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benders and welders

N-Smooth

N-Smooth

Smooth Gang Founding Member
Location
UT
so i just found out my uncle is going to buy a bender and a welder at the end of this month prolly. he said he is going for a tubeshark! from what i have seen, they are freaking amazing!

but... he doesn't know what kind of welder to buy. he wants the welder for your basic fab work ie cages,bumpers etc etc. what kind should he buy? wire-fed, stick, oxy or what? i said mig because i have seen some nice work done with migs. and also, what brand should he go for? miller, lincoln or any others?

thanks in advance for any helpful advice or smartass comments
-nate
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
That's one expensive bender. From what I have seen, it can do some amazing stuff real easily though.

Tell him to go for at least a 230 V Mig machine. I like Miller & Hobart (basically the same) but my friend who used to weld for a living swears upon Lincolns. You really can't lose with any of the three.

I have a Hobart 175 mig w/ C25 that I use regularly for suspension, bumpers, tubework, etc.
 
N-Smooth

N-Smooth

Smooth Gang Founding Member
Location
UT
yeah they had a tubeshark display at ejs this year and they showed how easy it was...
put in the die for the size of tube you are using, select what degree bend you want and push start!!!! and then boom bam bang it is done right before your eyes. nice huh?

yeah i figured all the 230 welders would be pretty close in quality for the most part.
 
BlackSheep

BlackSheep

baaaaaaaaaad to the bone
Supporting Member
Location
South Carolina....no public land
Guys,
do all the shopping on the net you want, but when it comes time to buy, make sure you shop locally. I thought I found a smokin' deal over the web, then I went to Praxair in SLC and they beat all the deals I could find on the net. Ended up I couldn't buy the welder, but their price was the best.
 
Herzog

Herzog

somewhat damaged
Admin
Location
Wydaho
Originally posted by BlackSheep
Guys,
do all the shopping on the net you want, but when it comes time to buy, make sure you shop locally. I thought I found a smokin' deal over the web, then I went to Praxair in SLC and they beat all the deals I could find on the net. Ended up I couldn't buy the welder, but their price was the best.
Click to expand...

Praxair is where I picked mine up. They had a better deal than any magazine or website I could find. :)
 
grinch

grinch

inner city redneck
Location
Salt Lake City
We got a esab welder for the shop at a killer deal locally also.....
Its the best welder ive used in a long time... Even i can almost make a decent weld with it lol...
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Originally posted by brian
.......well........just bought a Lincoln SP-175T........hope I like it.........otherwise it will be for sale....:D :rofl:
Click to expand...

That's what I got, you'll be very pleased. I don't see myself needing anything more than the SP175.
 
Caleb

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Location
Riverton
tube shark should be a killer bender but does he really need to blow $3k on something for fab use:confused:...personally anyone that is looking for a bender for fab use I will always reccomend the JD2 Model 3 or Pro-Tools 105HD...simply cause they do what you need and are reasonable priced...even with hydro they aren;t bad...


As everyone else has said I would go with a 230V welder for sure...I have a Millermatic 175 and its been great, I got mine at US Welding only cause I didn't have to pay sales tax...praxair came down to the same price but I would have to pay tax there...praxair will dicker around with the price but US Welding wont too much cause they say they are already the lowest around(which I have found to be pretty true)...I use a MM251 at work and its a sweet welder but it starts at about $1600...but if he looking to blow some money then go all out and get the 251:D...

for sure go mig if you're planning on cage work...it gets pretty hard to weld .120" with a stick and oxy/acet is WAY slow...the only other option would be a tig machine but ya gotta know how to make it worth while...but you would also get a quality stick welder with a tig machine...
 
N-Smooth

N-Smooth

Smooth Gang Founding Member
Location
UT
well the reason for the tube shark is that he wants to start out building stuff for himself and me of course and then hopefully slowly build a name for himself and start doing it on the side from his work. and besides that, like i would tell him not to get the tubeshark... do you think i am that insane? he also has a way of wanting the best of everything.
yeah i am sure he will buy a 230 or a 251 mig.
-nate
 
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