Is Welding Equipment Very Useful at your Homestead?

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I have been considering buying a pickup truck, and I have found out about a guy locally trying to sell his 1980 welding truck for $4000. I have not done any welding, but I'm considering buying this pickup truck modified into a welding truck and then learning to weld. Here's the question: if you weld, have you found welding to be very helpful with your homestead?

I am interested in building a barn and a stone house. I'm not sure exactly where and when I will use my new welding equipment. Do you find welding to be an important asset to homesteading or homebuilding? Is a welder a good asset even if you don't weld for a living?

Thank You,

Rick#7

-- Rick#7 (rick7@postmark.net), August 15, 2001

Answers

I go to my buddies house and use his mig welder ALL the time,, fixed a broken shock mount on my truck,, made wood racks,, made some standes for the bee hives,, all depends on how dependant you are,, if your willing to fix most things yourself,, then Im sure you came across something that you wish you could weld. If your not that type of person,, then maybe you dont want it. But you can always make money from it

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 15, 2001.

I have been fortunate to have learned many different trades over the years,and welding is one of them.And I do use that skill alot,with older equipment it's almost essential.But before spending 4k I would suggest looking in to some classes,like at the local vocational school to see if that trade works for you.............

-- Steve in Ohio (stevenb@ohiohills.com), August 15, 2001.

There are different types of welding machines and different types of welding. Arc, mig, tig. Most folks who weld also have a set of tanks and torches. Add to that a cut-off saw and you can repair/fabricate quite a bit. I thought all farmers/homesteaders knew how to weld. :)

cheers,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), August 15, 2001.


As Stan, pointed out, welding is a VERY useful skill in knowing; whether or not you plan on making a living at it. My uncle, who is a small time cattle rancher (about 100 acres of pasture), uses his welding equipment about once a month. Sometimes as simple as fixing a gate the cows banged up, other times making implements to use around the home. It just depends on what you are planning on doing on the homestead.

Incidentally, if the economy does "tank", welding can be a VERY good skill in having. Regardless of the condition of the construction industry, things always break and need fixing. Like auto mechanics, welding will always have a demand; nice back up work in case of your job being lost. Wages around here are near $45.00 / hour at job sites, not bad at all.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), August 15, 2001.


How often do you need something welded now? I would say 4k for a 1980 truck is a rip. If you want to weld go buy one small enough that you do not have to keep it in your truck. I have a small welder and have not used it in years. I have not welded enough to trust my welds on anything that could kill me. Might be fun for yard art.

-- ed (edfrhes@aol.com), August 15, 2001.


As soon as you have one you will find a million things to use it for and on. Just seems to work out that way.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), August 15, 2001.

I wouldnt be without my welders, but I like to tinker and mess with metal. When I run into a problem, I tend to think of welder first. If you are not of that mindset, and just want to repair something once in a great while, just pay somebody to do it or if you know how to weld, go rent a welder. By way a professional type setup is probably overkill unless you want to go into the buisiness or you have a very large farm. For an average to small farm, a 225 amp ac-dc buzzbox(220v outlet required) is nice, even an old ac only 225 amp welder(220v outlet required) is adequate. If you do mostly sheet metal, then a small mig outfit (can run on 120v)would be way to go. By way forget little cheap stick welders that are supposed to work off 120v hookup. They wont do much of anything and will frustrate heck out of you.

I started out with a Miller AC stick welder with aluminum wound transformer that I bought for $45 at a consignment auction. I still have it and it still works ok. I leave it outside with washtub set over it for quick repairs. I did however then buy a copper wound Sears AC welder at a farm auction for $75. Copper wound transformer is nice as allows a more stable arc and will last longer. Finally I was in right place at right time and bought a copper wound Montgomery Ward AC-DC welder at another small consignment auction for $100. DC gives more electrode options and cleaner weld on lighter gauge steel. I finally bought a mig for sheet metal. If you are used to stick welders, this is a pain to get used to, but very easy for those without welding experience (I've been told) and gives a high quality weld. Bigger migs can handle heavier gauges of metal, but stick welder electrodes are much cheaper than mig wire/gas.

By way an oxy-aceteline cutting torch is nice, but pretty much have to rent tanks anymore which is expensive if you dont use it that often. I will say for most people, you dont need it. Go buy some #6010 DC electrode (largest diameter your welder can handle- probably have to get it at a welding supply store). Use it on high AC setting and it will cut through steel cleanly without globs of metal left on edges like if you used anything else. This and a chop saw and an angle grinder will let you handle most tasks.

-- HermitJohn (Hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), August 15, 2001.


a welder is always useful but you really don't need to spend more than a few 100 unless you plan to go into business. Take a look at some Lincoln 225 arc welders, they're very portable and you can find used ones cheap.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), August 15, 2001.

My son has the "welding bug", and we find it quite useful on our homestead. With older equipment, his skill has kept our equipment running (well, most of the time!), without the high repair bills.p He has also created some equipment for our specific uses. He taught himself mostly from a textbook borrowed from the library, with additional help/advice from a welder friend. Our local community college also offers welding courses.

-- Deborah (jlawton@kaltelnet.net), August 15, 2001.

Hi Rick i wouldnt be without mine altho i think the one your talking about is over kill. i just have a crackerbox lincoln had it for years. you didnt tell us what kind ov welder was on the truck. for that kind of money id hope it was a big lincoln pipe line welder. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), August 15, 2001.


Rick,

Let me first say I know absolutely NOTHING about welding and welding equipment. Trucks, however, are a different matter. Unless you're getting at least $3,000 worth of welding equipment with that truck, you're paying too much for the outfit.

Ask yourself if you'd pay that for the equipment without the truck or vice versa. I doubt you'll answer affirmatively. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), August 15, 2001.


Rick: Unless you're thinking about going into business with the rig it doesn't seem like a good investment to me. On the other hand welding is one of those things that once you have it(machine and skill) you'll wonder how you ever did without it. A new Lincoln buzz box can be had for about $300 and you can get them used for $100 and up.

I don't think of myself as a welder. I'm self taught and I've done a bunch of things that I wouldn't have been able to afford to do otherwise. Good luck.

-- john (natlivent@pcpros.net), August 15, 2001.


Hi,Rick. A welder is pretty handy dandy all right. I wouldn't want to farm without one---they are pretty essential for keeping older pieces of equipment operating. But I don't know about buying this truck and learning to weld afterward. I think welding is fun and rewarding, but you might not like it and would be stuck with an expensive investment. Go buy a Lincoln arc welder and play with it before you start spending the big money, is my advice.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), August 15, 2001.

You know, it just occured to me . . .

On the Back Woods Home website (www.backwoodshome.com), go to their web links and check out a really neat welding unit. It connected to your engines alternator and utilized it power. I don't know the cost, but what a neat idea. I seem to remember it coming in various models, from riding lawn mower size to diesel boat size amperages. Might check it out, I was impressed.

-- j.r guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), August 16, 2001.


Me again.

Just went to that site and discovered the name of the portable welding site. Has information on what conversions can be done, all the power requirements, equipment included, etc. The website is www.zena.com. Take a look.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), August 16, 2001.



Still me. The address above is www.zena.net. Man, do I feel stupid for these mistakes.

-- j.r guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), August 16, 2001.

I have a wire welder and it save me a lot of time but if I want some real serious work done, I take it to someone who really knows his iron. I use a torch muck more for heating & beating things apart or cutting off shcok, shafts and so forth. The truck welder might be hand for it's generator tho.

-- hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), August 16, 2001.

Thanks a LOT to everyone for your advice so far.

I am taking time to consider the various options mentioned in this thread. You have given some good ideas to consider.

-- Rick#7 (rick7@postmark.net), August 16, 2001.


Hi Rick, we are farmers and owner-operator truck drivers and husband uses the two welders we have sometimes daily, as well as the neighbors coming over to use them. The welder that gets used the most is the cheapest little 200 dollar stick welder that I bought at Quality Farm and Fleet many years ago, the mig is a little harder to mess with and cost way more. So far, the mig welder use hasn't justified it's price yet.

Where we live, portable welder "for hire" use is not common, folks don't want to pay money for something they can have the neighbor do for free! Might be different elsewhere though.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 16, 2001.


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