Large Scale Central

MIG Welders

Tools and Tips
#1

OK, anyone have any inputs as to a MIG welder model, manufacturor, that would be good to use for building bridges, and other misc welding jobs for the model railroad…

I think I just found some bridge material this weekend…

Perferrably, a MIG welder that I can get, no taxes, no freight charges, and at a good discount… :slight_smile: <just kidding, well, not really>

I’d like one that can use different size diameter welding rolls, that i can use both for some medium size jobs and some lighter sized jobs…

Would appreciate any inputs, thank you in advance… :slight_smile:

#2

Hmmm… Don’t I remember a certain gentleman trying to sell you one a few weeks ago ? If I recall it was Free Delivery, Tax Free and included a roll of wire :smiley: Thought I remember you saying you didn’t need one. Tryin’ to stir the pot ???

#3

That was in the past. Now is the present. :wink:

#4

How time marches on, quite incredible! :lol:

#5

Actually it was only a week ago…:wink:

But I don’t think Ric had room …it was either Andy or the MIG welder, but not both…

#6

Jon,

At the time, one was offered, I had neither, the money, nor the need for one, However…

Yesterday, our railroad club had a meeting at a winery, that was set-up by one of our club members, as he works there… This included a wagon ride tour of the facility… I sat in the end of the wagon on the second tour, and as we passed a large storage shed, I looked at the side, and ““Voila””… Stacked along side on this building were 12 foot long, 23 inch wide, and 20 inch tall ““railroad bridges””… I took one look at them and all I saw was ““Warren Truss Bridges””

Actually, they are some kinda of carrying case for pipes of some sort… However, the looked great as Railroad Bridges… The club member who works there, is checking to see if they might sell a few, and what the cost would be…

Now, I don’t need them for my long bridge, but, I have 4 other places, where I could use them as the basis of a bridge… Cut a piece from the width, and shorten the width to one track, add a few more supports for visual effect and they would be great bridges…

This could all be done in the yard, with a chop saw, and a MIG welder…

There’s no way, I would try and make a new bridge using this method… Making a new bridge, would require a shed to work in and a table of sufficient height to work on…

Everything has requirements and limitations… When the mig welder was offered earlier, I had no requirement for it, nor funds…

#7

:slight_smile: ken, was that, too…

#8

You mean you just can’t buy a tool because it’s “neat”? :wink:

I do know that van was packed to the top…I’m not sure how you got your stuff out to stay at a motel on the way back.

I do understand the requirements thing. I keep looking at a CNC mill, but I really don’t have the requirement.

I did have room for a welder, but no requirement. Or funds. :frowning:

#9
Bruce Chandler said:
You mean you just can't buy a tool because it's "neat"? ;)

I do know that van was packed to the top…I’m not sure how you got your stuff out to stay at a motel on the way back.

I do understand the requirements thing. I keep looking at a CNC mill, but I really don’t have the requirement.

I did have room for a welder, but no requirement. Or funds. :frowning:


Bruce, you showed me a few neat tool, that I have needed… I’m still trying to see where I can work in the money to that…

#10

Andy - I was just pullin’ your leg, fully expecting David to jump right on this :smiley: Too bad you didn’t know of the need, your credit was probably good.

#11

:slight_smile: Jon, I was waiting on that, too… Yeah, hindsight is a wonderful thing, huh…

#12

Sorry for the late post as I missed this one!
First of all Andy …your credit would have surly been good enough for me on a simple handshake sir! I just wanted to unload the thing and yes I did bring it for Brian D as he stated it would be nice to have one(business write off for him?) but then after chattin’ with you and Brian having no interest at the time I knew you would eventually need it. However it is probably sold for a little over 200, so like I said it was a good deal. If it doesn’t pan out I’ll let you know.

As for a welder I would suggest a 110v mig which is more than sufficent(cheaper) for what were doing and wire and tips are interchangeable. The biggest issue is cutting the steel!!! This is where the problem lies…now you need an accurate chop saw or you fill your angles with weld. You could work your ass off with a hand held hacksaw in a miter box made for steel if you choose? You will also need grinding devices for the welds if you don’t want them to show(optional). The last bridge I did required over 100 + angeled cuts and a very flat surface(I use an old steel door for my workbench). When you weld the heat tends to distort things. I’m not trying to discourage but enlighten. Basically long bridges are a ton of work and with no previous metal working experience can be quite difficult and upsetting to build in a reasonable amount of time.(wood is waaaayy easier)

The recent deck truss required a $60 blade that fit in my 7 1/4" Craftsman chop saw that basically got destroyed in the process(the saw can be seen and mentioned in my CVRR concrete Viaduct thread). The through truss I built can be done with time and a hacksaw but that’s like 3’. Abrasive saws are nice but you cannot do angles accurately.

Andy shoot me an e-mail! I’ll help ya’ anyway I can my friend!
Beer #5 and I’m spoutin’ off!
This is my relax spot…Actually this is my baroom Fred!
:wink:

#13

David, I have been looking at the 110v MIG’s… Also, know that I will need a chopsaw… I do have a 4" grinder already, I use that, to sharpen the blades on the 6 ft mower for the tractor…

Have to basically, work on 4 things right now… 1) a workshed, 2) a large flat table, 3) a chopsaw, and 4) a good mig welder…

Of course, that comes after another list of things that I need, also… The temp bridges will hold for now…

Andy

#14

Andy,
You certainly do not want to weld in a wooden workshop!!! You could weld outside with a cheap steel door on sawhorses. As for welders, honestly Miller and Lincoln make excellent stuff and have been around for quite some time. You will pay a bit more up front however you will more than likely be able to get parts for them 10yrs from now when you finish your 1st bridge:lol:
Now get off your donkey and build something! Or post up some pics of the area you want to span as I can only build so many bridges in my yard and perhaps I may want to make one for a buddy? I am ADHD and love to build actually over build.
:wink:

#15

At the moment, we are still planting “bare root”’ trees in the ““tree Nursery””… Ground is still soaked, and more rain due this weekend…

I got a good lead on a basic structures for bridges, and from what i heard yesterday, the price is right… Of course, they will have to resized, because, right now, they are 12 ft by 23 inches wide, by 18? inches tall… I’ll take pics of what I do, when it’s in progress, or completed…

Just got back from picking up more ground coveres and her veggie’s…