[BlackTalon]

I bought an air compressor tonight. My cars can run, but they cannot hide!

I went with a Sears Craftsman, 30 gallon, 6+ cfm at 90 psi. On sale for $279 from $329, plus there is a $20 rebate. And the local store did not have the impact wrench I ordered online, so they allowed me to take an Ingersoll Rand that cost $60 more, at no additional charge! I felt bad for them, so I bought more stuff, including a socket set, some extensions and adapters, an accessories kit and an air hose. Now I only need about 100 more pieces to have a decent setup

[Trak Ratt]

Congrats. Looks like we need to make a HF run. I need a drier and some other peaces.

Azn Drgn came by two weeks ago and “rewired” my free Colman compressor so now I want to hock them up together. That would give 275 psi (150psi Craftsman plus 125 psi Colman) of available air. Plenty to run my grinder non stop

[Vicegrip]

Porkchop. Welcome the the bottomle$$ pit of tool$. In the long run they always pay off one way or the other. Saving $, time and warming the soul from a job done well. and if none of the above, the bigger ones can be used to beat the cr@p out of something.

Dave R, there is a way to make an reduced dew point, in line air drier from a cheapo cube fridge and an auto tank purge unit.

Speaking of HF. I am going to break my cardnal rule and purchase something electrial from HF. They have a bottom of the line TiG unit for $200. I bet that in the long run it will be $200 wasted but as the shop is now fully unfunded from wage $ that is about what the budget is good for. $200 is a drop in the bucket on the real unit I want. Got some Aluminiouminounimmoum projects planned...

[BlackTalon]

Kurt:

If you are ready to turn pro, I know two people who are looking to have cro-moly (sp?) roll cages welded up. They have been searching for two weeks, and have not been able to find anyone who can fit them in before racing season.

[Chopper Dropper]

Kurt, thank God you can finally pronounce AluminIUM, not too sure about your spelling though.
Dirk

[jpnovak]

Kurt, I have been looking at the same Tig unit for steel sheetmetal. I think you may have a hard time welding Al cleanly with that unit. Its DC only and does not have a foot pedal or thumb slide for current control. I would think it would be hard to regulate the amount of heat. Of course, I think you can take it back if it doesn't work.

Now if you take off the front panel and direct wire a variac instead of that knob you are in business... Add a signal processer and get a square-wave signal and you are really set.

[Vicegrip]

I was going to see if I could rig a foot pedal and cable setup to the knob if single settings were a problem. I doubt it will work if it is a detent and move only unloaded setup. I know it is a POS but I don't have CFO aproval for $5K for the welding center I want.

I will be making cages in the future but for now the house and pending kid is taking up my "free" time.

[KeithLambert7]

Kurt,

How's that plasma holding up to abuse? They seem to all be in the $1,000. and over category. Happy with it still?

PS: Got my Shure Benches installed over the weekend in their new home. Built them 'in' on 2x12 platforms. Looks pretty cool.

Keith

[cmartin]

On a welding/plasma note, check out these guys http://www.usaweld.com/

I found there ad in GRM and ended up buying my plasma cutter from them. My buddy picked up a bending MIG gun from them, very trick. I talked to the owner via phone and email at length and he was very helpful, not to mention very fair with pricing.

[jpnovak]

Those look nice Chris. They have some good products. Too bad they don't show MSRP on the site. I guess its time to pick up the phone.

Kurt, I was thinking about doing the same thing. I just have not had the time to go to HF and check out that unit to see if its a variable current setup or just a multi-click. It may not be too hard to wire in a foot pedal.

btw, You should be able to pick up an AC compatible stick welder and add a $40 tig torch for Al. I have been wanting to experiment but don't have the time. Of course, my inherited TIG setup is still sitting in FL.