Foo - Welding machine????

does anyone know where to get a good multi purpose machine like a plasma cutter and welder in one...please let me know if you have any suggestions???

What are you trying to do? A decent plasma cutter is not a small investment, and will be a different machine than a welder, although the two look similar. With welders, even if you don't want to weld aluminum it's not too hard to put $1000 into a passable setup.

Without knowing exactly the kind of stuff you want to do, it's kinda hard to make any recommendations. Plasma cutters are a dedicated and specific design that really doesn't share much with welders. Unless you want to get a combo device that's mediocre at both. After welding with oxy-acetylene and MIG for decades, I finally stepped up to TIG since I've been doing a lot more fabrication for racecars. I really like this Miller Dynasty 350 unit.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/Dynasty_350_Series.jpg (http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/dynasty_350)

Hard to go wrong with either Miller or Lincoln.

i actually purchased a longevity multi- purpose machine and just got it in and it works great.......:lol::lol::lol:

i actually purchased a longevity multi- purpose machine and just got it in and it works great.......:lol::lol::lol:

Well if that's the case, since you clearly have a camera, show us some pictures of your welds on either sheet metal or really thick plate.

A good test of a plasma cutter is to actually weld those cut ends back together.

A good test of a plasma cutter is to actually weld those cut ends back together.

correct.

also i'm going to step out on a limb and say anyone asking where to get a good "multipurpose welder with a plasma cutter" doesnt really have any business using either:)

Was this actually a spam thread?

Without knowing exactly the kind of stuff you want to do, it's kinda hard to make any recommendations. Plasma cutters are a dedicated and specific design that really doesn't share much with welders. Unless you want to get a combo device that's mediocre at both. After welding with oxy-acetylene and MIG for decades, I finally stepped up to TIG since I've been doing a lot more fabrication for racecars. I really like this Miller Dynasty 350 unit.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/images/products_shots/Dynasty_350_Series.jpg (http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/dynasty_350)

Can/Would you recommend one of those small, portable oxy/acetylene rigs?

Can/Would you recommend one of those small, portable oxy/acetylene rigs?Sure, it depends upon your use. A good deal is the Northern Tool Torche kit for $200:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/171742_lg.jpg (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200413934_200413934?cm_ite=171742&cm_pla=Welding%3ECutting%2C%20Heating%20%2B%20Welding%20Torches&cm_cat=Nextag&cm_ven=Aggregates).

If you want to do brazing, you'll want to pick up an additional tip that spreads the flame out more.


For emergencies and light-duty, I actually take one of these to the velodrome:
Bernzomatic baby torche kit:
http://www.bernzomatic.com/Portals/8/Resources/ProductImages/OX2550KC_lg1.jpg (http://www.bernzomatic.com/PRODUCTS/KITS/TORCHKITS/tabid/215/ctl/Detail/mid/1147/xmid/6954/xmfid/3/Default.aspx)

I was actually able to repair a friend's bike between heats (had gotten caught up in wreck and snapped bottom of rear-dropout off).

Was this actually a spam thread?

Reckon so.

Sure, it depends upon your use. A good deal is the Northern Tool Torche kit for $200:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/171742_lg.jpg (http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200413934_200413934?cm_ite=171742&cm_pla=Welding%3ECutting%2C%20Heating%20%2B%20Welding%20Torches&cm_cat=Nextag&cm_ven=Aggregates).

If you want to do brazing, you'll want to pick up an additional tip that spreads the flame out more.

Where do you get the tanks, how much do they cost and how much to re-fill?

what about this kit with tanks:
http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-torch-kit-with-oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-65818.html

one more question, can you braze items as large is dropout/stays with the Bernzomatic OX2550KC Oxygen/Mapp Welding Torch kit? It'd like to be able to do braze-on canti studs and replace dropouts, maybe a disc brake tab on a stay and a small tube to brace the stay against braking force.

Was this actually a spam thread?

Most of these machines would be overkill for cooking spam. That said, you may be correct. :)

Was this actually a spam thread?Heh, heh... Searching for Longevity welders found a tonne of similar threads in forums all over the internet.

Where do you get the tanks, how much do they cost and how much to re-fill?Welding-supply shops will charge about $50 to re-fill tanks. Some swap out pre-filled tanks for yours.


what about this kit with tanks:
http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-torch-kit-with-oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-65818.htmlAh, that's an even better deal as it includes the tanks.


one more question, can you braze items as large is dropout/stays with the Bernzomatic OX2550KC Oxygen/Mapp Welding Torch kit? It'd like to be able to do braze-on canti studs and replace dropouts, maybe a disc brake tab on a stay and a small tube to brace the stay against braking force.Yes, the small torche kit can do all that. I've even built a recumbent from muffler-tubing using that little torche. Only issue is that the oxygen-tank only holds compressed O2, not liquid, so it lasts only about 15-20 minutes. At $8/apiece, it gets pricey if you have a lot of brazing to do. It will be fine for a single-bike project, but if you plan on doing more than what you've mentioned, then the bigger torche will cost less in the long-run.