Please help me pick the right choice...

admin

Ok, So i am asking for help from you guys on what i should do... basicly if i am going way overboard on this.. I just recently departed from the military and decided i want to fiddle around with a few projects to go along with my joy for fast toys...I use to ride motorcycles for years and then when i got injured overseas i was forced to sell my bike because if i sit crotched over to long causing me to lift my head up to look to much my back swells all up and i can barely walk... but if im just siting on a seat normally im ok.. i was forced to sell my dirt bike, motorcycle, and atv after this accident.. so i wanna build an bike that i can use to get around and enjoy motorcycles again.. also i cant ride a normal bike to long for the same reason so i am going to build my own bicycle also.. friend of mine has one of those reverse trikes for him and his wife and i been riding with him from time to time in his wifes bike and the seating position is perfect for my conditions.. and we have gone as far as 75miles in one day biking... What i want to build myself.. instead of buying...want to build one cause friend said he payed $3,000 for each of his bikes...want to build one cause i test drove around a parking lot at a car/bike show here in florida and the company wanted $48,000 for the one i rode in.. they give you a pamplet that says starting at 35k... but that is like bare bones nothing but standard cheesy options and no reverse gear... which was nothing more than a starter engaging the chain to go in reverse... I have been wanting to learn TIG welding and will probably be taking a course here at the local community college but i do know how to weld MIG really well.. i welded up a lot of stuff with the welders on base before on all my cars i built over the years.. but i am interested in the art of TIG....I am not looking to spend a lot on the welder because as much as i weld.. i dont see it being used much after i finish the above projects...so dont want a 1k welder to collect dust.. i just want enough to learn to TIG and get the job done.... and weld up the odd job that pops up over time...Welder i am looking at is this one... http://www.harborfreight.com/tig-mma...out-98233.htmlI got an 30% off coupon from harbor freight in the mail and its good tell the end of September.. so that would put the welder around $280
Reply:I predict frustration and angst if you try to use that machine for that purpose. Trust me you want something better. If I was going Chinese I'd go better than HF's very basic model. Keep in mind that with a decent TIG welder you will have decent resale value if you want to get rid of it once you're done with your project...
Reply:I won't say It can't be done. I will say that Harbor Freight would be the last place I'd ever go to look for any welder, especially a competent TIG machine.If you are worried about the TIG sitting once your projects are finished...take the welding course twice and do the projects the second time around. Second time around would give you a chance to brush up a bit more on your technique and use their equipment. The school's equipment would have to be better than Harbor Freight toy. Another option would be to purchase a major brand TIG and sell it afterwards.Lincoln PrecisionTig 275Miller 251Miller DialArc 250Bridgeport millHossfeld bender & diesLogan shaperJet 14 X 40 latheSouth Bend 9" 'C'Hypertherm 900Ellis 3000 band saw21"Royersford ExcelsiorTwo shops, still too many tools.
Reply:storxPlease excuse post #4.I was experiencing, and working-out: a keyboard, mouse, window - cursor-delay - problem/issue, while live on the WW Forum:and it 'got posted'.Opus p.s.Unless dfgdfsg means something to you, I will notclaim credit.
Reply:FYI you will have well over $3000 into making your first bike if you need to still acquire tools and the skills to do what you want properly. Don't count on liking what you build at first engineering R&D can be time consuming and costly but rewarding if that is who you are.
Reply:Originally Posted by OPUS FERROstorxPlease excuse post #4.I was experiencing, and working-out: a keyboard, mouse, window - cursor-delay - problem/issue, while live on the WW Forum:and it 'got posted'.Opus p.s.Unless dfgdfsg means something to you, I will notclaim credit.
Reply:Look at the fine print on the HF coupon.  I'll bet it excludes welders."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:That is a DC only Tig machine. If you are going to have any aluminium on your project it will not be suitable. I'm sure if you are building a motorbike you will need that capability. I have a DC only Tig from Everlast that is 160 amp unit. I paid more for it than that HF unit. I also believe I got a much better  machine. But like I said, you will most likely want an AC/DC machine. Good Luck! Weld On!