But I'd paint that toohttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-Welding-ToolsLast edited by 12345678910; 06-02-2015 at 10:48 AM.
Reply:If you want a good quality square, Harry Epstein has PEC squares that are cosmetic blems at a good price.  http://store.harryepstein.com/c/Prod...gineering.htmlAnd a made-in-USA brush for $2.25  http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/WireBrushes/1-S.htmlIf you can't find a used hammer and want US made:  http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/Hammers/16BP.html"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:Just watch out for cheap AD hoods. I see a lot of guys who rush out and buy cheap HF hoods and later regret it. Optic quality sucks and you can't use them with HF tig. If you go with an AD hood, plan to spend for something in the middle range, say $125 or more. With these you really do get what you pay for, and it's all about the optics.Having said that, my fixed shade Jackson has optics as good if not better than my $300 Miller AD hood. With tacking it can be a pain, but if I'm doing full welds, it's every bit as good as my Miller is at a fraction of the price. My 1st instructor wouldn't allow any student to use an AD hood. He wanted to make sure everyone could use a manual hood because at some point if you do this as a living, you'll break your hood or have the batteries die and you'll be stuck with a manual hood most likely.One other thing on hoods and PPE. Fit and comfort is as important as safety quality is. You won't wear it if you are not comfortable in it. I tried on a very nice Speedglas hood, but the head gear wasn't comfortable. No way I was going to wear it for hours on end when I didn't like it in just a few minutes. Same goes with safety glasses leathers, gloves hearing protection etc.  I don't remember seeing hearing protection on your list, but I'd strongly suggest it. I have partial hearing loss from not using it way back when and regret it today..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:And a respirator, ask them what they recommend
Reply:IMO vice gripes would work much better then regular pliers especially when it comes to moving relatively large pieces of metal aroundGot A Few Welders....
Reply:Yes a respirator  should be on that list depot usually has a half mask with pink pancake filters that vents down p100 for filters 3m is the brand your lungs will thank uMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:Jonathan, I'm new to the forum and I don't use the stuff all day every day. But I did take a few quarters of welding night classes about 10 yrs ago. Wherever you decide to buy whatever, be sure to let them know you're a student. We have lots of local welding supply houses and ALL of them cut great prices for students. They have a vested interest in you as a new welder and a bright shop will treat you right to try and gain your loyalty. You're going to need more things as you progress. Good luck.Brian
Reply:Welcome to the forum, I hope you stick around. (sic),.   You might be a little lite on your PPE. (personal protection equipment).   You should invest in a pair of leather work boots; nothing like having slag or molten metal drip onto your foot.   Good pair of jeans without holes and a welding shirt.  (greens).  Don't get into the habit of buying tools from Harbor-Freight, there stuff mostly junk with few exceptions.  (Hammers might be one of them).     Again Welcome...
Reply:hey guys thanks for all the input. bit of a late reply but I have been incredibly busy lately. I have been able to find everything I needed on my list and stay well below budget. Just one last quick question. It seems most of you have relayed that I may want to look into more PPE. I will definitely have a good pair of boots on and if respirators are not provided I'll pick one up. Aside from those is there anything else I should pick up that wasn't included on the list?
Reply:I agree a pair of vice grips would be good as well as some side cutters and/or MIG pliers. A heat shield for the back of your glove if you're going to be doing any cutting with a torch. You should be quite a bit under $500.
Reply:I've gotten into the habit of actually buying certain things at princess auto(our hf) anything that grows legs or if it isn't a critical measuring tool. I've had hammers chisels all kinds of stuff for years and it lasts.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalkif you can step across it I can weld it.
Reply:Ear plugs. Not just for the noise but to keep hot stuff from your soft inner ear tissue which will permanently damage your hearing. Make sure your boots are the tall version not a 1/2 boot, and that your pants fully cover the top at all times. Good luck with your education and keep us posted.
Reply:Ear plugs as said above. Also regular leather gloves besides your welding gloves for general use like grinding cutting etc. 10" vise grips is another nice tool to haveMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by jonathan.genovaI start welding school July 6th and need to have my own equipment.
Reply:I'd try a Craigslist package deal first, you might get a box of hammers and pliers for less than a new box alone. +1 on a respirator, 3M light blue one with the downward facing exhaust, with 2297 pancakes, they'll remove the dust and also most smells (burning grease, cigarette smoke and farts!)SqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A