What welding set up do yall have

spimx
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Location
Port Isabel, TX, USA

I really want a vulcan omninpro multi process welder. I have a lot of junk steel I need to weld. 

 

Currently my lawn mower needs welding, I have a steel fence and wife wants burgaler bars on all the windows. 

Eventuall in my dreams I want to weld some titanium and aluminum but with tig. 

My other options is a cheap flux core machine and a good tig machine later. Can I do the fence, lawn mower and all burgaler bars with flux core? 

What do yall have? 

1
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12/22/2025 9:33am Edited Date/Time 12/22/2025 9:40am

For around the house I have a small 200 amp DC inverter stick welder which does the job. I use 2.5mm rods.

MA3TW1.png?VersionId=WHKBKkr7r2N.ypvb

This is the exact machine that I have at work. Id love to have one at home but it's a ball ache having to lug a cylinder of crystal speed gas around.

At work for tig welding we have a Kempi MLS300 which I'm still learning to use. My problem with tig is that the jobs are few and far between so each time I do a job I'll spend a little time fine tuning settings and do a few practice runs.1246 7e1de165-439a-493a-b850-cb7b4f204848.png?VersionId=BNjhV3nwuU3RRwRcYSp.gKaaR7QS2

 

One thing ive learned over the years is to buy a good helmet. Next year im gonna upgrade again and have special lenses fitted as my eyes don't work like they used to lol

3
12/22/2025 9:38am

Your lawn mower needs welding ?  That got me giggling but I always forget most of ya in the US have these big ride on mowers.

BtW..it takes me 10 minutes to cut my lawn.

20251215 16094220251214 161912

It fricken hard work cutting this lawn....and I always drink a cold Heineken when I'm done.

5
JAFO92
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BFE, TX, USA
12/22/2025 11:49am

In the shop:
 

Stuff1.jpg?VersionId=Q
 

For outside stuff:

Bobcat250.jpg?VersionId=rjmSvUWSs6uc6harSA4Jk

 

6
spimx
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Port Isabel, TX, USA
12/22/2025 12:06pm
JAFO92 wrote:
In the shop:  For outside stuff: 

In the shop:
 

Stuff1.jpg?VersionId=Q
 

For outside stuff:

Bobcat250.jpg?VersionId=rjmSvUWSs6uc6harSA4Jk

 

Must be nice 

1

The Shop

Gworm
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Location
Monett, MO, USA
12/25/2025 9:59am Edited Date/Time 12/25/2025 10:00am
JAFO92 wrote:
In the shop:  For outside stuff: 

In the shop:
 

Stuff1.jpg?VersionId=Q
 

For outside stuff:

Bobcat250.jpg?VersionId=rjmSvUWSs6uc6harSA4Jk

 

You need to tidy up a bit in your shop. 


Edit:

I will NEVER post a pic of my shop. 

12/25/2025 10:31am

2 bobcat 225 welder/generators. One mounted to the drill rig and another mounted to a cart in the shop. These are head and shoulders better units than the Lincoln rangers in my experience 

D_L118
Posts
490
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7/3/2008
Location
Ghent, BE
12/25/2025 10:57am

Anyone had a laserwelder in his shop? 
I’m seeing more and more people getting one, and a lot of them are using it for regular fab work.

borg
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Location
Long Beach, CA, USA
12/25/2025 11:18am

I used to have a Miller Deltaweld 450 and a Lincoln squarewave tig.. That was many rears ago. 

This is just a pic of another one but pretty much what I had. 

 

2
JAFO92
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BFE, TX, USA
12/25/2025 2:41pm

80 degrees today,  so broke out the Bobcat 250 and burned some rods on the horse windbreak.

Windbreak1Windbreak2.JPG?VersionId=NSBTyKz
2
12/25/2025 3:30pm
2 bobcat 225 welder/generators. One mounted to the drill rig and another mounted to a cart in the shop. These are head and shoulders better units...

2 bobcat 225 welder/generators. One mounted to the drill rig and another mounted to a cart in the shop. These are head and shoulders better units than the Lincoln rangers in my experience 

What kind of drill rig?

12/25/2025 3:33pm

My welder....bought it at auction, haven't repainted it yet. Miller Trailbazer 325 diesel. Does most processes with the proper accessories. Presently just set up to stick weld1000004134 0

2
borg
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12/25/2025 4:07pm
My welder....bought it at auction, haven't repainted it yet. Miller Trailbazer 325 diesel. Does most processes with the proper accessories. Presently just set up to stick...

My welder....bought it at auction, haven't repainted it yet. Miller Trailbazer 325 diesel. Does most processes with the proper accessories. Presently just set up to stick weld1000004134 0

That reminds me of the Lincoln SA 200 I had way way back when I was installing boilers. Strictly stick for pipe welding. DC only. Same setting for 1/8" 6010 rod for root pass and then 3/32 lo hi 7018 for fill and cover pass. I guess they are still used by pipeliners and have quite the reputation. 

1
ToolMaker
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Escondido, CA, USA
Fantasy
12/25/2025 4:09pm
JAFO92 wrote:
In the shop:  For outside stuff: 

In the shop:
 

Stuff1.jpg?VersionId=Q
 

For outside stuff:

Bobcat250.jpg?VersionId=rjmSvUWSs6uc6harSA4Jk

 

I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the welding supply, they have 100s of cylinders free standing in the center of the building, but our 2? Yup, that's a fine. And no, not that's fine but that's A fine.

Go figure!

2
1
JAFO92
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BFE, TX, USA
12/25/2025 8:18pm
ToolMaker wrote:
I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the...

I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the welding supply, they have 100s of cylinders free standing in the center of the building, but our 2? Yup, that's a fine. And no, not that's fine but that's A fine.

Go figure!

Yeah that Argon and C25 are sooooo dangerous standing there.   😁

I dont follow no stinkin' rules.

12/25/2025 8:21pm
JAFO92 wrote:

Yeah that Argon and C25 are sooooo dangerous standing there.   😁

I dont follow no stinkin' rules.

Not dangerous till someone knocks one over and breaks a valve off. 32 years in weld/fab shops and on job sites. Seen it happen. Ain't pretty, but you do you. 

2
JAFO92
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BFE, TX, USA
12/25/2025 8:33pm
Not dangerous till someone knocks one over and breaks a valve off. 32 years in weld/fab shops and on job sites. Seen it happen. Ain't pretty...

Not dangerous till someone knocks one over and breaks a valve off. 32 years in weld/fab shops and on job sites. Seen it happen. Ain't pretty, but you do you. 

Nobody in my shop but me.   And if I knock that thing over,  I will post pics for your entertainment.  

I got lots of other sketchy, dangerous shit I do on the farm, too.   Soon after I bought this '12 footer home, I cut ALL the safety guards off the PTO shafts.  That outta drag in at least 2 or 3 more safety nazis.

IMG 2699.jpg?VersionId=pLyhOoFUgy9VDoLKnOG6L2IMG 2683 0

 

Stay tuned for more questionable Texakin shenanigans.

 

1
bpaderta
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Location
Fontana, WI, USA
12/26/2025 5:44am
D_L118 wrote:

Anyone had a laserwelder in his shop? 
I’m seeing more and more people getting one, and a lot of them are using it for regular fab work.

I have 2 miller optix laser welders, we do mostly aluminum and they are very impressive. Opens the door to  a lot of things that just aren’t possible to do with a tig

ToolMaker
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Location
Escondido, CA, USA
Fantasy
12/26/2025 7:11am
D_L118 wrote:

Anyone had a laserwelder in his shop? 
I’m seeing more and more people getting one, and a lot of them are using it for regular fab work.

bpaderta wrote:
I have 2 miller optix laser welders, we do mostly aluminum and they are very impressive. Opens the door to  a lot of things that just...

I have 2 miller optix laser welders, we do mostly aluminum and they are very impressive. Opens the door to  a lot of things that just aren’t possible to do with a tig

Pics of products please?

Piston Slap
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Stillwater, OK, USA
12/26/2025 10:21am Edited Date/Time 12/26/2025 10:23am
JAFO92 wrote:
Nobody in my shop but me.   And if I knock that thing over,  I will post pics for your entertainment.  I got lots of other...

Nobody in my shop but me.   And if I knock that thing over,  I will post pics for your entertainment.  

I got lots of other sketchy, dangerous shit I do on the farm, too.   Soon after I bought this '12 footer home, I cut ALL the safety guards off the PTO shafts.  That outta drag in at least 2 or 3 more safety nazis.

IMG 2699.jpg?VersionId=pLyhOoFUgy9VDoLKnOG6L2IMG 2683 0

 

Stay tuned for more questionable Texakin shenanigans.

 

They come with covers on them???  Lol.

If anyone is in there while PTO is running, they need culled out .. 

 

Gworm
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Location
Monett, MO, USA
12/26/2025 12:53pm
ToolMaker wrote:
I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the...

I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the welding supply, they have 100s of cylinders free standing in the center of the building, but our 2? Yup, that's a fine. And no, not that's fine but that's A fine.

Go figure!

I think the reason the welding supply shops don’t require chains is because they have those heavy duty screw on caps to protect the brass valve and no hose hooked to it to pull it over when you tug just a little harder to reach something with your torch. 

That being said, in the past I’ve had bottles standing up unchained a lot. But now I have them chained on a cart. 

 

1
D_L118
Posts
490
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Location
Ghent, BE
12/26/2025 2:00pm
D_L118 wrote:

Anyone had a laserwelder in his shop? 
I’m seeing more and more people getting one, and a lot of them are using it for regular fab work.

bpaderta wrote:
I have 2 miller optix laser welders, we do mostly aluminum and they are very impressive. Opens the door to  a lot of things that just...

I have 2 miller optix laser welders, we do mostly aluminum and they are very impressive. Opens the door to  a lot of things that just aren’t possible to do with a tig

On how much of an investment do we speak? Is it useful when you have to fill small gaps?

ToolMaker
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9918
Joined
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Location
Escondido, CA, USA
Fantasy
12/26/2025 2:26pm
ToolMaker wrote:
I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the...

I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the welding supply, they have 100s of cylinders free standing in the center of the building, but our 2? Yup, that's a fine. And no, not that's fine but that's A fine.

Go figure!

Gworm wrote:
I think the reason the welding supply shops don’t require chains is because they have those heavy duty screw on caps to protect the brass valve...

I think the reason the welding supply shops don’t require chains is because they have those heavy duty screw on caps to protect the brass valve and no hose hooked to it to pull it over when you tug just a little harder to reach something with your torch. 

That being said, in the past I’ve had bottles standing up unchained a lot. But now I have them chained on a cart. 

 

I don't think so, I think it's just a way for them to cause pain to small business. Everyone keeps the caps on when the bottle is not hooked up. I can see that as a safety measure. The chain thing is for CA earthquakes. But if my 2 bottles will fall over and roll away, the hundreds of bottles at the supply house will surely tip over and start rolling away also. In CA the are all up in your business. They have people that go around and check your air compressor tanks too. And if you have more than 300cuft of gas tanks, you need permits for them not one tank bigger than 300cuft, but aggregate. LIke we are supposed to have permits for extra forklift tanks. I don't know the exact # as this is what our neighbor said he got written up for but My recollection was 300cuft. I think they picked a number just high enough that a home garage won't get inspected.

bpaderta
Posts
62
Joined
4/23/2018
Location
Fontana, WI, USA
12/26/2025 3:42pm
D_L118 wrote:

Anyone had a laserwelder in his shop? 
I’m seeing more and more people getting one, and a lot of them are using it for regular fab work.

bpaderta wrote:
I have 2 miller optix laser welders, we do mostly aluminum and they are very impressive. Opens the door to  a lot of things that just...

I have 2 miller optix laser welders, we do mostly aluminum and they are very impressive. Opens the door to  a lot of things that just aren’t possible to do with a tig

ToolMaker wrote:

Pics of products please?

Sorry for the crappy picture, but there is a picture of one of the welds on aluminum. It is very easy, you can have a newbie laying welds like that in an hour. It is faster than mig welding, with minimal heat so you don’t get nearly as much warping after welding. It really opens up what is possible since the welds are so small. The downside is the cost, and you need laser safety barriers around the welding area. IMG 3632 3

Gworm
Posts
2802
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO, USA
12/27/2025 5:09pm Edited Date/Time 12/27/2025 5:11pm
ToolMaker wrote:
I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the...

I see 2 bottles not chained to the wall. Here in CA that gets you written up by the city. But if I go to the welding supply, they have 100s of cylinders free standing in the center of the building, but our 2? Yup, that's a fine. And no, not that's fine but that's A fine.

Go figure!

Gworm wrote:
I think the reason the welding supply shops don’t require chains is because they have those heavy duty screw on caps to protect the brass valve...

I think the reason the welding supply shops don’t require chains is because they have those heavy duty screw on caps to protect the brass valve and no hose hooked to it to pull it over when you tug just a little harder to reach something with your torch. 

That being said, in the past I’ve had bottles standing up unchained a lot. But now I have them chained on a cart. 

 

ToolMaker wrote:
I don't think so, I think it's just a way for them to cause pain to small business. Everyone keeps the caps on when the bottle...

I don't think so, I think it's just a way for them to cause pain to small business. Everyone keeps the caps on when the bottle is not hooked up. I can see that as a safety measure. The chain thing is for CA earthquakes. But if my 2 bottles will fall over and roll away, the hundreds of bottles at the supply house will surely tip over and start rolling away also. In CA the are all up in your business. They have people that go around and check your air compressor tanks too. And if you have more than 300cuft of gas tanks, you need permits for them not one tank bigger than 300cuft, but aggregate. LIke we are supposed to have permits for extra forklift tanks. I don't know the exact # as this is what our neighbor said he got written up for but My recollection was 300cuft. I think they picked a number just high enough that a home garage won't get inspected.

I was thinking you meant bottles in use, not stored with the caps on. 

I also wasn’t thinking about earthquakes! It makes sense that they would want them chained, but definitely no sense that they don’t require the suppliers to chain theirs. 

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