Ultimate Welding Mancave?

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My better half has suddenly decided that she wants to learn some welding skills etc so as she can "make some art stuff with metal and glass".  I was a bit stunned as she has shown no interest previously in what I do in the shed.  I was even more stunned when she told me that seeing as it is now going to be "our hobby space" she wants me to equip it really well so as we can do things properly.  Hmm!I've never had a properly equipped workshop before, so I'm going to need some guidance here!  If you was going to go all out to equip a workshop for hobby metal furniture making and art work what would you want as far as an equipment list goes?Obviously there is the basics like mig welder, plasma cutter, grinders, but what else?Go for it - and go nuts! It's not often that a lady would give a guy license to do this so I intend to make the most of it!
Reply:Can't help myself here RSD, but it sounds as if you will first need to build a bigger "shed" and possibly come across an additional "sugar mama" to fund this new-found endeavor. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:First, make sure it's not some cruel joke or trick.With two people working in a shop you should get a welding screen, it'll help keep things happy.  Flash burns, grinding sparks, etc. Can ruin ones day and possibly land you on the couch for attempting to set her on fire.  I would say safety should be first thing, there are alot of welding gear made for women now so get her, her own set.Also think about having multiple work/welding tables so you can both work on projects simultaneously.  As far as tools that depends alot on what kind of projects you'll be working on. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Reply:Personal safety equipment. Fire abatement/control. Shear, break, chop saw, clamps, forge, account net 30 at the lws, air filtration system, mag drill, 50 ton press, benders, cold cut saw, drill press, table saw. my 2 centsRegards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Whatever you do, make sure to buy all of the equipment BEFORE she realizes that metal work is dirty, stinky, loud, and dangerous. That way at least you got your new toys. Seriously, you definitely want separate work areas with a welding curtain or screen between them. A few different bending devices (compact metal bender, tubing bender, tubing roller, sheet metal break, hydraulic press with bender, etc).So many other things I can't think of right now.Looks like Robert thought of more... saws.  Gotta have lots of ways to cut as well as grind.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Originally Posted by GravelWhatever you do, make sure to buy all of the equipment BEFORE she realizes that metal work is dirty, stinky, loud, and dangerous. That way at least you got your new toys. Seriously, you definitely want separate work areas with a welding curtain or screen between them. A few different bending devices (compact metal bender, tubing bender, tubing roller, sheet metal break, hydraulic press with bender, etc).So many other things I can't think of right now.Looks like Robert thought of more... saws.  Gotta have lots of ways to cut as well as grind.
Reply:I would so order a Dynasty 280DX if I were you, LOL.  Or at least a 200DX. Water cooled  1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Metal Bandsaw, Cold Cutting Saw, Metal Lathe, Shear, Brake, Drill Press, wire it up for 3-phase, Spot welder, Tube bender, Tube Notcher, Slip roller, Shop press, Planishing Hammer, and the list can go on and on and on...
Reply:Build a place that you like being in. I think this is especially important when doing art work. Do not start using your shop until it is complete. I find a lot of guys build the shop that they have always wanted only to start working in it before they have completed it. In the end they never finish and always regret it. I like lots of natural light so I put in several skylights in my shop. Invest in dust collection, fume extraction, don't skimp on power, wire for both single and three phase and invest in the largest rotary phase converter you can; if you can not power it you can not use it. Think of how you would expand if you could and build with expansion in mind this will afford you a greater number of tooling options. Another thing I would suggest is embed devices in the floor which you can pull on they are great for moving equipment and for bending larger objects.brad
Reply:To answer some of the points so far -If we plan it properly then I think we have enough room for this, and the funding situation is OK.Agree that safety will be the first thing (we both work in the oil & gas industry so safety is pretty much second nature for us).  The welding screen is a good idea - hadn't thought of that, and I will certainly be getting her a proper set of personal equipment.  I'm not going to take any chances with fumes with her - there will be a fume extraction system, but she will also be using a supplied air helmet.The multiple work tables will be happening anyway, I've decided that instead of one 8' x 4' table, I'm going to have two tables each 4' x 4' that can be butted together - or spread apart slightly to allow a welding screen to be inserted between them.  Instead of having castors on the tables though, I've decided to get a high lift pallet jack that can be placed under each table to move it around, and the pallet jack can also be used to move things like heavy pieces of plate around, and it can also lift things nearly three feet off the ground which will make life easier when transferring things on or off a bench etc.One thing I will definitely be getting is a blasting cabinet as that can be used to clean metal and also for glass etching..  The saw is already decided on - a Rage3DB.  I'm going to keep to smaller-sized angle grinders so as she isn't tempted to pick up a 9" one and try to hang on to it!  A tube bender is certainly on the list as that will be a big help to me making furniture.I want to keep the benches as free as possible, so a mag drill will be the go, and I'm going to look at using hitches for things like bench grinders etcKeep the ideas coming - I want as big an equipment list as possible!Last edited by RSD; 06-05-2014 at 10:20 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by GravelWhatever you do, make sure to buy all of the equipment BEFORE she realizes that metal work is dirty, stinky, loud, and dangerous.
Reply:Originally Posted by RSDOh she realises that - I think that this is part of the attraction for her (this is a lady that used to be an underground miner, and has also done things like operate vacuum trucks sucking up toxic waste).
Reply:Engine hoist is handy but a rolling gantry with a electric chain fall may work well too. Maybe get a load of iron too ! Build a rack for storage . Do you have oxy act torch set ?  Handy for artwork. Do you have ample power and possible extension cords ?
Reply:Now about the glass portion of your show..?You need much stuff for that if she wants to do anything with glass properly...I do stained glass occasionally and have a full blown glass room in my house..Grinders...Cutters...Glass cutting band saw....Solder..Soldering Irons...NICE FLAT WOOD table for assy..Copper foil...MUCH PATIENCE...I have none.Bandages..Tweezers..SAFETY GLASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !So..What about the glass portion?...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterMUCH PATIENCE...I have none....zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by RSDMy better half has suddenly decided that she wants to learn some welding skills etc so as she can "make some art stuff with metal and glass".  I was a bit stunned as she has shown no interest previously in what I do in the shed.  I was even more stunned when she told me that seeing as it is now going to be "our hobby space" she wants me to equip it really well so as we can do things properly.  Hmm!I've never had a properly equipped workshop before, so I'm going to need some guidance here!  If you was going to go all out to equip a workshop for hobby metal furniture making and art work what would you want as far as an equipment list goes?Obviously there is the basics like mig welder, plasma cutter, grinders, but what else?Go for it - and go nuts! It's not often that a lady would give a guy license to do this so I intend to make the most of it!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterNow about the glass portion of your show..?You need much stuff for that if she wants to do anything with glass properly...I do stained glass occasionally and have a full blown glass room in my house..Grinders...Cutters...Glass cutting band saw....Solder..Soldering Irons...NICE FLAT WOOD table for assy..Copper foil...MUCH PATIENCE...I have none.Bandages..Tweezers..SAFETY GLASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !So..What about the glass portion?...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by Willie BAre you sure you were awake? Might you have been dreaming? Last night Kate Upton threw herself at me. The memory is pleasant, but I know it wasn't real.
Reply:Originally Posted by manningHA! You don't do the weld prep like you do without loads of patience. You may have a little.
Reply:Originally Posted by RSDI want to keep the benches as free as possible, so a mag drill will be the go, and I'm going to look at using hitches for things like bench grinders etc
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerweldI presume you are referring to receiver style hitches.  If you do go this route, make sure you equip each receiver with a couple of "pusher bolts" on one side of the receiver tube so you can run the bolts in and remove all the slack between the receiver tube and the insertion bar of the plate you have whatever appliance mounted to. Pusher bolts will be essential to keep motorized devices stable for accurate operation.  The pusher bolts need to be pretty big so they will be durable enough to withstand thousands of use cycles.
Reply:Since your budget is infinity you might want to consider a Radius Master belt grinder - videos make me drool.
Reply:Made in Australia, sold in the US by Trick Tools.  They also have other nice stuff.
Reply:Just get an Ironworker and be done with it!!Hobart 125 EZHobart Handler 140Everlast STH 160Generic 210 Amp Welder/GeneratorHobart Air Force 500i plasma cutterChinese 50 amp plasma cutter! Youtube Channel : Henrymac100
Reply:Those Radius Master grinders look interesting - I'm going to be doing a fair bit of tube notching so that may be the best option - cheers for the suggestion.Originally Posted by RSDI can get ones that are normally used on vehicles pretty cheap, and they come with big pins which should do the job.  I'm also going to try using a thin layer of material like billiard table felt between the female and male pieces to dampen vibration and reduce noise.
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerweldI'm not sure if you understand my suggestion as "how" to use "pusher bolts" on your receiver tubes.  I was not suggesting you use the bolts INSTEAD of pins, I was suggesting you use the pusher bolts, or jam bolts. IN ADDITION TO the OEM style indexing pins.  Having said all that, using the OEM pins for securing a tool mounting bar would be oh so quick, but a pin going through the tool bar is not really needed, cause there is not really going to be any "draw bar loading" as is the case in towing a vehicle. The main thing of using the receiver hitch as a quick change tool system is to have a way of eliminating the looseness between the 2 pieces.You COULD use the OEM pin holes for the welded nuts location instead of drilling new holes, if you wanted to use the pusher bolts instead of the pins, but if you do that, the pusher bolts must press against a portion of the bar where there are no pin holes in it.  And, since you will likely be using some plain box tubing to fabricate some of your tool mounting bars, if you use the pusher bolts INSTEAD OF pins, you don't need to drill indexed holes in your bar tube. But the point is that there will be some looseness in how the tool mount bar (part that slides into receiver) fits the inside of the receiver tube.  The pusher bolts will positively remove all that slop and whatever tool you have engaged at the time will be as steady as your table is.It will also reduce noise and vibration and the inevitable "dancing" if the grinder is a bit unbalanced.I doubt you would have any success trying to "line" the tube or bar with felt to dampen noise and vibration.  By the time you had a tight enough fit to address any looseness or dampen vibration/wobble............it would be too tight a fit to even mate the two together.
Reply:Wampus nuts....   I'll have to remeber that.  That is a great idea to stabilize the tubing.  Rsd, also make sure you have good lighting.   Just curious as to how big is your current shop? Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Reply:I just shove mine in the hole.Somehow........that don't sound right......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterI just shove mine in the hole.Somehow........that don't sound right......zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterI just shove mine in the hole.Somehow........that don't sound right......zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by GravelI put one on the side and one on the bottom. That way it is not only fixed but also level.
Reply:+1 to the other stuff listed.Don't forget to get a craigslist tombstone, and powder coat it in her favorite color.I'll keep her from &@$-ing up settings on the Dynasty 280, and when the bills come that it was *all for her*!
Reply:Gravel & MinnesotaDave> "Whatever you do, make sure to buy all of the equipment BEFORE she realizes that metal work is dirty, stinky, loud, and dangerous. That way at least you got your new toys." AND "Spend fast happily" TOO TOO funny!!!--RSD> These are two tools on my lust list she might find useful---TurboTorch Extreme X-3B Torch Kit and a B tank, http://store.cyberweld.com/tukitexx.htmlBosch JS470E, http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-JS470E-1.../dp/B004323NPK or  Bosch JS572EL, http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-JS572EL-.../dp/B008ELM9GK --I'm sure there's no one in a better position than you to select what's needed to protect her respiratory tract but.... were you able to pick up those medium weight Miller women's MIG gloves in the size she wanted/needed on your side of the pond?MM 211Smith Tru Lite O/A set, Thanks Bob!Lincoln AC-225--But you must not change one thing, one pebble, one grain of sand, until you know what good and evil will follow on that act. The world is in balance, in Equilibrium- Ursula K. Le Guin
Reply:Need a 60x200 backyard shop 2-75 ton cranes but just looking at a 205 ton piece for the new Wittpenn bridge in NJ ? ? Might need bigger .Ocean Avenger beamline, 800 Praxair drill/plazma/ ox fuel torch 16x100table Dozen lincoln welders. Just for play in the back yard ,could build any bridge. Also need a 300 ton Lima 7700 yard crane.
Reply:"his" and "her's" Geka Don't forget a giant compressor with a dynafile, panel saw, and a few right angle die grindersSqWave 200Millermatic 190Airco 200 ACHypertherm PM45Boice-Crane Band SawVictor O/A
Reply:That radius master grinder is sick!!!
Reply:can't run a metal shop without a good compressor !Miller 211Miller T-bolt ac/dcVictor o/aMilwaukee ChopsawDewalt, Milwaukee minigrinderDelta drill pressDelta bench grinderair grinder, die grinderHF pipe benderHF horizontal bandsaw
Reply:Just catching up on forum reading after a few busy days - compressor is on order, and I will research the other things suggested tomorrow.
Reply:You need to tell us how large the space is first.Do you have the skill to teach her? Just asking.BTW you cannot have two people welding at the same steel table.It can get a person killed that is why it is against the law. I just want to get that out of the way.For a small garage space you will need to sheet rock the inside of the garage to prevent fire.Insulation too for warmth in the winter.Make sure you have ventilation in the winter and a exhaust van for fumes and smoke in the winter.Fire extinguisher.You want good lighting to see what you are doing.Think about your neighbors and welding light flash.Black flame proof curtains  if you have windows.Also have electrical outlets for 110 and 220 for a welder if you have one that requires it.If your wife wants to weld she should take one beginning welding class at a local college OR teach her the basic safety things right off. Like How to turn regulators on and off safely.Grinder safety. Etc.,.Just as the things come up in her projects.Take things out of the garage or workshop that can catch fire.Cardboard boxes etc.,. Build a work table for each person if possible.Each person should have a tool box if possible.A phone in the workshop for safety reasons.If the house is not near to the house.Buy the tools as you need them for the projects. You cannot just buy everything.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:I think we should be OK on the safety and fire front as I hold a management position in safety and emergency response with a major player in the oil and gas industry.
Reply:Originally Posted by RSDI think we should be OK on the safety and fire front as I hold a management position in safety and emergency response with a major player in the oil and gas industry.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomYou need to tell us how large the space is first.Do you have the skill to teach her? Just asking.BTW you cannot have two people welding at the same steel table.It can get a person killed that is why it is against the law. I just want to get that out of the way.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomBTW you cannot have two people welding at the same steel table.It can get a person killed that is why it is against the law. I just want to get that out of the way.