The Home Machinist!

Johnny K, If you look at each of the site levels about an inch below is a cap screw, remove the screw and all the oil will drain out. I have a Jet 1240PY Belt drive that I bought used and that was how I drained the oil from the bearings, of course mine was thick, I had to fill it with oil, run for 1...

Papa is correct on high temperature joints, but also to get the best results you need to heat the base material to 500 degrees. When my father would weld up old blocks and heads for the off shore boat racing that used Merlin engines, he developed a chamber of fire bricks and a movable port on one si...

Reasonable source of motors I found is from HVAC contractors, I got 4 15 hp 3 phase motors from a contractor that was working on the mall. They operated the smoke exhaust fans and needed to be replaced. I only wanted 1 but I had to take all 4. A 50 hp seams extreme for a 60 amp unit. I use the 15 hp...

A good add for a stick welder is a 40 foot extension cord. I had an electrician make me one out of what I think is #02 4 wire. That way I can weld outside of my shop, like when I’m fabricating a bumper for my brothers truck that as 42” tire, on 12” suspension lift and 3” body lift. There was no way ...

If you are worried about price then look at buying used. Just make sure that you test drive the TIG welder with thin (12 ga.) and thick (1/4”). If you’re not experienced with TIG welding then take along someone with experience. You can pick up a used welder for half the price as a new one. Now if it...

I’ve done a lot of one-off welding in my day, mostly in my father’s shop and the rules were very simple: 1. All welds shrink when cooling creating tension, even in a jig. 2. Fully tack weld prior to fabrication. 3. If either metal is smaller than ¼” maximum weld bead should be ¾”. If both metals are...

Todd, I’ve setup and ran a miller 3 phase plasma for a number of years in my garage, until it was stolen, but that is another story. The reality I used a rotary phase converter with a 15 hp motor and then assmebled a separate connection for the phase converter because it also powered the mill. I can...

mine is 18 years old, fell of a trailer once (it was stopped) and then of the bed of a truck doing 70 down the freeway. still works (after I replace the broken knobs) I never unbolted it from the wood frame and that saved it when skidding down I-10. they are tough, enjoy.

Charles

Phil3, everyone has given good advice so I will add my 2 cents. 220 v min. you can get a used mig welder for the price of a new stick welder and you could get a used stick for around $50 to $100. get a book on basic welding and read then run beads and you will learn by adjusting the wire speed and t...

They are good machines as far as I’ve experienced. I got to use one last month, it welded nice but, the reality is I could buy the bigger and heavier Miller with a savings. Since the welder spends all its time in the cart rolling around the shop I could not see what really advantage of new technolog...

LL,

I will see my dad next week and let him know how you are doing. My family and I will keep you in our prairs.

Charles,

LL,

I hope you will be back soon, sorry for all that you have been through.

Charles,