the heavens opened up and the sun shone down, then THE WELDER

[sam salvati]

OK maybe a bit dramatic. Went over to visit with an old friend I have not seen in a couple years. He is a timberframer, a real pro, I brought him a little chisel I had made up over the summer. He was cleaning his shop out from a big project and I grabbed a broom and helped out. Rooting around under his bench and he asks If I could use a welder I said HECK yeah, well here you go he said I could use it til he needs it back if ever. It's an old Sears Craftsman 30-230amp stick welder, looks like it can go up to 1/2".

I am ecstatic.

I have waited for years to get a welder.

This means I can build alot of projects I never could since I did not have my own welder.

[J Wilson]

Good on you Sam. Karma, the good kind, can be wonderful. Keep us apprised of what you are doing with it (the welder). Have any pictures of the chisel?

Jeff

[sam salvati]

Oh i'll have some neat things coming soon once I get it all setup and get the accoutrements to use it, I have had projects filling sketchbooks for a long time of projects I would do if I could weld. There was a bad picture (no detail of it) in the fine woodworking article, but I don't have any sadly, I'll snap some next time I am there.

[steve m]

congrads Sam every blacksmith needs a welder. To many tools and things around the shop to make that need weldng. Why just today I welded up sum camper jacks for my neighbor. You will find that it is one of your most used tools.

[Ries]

Welders are like hammers- you cant stop at one.
I have too many- I just sold a Miller a lot like your new welder, as it hadnt gotten plugged in for years.
But I still have 2 Tig machines, 4 different wire feeders, a spot welder, and 2 that will do stick. (some overlap- I have several multipurpose machines)

[sam salvati]

Steve, agreed. I have always had something higher on the list to get then a welder, but always regretted not getting one. I hope it earns a good bit of dough too!

Ries, I can see the addiction potential hehe, i would love a MIG/Tig unit and hope to use this stick one to buy one.

[Randy]

Way to go, Sam! I've had a 230 Lincoln tombstone stick welder for over 30 years and I still use it more than the mig. The fan doesn't work any more and it still plugs away at it.

Looking forward to seeing your new projects!

[Iain Heyworth]

Sam....yes indeed

I've has a nice Miller 225 Mig machine for a WHILE, but lacked a co2 tank for it.
I KNOW what you mean about having those projects pile up for lack of a welder!
7018 and 7024 will likely become good friends of yours :-)

[Tom Allyn]

Congrats, Sam. I need a welder. Bad.

[JNewman]

I bought a new mig a couple of years ago and figured I would tailgate my old tombstone welder. I quickly learned not to. I needed to weld some stainless and bought a handful of rods for $30-$40 and did the job instead of having to buy a tank of different shielding gas and a very expensive spool of wire. I then had a small hardfacing job, same thing partial box of rods vs very expensive spool of wire.

You can weld some pretty heavy steel with that buzz box you just picked up. Much heavier than any mig that will cost you less than $1500 or so.

Stick can also be handy for reaching down inside pockets that you cannot reach with a mig gun.