I usually try to buy smart. most of the time it is worth it to spend the money if it is going to work well for what you are doing.

I have a small 110 welder it works great up to 1/8 then I have a ready welder it works from .080 up to 1 inch ( properly preped) it is also totally portable using 2 12 volt batterys so it will work in the shop or any where you can take 2 batterys.

I have a harbor freight grinder that sees wire wheel duty but I have a good one for grinding and cutting.

I often try to build tools I saw one setup (tube bender) all was home made except the cylender and the die.

 

I know what you mean, you have to buy smart. It's easy to go overkill and spend a lot of money you don't really need to.

I like the idea of making my own bender, but like you said you still have to buy some of the parts (die and so on) so in the end the piece you make for yourself only ends up saving you like $200 or so, after time and materials that about breaks even.

Guess I'll just keep watching ebay, i'm in no hurry anyway.

 

If we were in Idaho, I know of a couple of places, but here I have not seen anything...

as for Harbor Freight, I have seen what they sell, then I go on the internet and do a google search for that tool, model, brand, and search for people who have had issues with it.

something usually pops up... it is funny, people don't go on the internet to put info about how happy they are, just to put info on how upset they are....

 

You know that is so true, I try to post about stuff/people that have made me happy/done me right, but I ALWAYS post about it when someone or some thing pisses me off.

The only reason I spoke well of the Plasma cutter is because a friend of mine has it and I have used it plenty, works well enough for what we do, but I bet if any of us had ever used one of the $1000 - $2000 ones it would pale in comparison. It is the only one I have seen anywhere that is under $1000. HF's is $500 and like I said does fine for what we do.

If I find a good place to get used tools I will post it here so all can reap the benies.

 

Occasionally, you can find some good stuff at a pawn shop. Note the word "occasionally".

People who get rid of their "stuff" at a pawn shop are usually not thinking about getting the most money for their "stuff" -- they are looking for cash fast. Unfortunately, these same people do not take care of their possessions, either.

Something to think about...

 

You might start checking your local papares for area auctions as well. You can find some pretty decent deals there as well.

 

That is true, they do have alot of auctions here.

 

Auctions, that sounds like a good idea, I have read about some estate sales where they have stuff that may be usefull to someone in our sport. Do they do those things this time of year? I will check the paper tonight and see.

Thanks for the idea,

 

I have been searching online and looking at plans to build a bender. None of the ones I have seen are as nice as the one in your post above. Do you know where to find the specs on it? Or plans on how to go about building it?
Thanks,

 

I just recently got a MAC Tools 1/2 drive impact air gun for $5, and Craftsman Air ratchet for $8, plus a hand full of sockets for them and a bunch of Metric wrenches for less than $10.
Got out bid on the air tank though....lol

 

Sounds like a good buy. Congrats! You have to get them when and where you can, but at that price I don't see how you could go wrong.

 

OK here is the best I can do so far:

Bender from "low buck tools" (good up to 1.75" tubing) $500 with one set of dies.
Plasma cutter, from HF @ $500.
Hobart welder (175 V) good for up to 1/4" thick steel, $650.
Band saw/chop saw from HF $170.

Total $1850

I think this is more than half the money I have in my truck!
Not going to fly with the wife.
Bad news for me, good news for you fab shop owners, looks like I will be buying my stuff and not making it myself. Oh well at least now I know.

 

I know this place has alot of really cool surplus stuff that changes all the time.http://www.surpluscenter.com/. I don't know how to make it clicky. Hope it helps...

 

http://www.surpluscenter.com/

there you go!

 

i used to go to farm auctions as often as i could. i always went with my father-in-law and he knew what to look for and what to look out for. there are just as many great deals to be had as there are bad deals.

if someone is planning on hitting the auctions make sure you know what you are bidding on. it really sucks to find out you just paid good money for something that is junk.

on a side note i bought two samurais at farm auctions. the farmers around here love them and they use them as cheap disposable atv's.

 

Thanks ACK!!!

 

I was somthing someone over on pirate built using plans from (I think ebay?) I only have that pix and one other

 

sheet metal break

 

another sheet metal break

 

[ QUOTE ]
OK here is the best I can do so far:

Bender from "low buck tools" (good up to 1.75" tubing) $500 with one set of dies.
Plasma cutter, from HF @ $500.
Hobart welder (175 V) good for up to 1/4" thick steel, $650.
Band saw/chop saw from HF $170.

Total $1850

I think this is more than half the money I have in my truck!
Not going to fly with the wife.
Bad news for me, good news for you fab shop owners, looks like I will be buying my stuff and not making it myself. Oh well at least now I know.

[/ QUOTE ]

the ready welder is about $400 + batterys wire regulator and leads

batterys can be bought refurbished thru interstate batterys (I think I payed $30 each) made the cords my self about $70.00 with the conector plug. The gun is bulkier than a normal mig but I have found I allmost never use my regular 110 mig anymore. I have used it several times where I had no power available. the welding range is .080 to 1.00 at least thats what I have been able to do with it so far. welding thick steel realy puts off alot of heat (burning yourself thru your gloves while you are welding). I was told it would put out more than 300 amps depending on the batterys.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252768&pp=50

 

if you need car batteries, you can pick good ones down in Xenia (Dayton Xenia auto salvage) on Cincinatti ave. I think.
but they are $10 each...

 

The ones I got for mine are huge. I am not shure what they are out of but insted of normal terminals they have a flat lead post with a stainless bolt sticking out of it. perfict for 3/8 ring terminals.

 

So you use it as a shop welder also? How does that work? Hook it to the battaries use it till their dead, charge them and go again? If so how much can you do before having to recharge them? Sounds like a good way to go, but how much of a pain is it to have to deal with the batts in the shop? I will be buying this to be used primarily in the shop, not on the trail, so I would want it to perform as well as (and be as easy to use as) a shop welder.