I am seriously considering one of these:
http://Look at this on eBay http://w...m/182152294609
Lars, you have a combo unit right?
Have you tried to tig with it?

Edit: can't get the link to embed properly. It's an eBay tig/ plasma jobby

 

I have the CT312 3in1 machine. I have yet to try tig welding with it as I am to lazy to figure out the hookups for argon. Is this the one you are looking at?

 

Yep, that's the one.
Not sure if it's worth the risk, but it is cheaper than even a harbor freight plasma cutter.

 

Apparently the used air compressor I purchased recently has a tendency to explode, and was recalled back in 2002. Called the manufacturer (Ingersoll-Rand), and they will pick it up on their dime and give me the option of a $100 prepaid Visa or a discount on a new I-R compressor. My initial plan was to get this one from Hazard Fraught Tools:

29 gal. 2 HP 150 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor

Factoring the Visa, that would come out to roughly $260.

However I can get one of these I-R compressors for a pretty good price with the discount:
FREE SHIPPING — Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate Air Compressor — 2 HP, 5.5 CFM, Model# P1.5IU-A9 | 11 - 20 Gallon Air Compressors| Northern Tool + Equipment

$387


$412

I'm tempted to go big and get the 60 gallon, even though I'd need to get a 220v outlet wired in. Will I even need that much air though? Strictly for hobby use: impact wrench, air rachets, angle grinder, etc.

 

I have the 29 gallon HF one. It runs everything from framing nailers to impacts very well, and it recovers quickly.
It's about the best compressor you're going to find before going to a 230V machine.
I also like that it is relatively portable, although it isn't light by any means.

 

Our IR compressor here at the shop **** the bed. Only after about 12000 hours too. I'm done with them.

 

Go big with compressors. It's all about the CFM delivery if you want to use high volume air tools like grinders, sanders, cut-off tools, etc.

While the HF one isn't a bad compressor by any means, the higher air delivery of the IR one will mean you use it more.

 

I never use air for any type of sanding or cutting tool with the exception of a small die grinder on occasion.

 

siphon pump thingy. Huge win, was $7



the 98 SL1 im working on? not so much

 

Not an HF piece, but get a drill-powered pump. Lots of them are crap, but the one below from Amazon pretty much makes changing trans fluid fun for a grand total of $8. Ain't nobody got time to squeeze a hand pump.



Actual HF product: 1/2" drive digital torque adapter. Such accurate. Much cheap. Does CCW torque for those of you with threaded BBs on your bike.

1/2 In Drive Digital Torque Adapter

 

Siphon......


The bulb is just to prime it.

 

Doh, your gravity clearly bests my drill. I do use mine for draining stuff though since it primes well and is easy and fast.

 

3" 90 degree corner clamps- Fail
3 in. Corner Clamp

I bought these because I wanted cheap/disposable 90 degree clamps for welding square tube structures. My thought was that if they are cheap, and I ruin one with the welder, no big deal.

These are junk. First, they are not square, I had to hit them with a hammer to bring pieces into square. They are also flimsy with very little clamping surface. 1.6mm thick aluminum construction with ~1/4" threaded rod for clamping force. The clamping jaw is less than a half inch tall so it barely engages the work piece.

 

3 Piece Three-Jaw Puller Set

Win/fail. Sheared just the tip when taking off an LS1 harmonic balancer, but got it off nonetheless. When the tip sheared, it ended up in the crank snout, which was a pain to extract.

90 Amp-AC, 120 Volt, Flux Cored Welder

Win/fail. For $80 on sale it fuses metal together. Does a pretty terrible job, but it's sole purpose for me is to tack an exhaust together so I can bring it to work and fully weld it. Not recommended for an actual welder, but for the price it's hard to beat to hold metal together.

 

Second WIN vote for the A/C manifold gauges. I got mine with a coupon for $45. $25 for a couple cans of R134a and a can opener at O'Reilly's and my daily Sentra is blowing cold again.

 

I rented the gauges and a vacuum compressor from AutoZone. Last night I was working on filling my miata with R134a and then fucked up and sprayed myself all over my face and the ground. Was not a fun experience. I am just going to pay my local shop to finish filling up AC. I also learned my idle needs a lot of work when the compressor kicks on.

 

Having never done any A/C work (beyond using the all-in-one refill cans), I definitely worked much more slowly than normal. The fact that the half of the valves turn open clockwise and the other half open counter-clockwise definitely slowed me down, too.

 

I have to disagree somewhat about this welder.
Obviously it's not going to weld as cleanly as a MIG, but with Lincoln wire, I find it does a decent job.
HF wire sucks.

 

I'll update my opinions this weekend. My Lincoln NR-211 0.030" should be in the mail today.

 

Any of you used their ratchet crimper? Or should I just get one from Amazon? Might get adventurous and install my WBO2 and MS3 this weekend.