Recent content by bigb

I don't know what your budget is but you said you have diminished eyesight, I bought a Jackson Truesight several years ago and I couldn't be happier with it, There was a big difference in what I could see compared to my old Miller hood. They do cost close to $300 though. The headgear is cheap...

Yes, the flux stays on and bends with the rod

Very nice indeed. I made a stand using a round piece of 3/8" plate 36" diameter. I welded receiver tube to it facing upwards and reinforced with 3/8" gussets, Made plates for a couple of my vises and one for my ring roller, each with a piece of 2" drawbar on the bottom that drops into the...

You can't beat the ruggedness of the old Delta machines, and they will last many lifetimes. They don't have all the bells and whistles of some of the newer ones but I can live with that. How about a pic?

While MIG may be easier to learn it is also easier to make pretty welds that don't hold and not realize it. I am a firm believer that a welding student should start with OA and learn the puddle, the heat, the penetration and then move on from there. Too many buy a MIG and "glue" stuff together...

back before the 80's there was a color coding system used on rods but there was never a yellow "end" color. There were yellow "spot" markings but the spot marks were not on the end, they were a little further up the rod.

Looks like Amazon now has them, when I first tried to locate some they were special order at the welding supply https://www.amazon.com/MG-Welding-Electrode-80T-AC-Plus/dp/B07N8Q59WY

hmmmm... I have these Messer 80T-AC PLUS rods that I inherited when I bought my Thunderbolt, they look a lot like the ones in your pic except for the yellow ends. They are indeed a "wonder" rod, I was very pleased with them, very easy to use on AC or DC and the welds came out looking beautiful...

My WAG is someone made them for tarp hold downs

Some concrete will help if it's unstable. This one has concrete filling the 1 ton brake drum and more concrete part way up the 1/4" wall 6x6 tubing. It don't move.

Finished the belt guard for the Rockwell today

Here's my Enco which I picked up for $250 with a Tapmatic 30X attached, I also have a 70X so the Enco is my dedicated tapping machine for #8/32 to 5/8" tapping. The other is my $35 yard sale Homecraft in running condition. I am in the process of restoring it. It came with the cast iron swing...

Nice machines, and nice shop by the way. Are the presses set up for a certain production or do you just use them at random? Or a museum? :)

I love my OA and I have a large setup with a Victor Journeyman, a Victor Ranger and an Oxweld torch. I have welding, heating & scarfing tips and cutting attachments to fit each. The Oxweld is my favorite torch. I also have a small setup (B) with a Smith little torch for tiny delicate work. I...