Dean

I second the auto darkening helmet as being a must for the amateur welder. I've
got one of the cheepy Harbor Freight models. Because I only weld once in a
while I'm always out of practice, being able to stop and easily see what the
weld looks like makes all the difference.

Dean

>The auto darkening helmet is an absolute must.
>I wish I had purchased one early in my never ending project.
>My weld quality went way up.
>Mine is a relatively cheap (~$60 US) Hobart, and it works great.
>

<snip>

>Replies to group please.

>Tom Needham


>
> Tool envy!
>
> I don't weld often enough (or well enough) to justify buying an
> auto-darkening helmet. Although... I just spotted on in the Harbor
> Freight catalogue for fifty bucks. Hmmmm.

<snipped other stuff>

dave AKA vwdoc1

Well then you NEED that auto-darkening helmet! I bought mine from Harbor
Freight when it cost more than $50, but it makes welding much much easier
for the once-in-awhile welder like me. <g> I have used a stick welder to
weld body panels together, but it could easily and quickly burn through the
metal. Mig is the way to make it easier for you.

Yep definitely tool envy. I just like tools that make life easier and
better. Just think that you don't have to pay someone $60+ per hour to weld
things for you when you can own your own welder for $300 or so. And do it
at your leisure. ;-)

And I hate rust and rot and am still looking for a good product that
neutralizes the rust.
I tried sandblasting and using POR-15, but it is not a sure thing. I would
want to eliminate the rust chemically. I have used Navel Jelly but I forgot
if it worked well. lol Maybe it did. 8^)

later,
dave AKA vwdoc1

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.61.0410140857390.18193@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> Tool envy!
>
> I don't weld often enough (or well enough) to justify buying an
> auto-darkening helmet. Although... I just spotted on in the Harbor
> Freight catalogue for fifty bucks. Hmmmm.
>
> I've wanted one of those flanging tools for a while, but haven't found a
> reason to buy one yet. I have seen the result and it looked great in that
> guy's hand, but I have to wonder how easy it is to ripple a panel with one
> of those.

dave AKA vwdoc1

Well then you NEED that auto-darkening helmet! I bought mine from Harbor
Freight when it cost more than $50, but it makes welding much much easier
for the once-in-awhile welder like me. <g> I have used a stick welder to
weld body panels together, but it could easily and quickly burn through the
metal. Mig is the way to make it easier for you.

Yep definitely tool envy. I just like tools that make life easier and
better. Just think that you don't have to pay someone $60+ per hour to weld
things for you when you can own your own welder for $300 or so. And do it
at your leisure. ;-)

And I hate rust and rot and am still looking for a good product that
neutralizes the rust.
I tried sandblasting and using POR-15, but it is not a sure thing. I would
want to eliminate the rust chemically. I have used Navel Jelly but I forgot
if it worked well. lol Maybe it did. 8^)

later,
dave AKA vwdoc1

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.61.0410140857390.18193@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> Tool envy!
>
> I don't weld often enough (or well enough) to justify buying an
> auto-darkening helmet. Although... I just spotted on in the Harbor
> Freight catalogue for fifty bucks. Hmmmm.
>
> I've wanted one of those flanging tools for a while, but haven't found a
> reason to buy one yet. I have seen the result and it looked great in that
> guy's hand, but I have to wonder how easy it is to ripple a panel with one
> of those.

dave AKA vwdoc1

Well then you NEED that auto-darkening helmet! I bought mine from Harbor
Freight when it cost more than $50, but it makes welding much much easier
for the once-in-awhile welder like me. <g> I have used a stick welder to
weld body panels together, but it could easily and quickly burn through the
metal. Mig is the way to make it easier for you.

Yep definitely tool envy. I just like tools that make life easier and
better. Just think that you don't have to pay someone $60+ per hour to weld
things for you when you can own your own welder for $300 or so. And do it
at your leisure. ;-)

And I hate rust and rot and am still looking for a good product that
neutralizes the rust.
I tried sandblasting and using POR-15, but it is not a sure thing. I would
want to eliminate the rust chemically. I have used Navel Jelly but I forgot
if it worked well. lol Maybe it did. 8^)

later,
dave AKA vwdoc1

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.61.0410140857390.18193@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> Tool envy!
>
> I don't weld often enough (or well enough) to justify buying an
> auto-darkening helmet. Although... I just spotted on in the Harbor
> Freight catalogue for fifty bucks. Hmmmm.
>
> I've wanted one of those flanging tools for a while, but haven't found a
> reason to buy one yet. I have seen the result and it looked great in that
> guy's hand, but I have to wonder how easy it is to ripple a panel with one
> of those.