New Toy!

Been wanting one for a long time... finally bought myself a welder. I had a few gift cards and some birthday cash to get rid of which is the only reason I took the plunge.

The one I got is a Hobart Auto Arc 130. Plugs into a regular 115 volt outlet. Comes with flux core wire, but it has a gas port and can be converted to use gas with some regulator or something. I dunno - but I think it's a good 'starter' welder. The reviews are all good on it.

Good job B, I'm jealous! I'd love to have one and take some welding classes at local Votech School. Very handy tool when working on projects.

:beer:

Sweet !!!

Good thing to have even if your not that good at it lol

I have a lincoln flux core welder that I've used a ton. Great for exhaust and small fab projects. I've used mine to make solid motor mounts that have been in my dad's 86 Mustang drag car for about 6 years now. Check out welding tips and tricks and chucke2009 on youtube for some great welding tips.
Just get you some metal and start playing around with it.
I'm hoping to get a everlast256 before too long, about $1800, ouch, but it does tig and stick welding up to about 250amps, and has a built in 60amp plasma cutter good for up to 1" thick steel cuts. My plan is making my own stainless steel headers and aluminum intakes.

I have the same one and love it. I use it for all types of projects and it has never let me down. The starter spool lasts a decent time, but just go buy a new roll so you don't run out in the middle of a project.

I bought an extra spool of wire with it, along with a chipping hammer and a tub of this crap that's supposed to keep the spatter from sticking to the nozzle. Also bought an auto-darkening welding helmet and gloves from Sears. So I think I'm all set for supplies. I'll just pick up a brush from Lowes or Tractor Supply.

Thanks for the info, Scott - I'll check out those videos while I'm waiting for everything to get here. After all the stuff arrives I'll switch to trial and error mode (my typical process).

I like that it's easy to add gas to this one because I'll eventually be working on body panels for the mustang and I've read that the flux-core stuff isn't good to use for that.

Well it arrived. Here it is in all its glory!
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I went to Tractor Supply today and got some steel and casters to build a rolling stand for it. When it arrived i immediately went around the garage looking for things to weld. My home made valve spring tool was my first victim!
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Could have been worse for a first try. I have to learn what settings are going to work for any given material. It has a guide under the cover which I'm using for baseline settings, but I quickly found out that, like any manufacturer recommended settings, they are close, but not perfect...

Hey that's not bad at all
When I was taking a welding class I seen some real ugly welds from other classmates lol

That's one thing I recommend if you go to a community college, take at least one welding class, it really teaches you how weld pretty good

Thanks - Obviously I have a lot of learnin' to do. I thought about taking some welding classes. I would like to at some point.

I stopped by Tractor Supply again and found a little buddy for Mr. Weldy. It's Mr. Blasty! :rockin:

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I'm about to rebuild the carb on the Mustang and wanted this so I don't have to put an ugly carb back on. I think it's actually large enough to fit a 2.3 head in there. I'm too lazy to take my other head off the shelf to check, but I'm 85% sure it'll fit. Anything bigger than that, I still have the portable blaster (to the right in the photo). Being able to keep the blasting media contained is soooo much more convenient, though!

New toys rock