WeldfabNeil

In my mind Its people like that that shouldn't own guns. Hope your 2017 is good.

Dont worry, we all started somewere. Even the best welders I know have room for improvement.

Thanks for putting it all together. Great survey. I filled it out several days ago.

I have a few of the carbide tipped ones. They are nice but not cost effective. I ususally buy sets of blades on clearance. There are times you can get a whole set for the price of two carbide ones. I may have to change the blade once or twice but no big deal.

Thanks for the help guys. We walked away with some wood an tools.

Anybody have luck with the avanti blades. Looks like I have 40 avanti blades an 5 diablo diamond grit ones. Not sure where I got them but I found them other day when cleaning. I dought I would of bought them full price.

Thats what I thought when I got it, but I just smiled an said thank you. My aunt gave me it along with a Best Buy gift card. She was just trying to be nice when I graduated. I tried it once for laughs. It's jaw was wobbly an handle was bulky. Not sure were it ended up but I no longer have it. Sure don't miss it either.

If your just using once a month your right, either would do. Yeh the stands aren't cheap. My co worker has one from swag off road. Not sure what it costs but it's not complicated to make. I keep saying I am gonna make my own for my trucks receiver. Like many other things it's still just a idea in my head. youle have to let us know the one you choose.

If hardwood is cracked at the end can you just cut the bad end off? Will it just crack crack again? I know that's a broad question an may not have a exact awnser. Even if anyone has advice on what to look for that helps a lot. Not sure on all the exact species of wood but know some have cracks. It's a co workers wife's inheritance. Me an my welder buddies have no use for woodworking tools an supplies but that kid I help does. Between all of us what we don't buy cheap it it will just be a estate sale.

I never thought of that application. Makes total sense that a porta band would work.

I have yet to find any convertible snap ring pliers I like. Most or the time my Proto fixed style set work great.

Ok crew what are your worst handfools that you have owned? Handfools- the worst tools you ever owned. Me an JMG we're talking over in the chat room, an came up with this word. It came about cause my inproper spelling. In no particular order I listed the first ten I thought of. 1. Black an decker battery powered adjustable wrench 2. Craftsman indexing head pry bar 3. Husky interchangble head tin snips 4. kobalt locking pliers 5. Harbor freight Calipers 6. Harbor freight wood chisel set 7. Craftsman multi cutter 8. Kobalt digital tourque wrench 9. Tool shop tin snips 10. Masterforce 36" folding bolt cutters

I have used several bandsaws in both portable an stationary. I however have no expierence in either models shown. One was very similar to those shown but not exact. I still probably wouldn't give either one a chance. For my use I would stick with a porta band. Millwakee has a very good deep cut model. It's got a 5x5" capacity. When you really need to you can rotate around workpiece for more capacity but sacrifice precision. The portable bandsaw in general won't give you 100% accuracy. It will however get pretty close. For what people do in there garage with a little practice it works fine. With the ones shown an even cheap stationary models I've noticed blade tracking an tension are usually a issue. When that happens your portable bandsaw will be more precise. You can also get small tables made to fit your portable bandsaw turning it into a benchtop model. There's also templates on the internet for making your own tables an jigs. I know a lot of that wasn't what you were looking for. I just would really recommend giving it some thought. As always it depends on your exact needs so I could be wrong on what's best.

Highly recommend this. Its a good deal but I don't need more porta bands. My 262922 is unstoppable. If metal fits in it will get cut. Even cut some used drill pipe half caked in mud. No issues it just powers through. Balance an ergonomics are great. Battery life is outstanding for what it does. In general Millwakee portable band saws are a metal workers must have. For field work I keep portable band saws, chop saw an my plasma cutter in my truck. I have yet to find a better way to cut metal in the field. Even then I don't have the money or shop space for stationary bandsaws. These portable ones are extremely efficient in speed of cut. With very little practice there extremely precise for portable cutting. Line of site an control are uncomparable to a sawzall. The initial purchase is very reasonable an blades are relatively cheap. I know I sound like some salesman but I really believe in Millwakee portable bandsaws.

I myself haven't used the 215. Used a lot of millers larger units but not the 215. However from what I know about the 215 is it's somewhat small. I would go bigger then smaller. How much bigger depends on your budget. Electrical requirements must be kept in mind as well. It will really be pushing it to do stuff on a farm. It's not meant for heavy or medium use. Stuff like latches on horse stalls or something is fine. At most weld some thin wall pipe fence but that's about it. Don't expect to be doing tractor buckets or big cattle chutes. Now for the body shop or serious do it yourselfer it's not bad. Auto body panels, bicycle frames, basketball hoops an stuff are fine. For a first welding machine to learn the basics on it's a decent start. Just keep in mind your limitations.

I can't remeber the exact amount. I know it wasn't a huge percentage but better then nothing. It was a few years ago so who knows if it's still even offered. Airgas is great for welding stuff, but there not the cheapest. There's a lot of online stores cheaper for general supplies. However gloves an jackets it helps to try on first. Some advice on what stuff to buy/bring... My local community college had the required tools but I brought my own an then some. It is really convient an saves lots of time. I think that's one of the many things that helped me succeed. I have heard some schools don't let you bring your own tools, cause it could be a weapon. Make sure your allowed to before doing so. My school let me bring it in the welding building, no were else. I brought 2 backpacks an a small metal toolbox to class. Small backpacks so they fit in locker. Small Metal toolbox to bring into booth with my tools needed. Always good to keep extra clothes in car as well. In no particular order my bags had the following -textbooks/notebooks -conversion/reference charts -blank paper, graph paper -pens multiple colors, highlighters multiple colors, pencil, mini stapler/paperclips, small scissors -clear saftey glasses, 2 pairs -welding goggles shade 5 -welding helmelt, digital auto darkening multiple shade -extra lenses for helmet an goggles -extra batteries for helmet -2 pairs of gloves for each process -General handling gloves -welding jacket -multiple soapstone -sharpies multiple colors -tape measure -metal speed square -metal thickness guage -chipping hammer -ball pein hammer -mig pliers -locking pliers -tounge an groove pliers -side cutters -punch an chisel I could be forgetting something as well. It's a lot of stuff. Some people laughed at me being over prepared. I just would rather be prepared an ready. Can't tell you how many people failed partly because they were unprepared. I am usually not a neat person but it helps to be organized, expecially when turning stuff in.

When me an my dad were making aragnments for my grandmas funereal the money end was sickening. I mean I get frusterated with healthcare costs but funeral costs are just as bad. She was gonna be cremated so we were able to rent a casket for the service. They replace the fabric lined but it still gross I think. We chose a fairly basic casket an liner. That alone cost 2500 bucks. Honestly I could care less for funeral homes. There salesman use people's hard times to make a quik buck. I know it's just another bussniess type but I still don't like it. Personally I don't want a funeral. I just wana go in peace. Also I think there's better uses for the money.

I turned some my gift cards into tools. Also ordered 2 diablo metal cutting blades. Along with those still gonna buy some whole saws an lumber. Will have money left to spare as well.

That's good to hear. Looking forward to taking a closer look an trying them out. Really don't need any impact sockets. I have more then I need on those.

Thanks I have never owned any tekton tools. Heard some good things of them just never bought any. I messed around with a weird shaped tekton screwdriver at a farm store. Other then that I haven't used any. I had them about a month an jus didn't get a picture. You can see there still new in the package. I have to take them out when Ime home an see how they are. I had to google them an see what they even cost. You can get them all off home depots website for 102 bucks. If they live up to what I've heard online there worth that.

Here is the other stuff I got from works party. There nothing fancy but they were free. They raffled off some Proto ratcheting wrenches but I didn't win those. From my parents for Christmas I got a few clothes an mainly a gift card. It will be going towards some general supplies. Need a few metal cutting blades for my chop saw. Plan on a whole saw set as well. I gotta pick up some wood to make shelves as well. Might get some knipex pliers but who knows. My girlfriend got me a gift card along with a picture an frame. A few few other people I know got me HD gift cards.

I stopped by his house Friday. We spent about three hours turning random shapes. It went well, no problems. Little bit of a learning curve but we're catching on. We started with are face shields. We figured we would take them off it's not bad. We kept them on thoe. His mom turned it into a math lesson. He has a hard time learning from a textbook. She pretty much turned it into a practical application. We measured the diameter, circumference, and volume of a cylinder. Below is a snowmen he turned. His mom also told him he needs to clean his little area up.

Have fun with the family.

Thanks caterpillar. I never figured I would be involved with helping kids. If I don't have work or a sidejob I am usually volunteering. My sister teaches at a school with a attending group home nearby. That is how she got involved. A few weeks after she did she asked me to assemble a trycicle she brought home. It was donated but there maintence didn't have 5 minutes to assemble it. I figured ahh it's five minutes. Next thing I knew I was taking a few classes an got fingerprinted in order to volunteer. Nowdays putting together an fixing toys is weekly thing. Painting graffiti an re arranging fruniture is also a weekly thing. I must add that it's not just me. There are several volunteers like me all pitching in to help these kids. There's paid employees as well budget only does so much. With out the volunteers alot of activities wouldnt be possible. My biggest Christmas wish would be guaranteeing these kids a safe an successful future. We have had a few of the older kids come back later an basically say thank you without you who knows. It's times like that you know you did good. Sadly we have also read local news with a wanted poster, an there are also worse cases then that. The kid with the lathe is doing good. I will post a update in the lathe help thread sometime tonight. Thanks man. Have a good time at your bros. I know my brother likes prime rib on Christmas. Sounds well worth the wait. Merry Christmas.

What are the crews plans for Christmas? My family and I are gonna celebrate Monday. My dad an brother work tommorow. girlfriend works both today an tommorow. My sister an mom along with me are volunteering at a children's group home. The group home throws a Christmas party an I do a lot of the random stuff. Right now I am sitting at a local bakery waiting to pick up some food. To me the best Christmas present to give is helping others. The best to receive is seeing others happy. I know ime not solving every issue out there but I like to think it somewhat helps in a small way. As far as Monday me an family along with a few others will have a big dinner. Then open a few presents from each other. Usually we end up playing a game or watching a movie as well.