Greetings from So. Cal.

[fsae0607]

Hello everyone,

I've been working on cars since I was 5 years old, started out by handing my dad tools, then worked my way up to cleaning parts, usual "kid" jobs when helping out your old man in the garage.

I bought a house with my wife last year and am working on setting up my garage. Almost done...

I just bought myself a HF 90-amp MIG, teaching myself to weld. I'm working right now on a 2 x 2 x.125" angle iron frame for my chop saw to mount onto a tool stand I bought at HF.

I eventually want to get the Lincoln AC-225 buzz box, as soon as I add my 240-volt circuits to my garage. Hope to get some great tips on here!

[shovelon]

Weldcome! I am in the SFV too.

You must live close to Harbor Freight. Praxair is at Nordhoff and DeSoto. Worth stopping in and drooling.

[Aquafire]

Welcome!

One thing you have yet to learn though:

Originally Posted by fsae0607

I bought a house with my wife last year and am working on setting up my garage. Almost done...

is that you will NEVER be done!

[Broccoli1]

GOOD THING YOU BOUGHT THE HOUSE WITH THE WIFE, BET SHE BE PISSED IF YOU BOUGHT IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE

[fsae0607]

Originally Posted by shovelon

Weldcome! I am in the SFV too.

You must live close to Harbor Freight. Praxair is at Nordhoff and DeSoto. Worth stopping in and drooling.

I'm in Winnetka, close to Roscoe & DeSoto. HF is a few miles away. HF is a love/hate relationship with me. I love it because there's tools galore. I hate it because I blow so much cash there! I recall one time I went to HF for $hits & giggles, just to walk up and down each isle and shop, just like my wife does at Ross. I was about 1/4 way through the store and my wife texts me that dinner is ready Maybe it was a good thing because I would've blown our next month's mortgage on tools!

I will most definitely stop by Praxair maybe this weekend. If they sell metal at decent prices, they'll be my source, since I hate getting ripped off at Lowe's when I need angle iron or something

Originally Posted by Aquafire

Welcome!

One thing you have yet to learn though:



is that you will NEVER be done!

True, I tend to organize and rearrange stuff in my garage about every month!

Originally Posted by Broccoli1

GOOD THING YOU BOUGHT THE HOUSE WITH THE WIFE, BET SHE BE PISSED IF YOU BOUGHT IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE

Yeah, she's very cool about the garage being my man cave. I told to never give me crap about spending hours in my garage, since I she knows where I am and what I'm doing. I then said that I could also be spending hours away from home, at some bar with women. Take your pick!

[SuperArc]

Originally Posted by fsae0607

Hello everyone,

I just bought myself a HF 90-amp MIG, teaching myself to weld.

For clamps, pliers, gloves, chipping hammers etc.... yeah, Harbor "Fright" is good enough. However, for welding PERFECTION, (because all of us welders should strive for "perfect welds") you need to invest in either Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. Period!

If you want a "Harbor Fright" $100.00 welder, you're going to get a HF $100.00 weld bead. They are junk.

Originally Posted by fsae0607

I eventually want to get the Lincoln AC-225 buzz box, as soon as I add my 240-volt circuits to my garage. Hope to get some great tips on here!

Great choice, but may I add a piece of friendly suggestion? Don't get the AC-225. Get the AC/DC-225 model. It's only a few bucks more. You'll thank yourself in the long run!

The AC/DC-225 model gives you the option of DC+ or DC- welding in addition to AC welding. DC is a much smoother arc! Your welds will even look better as a new guy! Trust me on that. Welcome to the disease of melting metal on metal!