How I learned to weld ........

[mike_van]

1975, I bought a Lincoln 220 amp welder from Central Tractor - 99.00. The same year, I bought a new IH 574, about 7000.00 then, some other stuff, I was in debt up to my eyeballs as the comercial says - I needed a 3 ph blade, bought one from Montgomery Ward, about 99.00, rated for 25 hp I think. Well, everytime I used it, it broke - Learned to use that welder out of necessity - 30 years later, I still have it, hundreds of pounds of rod been through it, I haven't had a weld break in so long, it's a dim memory. The 3 ph blade was recycled long ago, I think they made hubcaps out of it - or it was made from hubcaps - Bought a 7' JD, haven't broke it yet - The planning, building, etc. of a machine is one of the things I enjoy most, taking a pile of someones scrap and making something you can use, something that saves you work to me is priceless. Today I had to dig around two 12" stumps and saw them off - Somewhere in the future I see a homemade 3 ph stump grinder - 

[hiya]

Somewhere in the future I see a homemade 3 ph stump grinder -

8)  My way of thinking too. If you need it make it.
Richard

[firecord]

Hey Mike

Take a look at this site.  I think you might enjoy hanging around it some.

http://www.machinebuilders.net

[DanG]

Mike, check out  www.stumpster.com

You might be able to snitch a few design ideas from them. ;)

I used to have one of their machines, and it was a nifty way to get rid of some stumps most quick.

[mike_van]

Good links - thank you both - you never can have too much info - 

[mometal77]

http://www.shopfloortalk.com/
www.aws.com
http://www.metalwebnews.com/
hope u like.. with steel it is great too also know the metallurgy also.. lot of learning..  i know i dont have it all figured out.. keep up the good work
robert

[junkyard]

My Lincoln 220 is 50 this year. Works just like new yet. For a while the house I lived atonly had a 60 amp entrance and I was boling fuses. so I bought a 1942 250 amp dc powered by a V4 Wisconsin it still works never had anything done exept change the brushes. Twenty years ago I bought a 225 acdc . They all are good machines. Just do not use them as much as I get older.
                Junkyard