welding accessories from Sears

[landtank]

From another thread I bought a Hobart 187. I've been on the fence for about 2 years and the work needed on the truck has got to a point where I need to develop this skill.

So I'm a complete newbie here and as of right now I only have the welder coming. Because I have 300.00 in Sears gift cards coming I need to get what accessories I need from them.

So I'd like some help on what Sears has to offer that I can buy.

Helmet, tank, cart, gloves whatever you guys think I need. If it comes to more than 300.00 that's fine if it means saving on shipping.

 

[brian]

make your own cart...you need to start those skillz somewhere.
get the bottle from your local weld supply house, i don't think sears even carries them.
sears might have hoods.
though i would use that $300 to get tools, power tools in specific.

 

[vtcruiser60]

Best money spent on a new welder is a self-dimming helmet. Let's you see what you are doing before you splat splat. Welding blind sucks.

I recommend renting a tank from a welding supply store. It is inexpensive and the tanks are always inspected when you swap them out.

x2 on making your own cart.

 

[Cuerno Largo]

Get a chop saw if you don't have one. X2 on auto dimming helmet. That should take care of your 300 bucks pretty well.

 

[landtank]

here's the thing guys, these gift cards are free. So right now I need whatever it takes to get safely welding with my new welder and it's coming from Sears.

They have a few helmets on their site and if I was going to buy one right now it would likely be the most expensive. This is why I posted here. I figured I could get more specific help as to which one to buy.

I'm sure chop saws are nice but I don't see how it will be much use to me with what I need to do initially to the truck.

If you guys would browse the Sears site and post a few links with recommendations I'd be grateful.

 

[Cuerno Largo]

I'm sure chop saws are nice but I don't see how it will be much use to me with what I need to do initially to the truck.

Just about anything I have fabbed up needed the metal to be cut cleanly first, especially if you are trying to fab a welding cart. There are numerous ways to cut metal, but I can't think of many that would be highly versatile for minimal investment. I guess you could use a hacksaw.

Anyway, some of these might come in handy
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00920711000P?vName=Tools&cName=Welding&sName=Welding+Tools

 

[brian]

There are numerous ways to cut metal, but I can't think of many that would be highly versatile for minimal investment. I guess you could use a hacksaw.

]

4 1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel, the most bang for the buck.

 

[Cuerno Largo]

4 1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel, the most bang for the buck.

Yeah, I thought of that after I typed, but any torque applied to it and you end up breaking cutting wheels. I guess I was recommending what I would buy if I had the money.

 

[fj80psi]

Rick, I would probably spend a little more on the helmet since you will likely have it for years. The Hobart Patriot #770449 has a lithium battery with solar assisted lens. I think it would be worth the extra $. I too have just learned to weld & think the Mechanics welding gloves on the Sears site would be nice. I am a beginner & struggle with my bulky gloves. I'm going to have to pick up a pair of those. If you don't want to spend that much on the helmet, just make sure you get one that auto dims. Have fun! -Andy

 

[brian]

Yeah, I thought of that after I typed, but any torque applied to it and you end up breaking cutting wheels.

no they won't. what they will do is make short work out of just about anything. ss eats them, but they zip righ through black like it was butter.

 

[landtank]

Rick, I would probably spend a little more on the helmet since you will likely have it for years. The Hobart Patriot #770449 has a lithium battery with solar assisted lens. I think it would be worth the extra $. I too have just learned to weld & think the Mechanics welding gloves on the Sears site would be nice. I am a beginner & struggle with my bulky gloves. I'm going to have to pick up a pair of those. If you don't want to spend that much on the helmet, just make sure you get one that auto dims. Have fun! -Andy

Thanks Andy, right now I'm not fabbing anything. I've got a few loose ends on the truck that need to be taken care of. No time to build a cart or whatever.

the basic list is this

repair exhaust (cut off Y pipe for turbo which didn't make it this year)
weld on Wideband bung
weld on caster plates
stop sliders from moving around (Slee suggest tack welding them to frame)
re-enforce front sway bar points on axle

maybe this winter I'll have some time to play. Then I'll look into cutting tools but for right now I just need the essentials to knock this list off.

Any recommendations on what wire to use?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I would spend the $300 on fitting clamps, several angle grinders and the like. It is really nice to have an angle grinder with a grinding wheel. another with a cut off wheel and another with a wire cup brush, and still another with a sanding disk. I have a Makita which is good, a Milwaukee which is great and 2 from HF that are crap but do the job. Those magnetic things that hold the steel square while you tack it up are nice too. They also make welding clamps that are like vise grips-I use these all the time and don't think I could weld without them. Get some large c-clamps if you don't already have them.

I would spend $250 of your own $$ on a nice auto dimming helmet. It really helps to be able to see what you are doing.

A bottle of C25 will be about $150.

Building your own cart is a great first project. Chicago made a nice one, you might want to copy his design.

Wire-I don't know how big a spool that welder will take. Assuming it takes a standard 11 pound spool, I am partial to the Radnor Wire from Airgas, and I've just made a few welds with Hobart 28 wire which seems good as well. If you'll be using gas, run the 0.030 solid wire. If no gas, then you have to run the 0.035 flux core.

Have fun and start saving for a plasma cutter because you'll want one immediately.


edit-reading your post above. You really can't just jump on the project list. There is a learning curve, which is why you build a cart as a first project. I spent a few days welding scrap before jumping into it full time. It really helps as you will see. You need to get the feel for the process before you weld anything important.

 

[brian]

So I'm a complete newbie here and as of right now I only have the welder coming.

No time to build a cart or whatever.




weld on caster plates

re-enforce front sway bar points on axle

maybe this winter I'll have some time to play. Then I'll look into cutting tools but for right now I just need the essentials to knock this list off.

Any recommendations on what wire to use?

before you go welding on the front axle, you are going to have to find some time learn how to weld, the front axle is not the place for it.

 

[landtank]

before you go welding on the front axle, you are going to have to find some time learn how to weld, the front axle is not the place for it.

Of course not, the truck won't even run until the Y pipe is re-installed.

 

[landtank]

edit-reading your post above. You really can't just jump on the project list. There is a learning curve, which is why you build a cart as a first project. I spent a few days welding scrap before jumping into it full time. It really helps as you will see. You need to get the feel for the process before you weld anything important.

Actually my brother has been welding for a while and will help get me started.

 

[landtank]

so from the recommendations here

this helmet would be the best choice.

is the wire they offer any good or should that be bought else where? I talked with MIL's boyfriend and he commented that in stick welding the brand of rods made a big difference.

 

[fj40charles]

I would spend the $300 on fitting clamps, several angle grinders and the like. It is really nice to have an angle grinder with a grinding wheel. another with a cut off wheel and another with a wire cup brush, and still another with a sanding disk. I have a Makita which is good, a Milwaukee which is great and 2 from HF that are crap but do the job. Those magnetic things that hold the steel square while you tack it up are nice too. They also make welding clamps that are like vise grips-I use these all the time and don't think I could weld without them. Get some large c-clamps if you don't already have them.

I would spend $250 of your own $$ on a nice auto dimming helmet. It really helps to be able to see what you are doing.

A bottle of C25 will be about $150.

Building your own cart is a great first project. Chicago made a nice one, you might want to copy his design.

Wire-I don't know how big a spool that welder will take. Assuming it takes a standard 11 pound spool, I am partial to the Radnor Wire from Airgas, and I've just made a few welds with Hobart 28 wire which seems good as well. If you'll be using gas, run the 0.030 solid wire. If no gas, then you have to run the 0.035 flux core.

Have fun and start saving for a plasma cutter because you'll want one immediately.


edit-reading your post above. You really can't just jump on the project list. There is a learning curve, which is why you build a cart as a first project. I spent a few days welding scrap before jumping into it full time. It really helps as you will see. You need to get the feel for the process before you weld anything important.

Pretty much sums it up.. Need to have several grinders so you don't waste time switching disks/flap wheels. Buy quality mig wire for your HH187.

I would buy the auto dimming helmet from anyone, but Sears. You can get yourself a nice Miller Elite helmet for around $229 or so on fleabay.

 

[fj40charles]

so from the recommendations here

this helmet would be the best choice.

is the wire they offer any good or should that be bought else where? I talked with MIL's boyfriend and he commented that in stick welding the brand of rods made a big difference.

I would spend the extra $5.00 and get the Miller Elite series helmet. $230.00 shipped from Indiana Oxygen. No tax or shipping charge like Sears.

Miller Elite helmets have 4 sensors and will work for tig welding too.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLER-ELITE-ST...ryZ92090QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[fj40charles]

before you go welding on the front axle, you are going to have to find some time learn how to weld, the front axle is not the place for it.

Go find/buy some scrap steel and practice. It is easy for beginners to produce a nice looking bead with no penetration (cold weld) when using a mig welder.