Shop equipment

[El Guanche]

What would be the least ammount of equipment a small shop could thrive.
Make your wish list.

[El Guanche]

Equipment

The simplest Welding-shop equipment that permits you to perform your work is probably all that you need for getting started. For work on low carbon steel an example would be a simple AC transformer welding power supply. Keep in mind that used and reconditioned equipment may be available at substantial savings.

Fancy looking machines with all sort of additional capabilities may be strongly promoted by suppliers, but the question is if they are going to help your business become more productive and successful. New equipment should be first rented or leased for a short while, to decide if it actually provides benefits.

Besides electric welding equipment, an oxyacetylene welding kit mounted on a hand cart holding two gas cylinders is almost a must for any Welding-shop and maintenance facility. An air compressor may be needed to power pneumatic tools.

Apart from welders you will need accessories, like disc cutters, grinders, welding table with a sturdy vise, files, hammers to remove slag etc. and of course personal protection devices like welding mask, goggles, gloves, apron and so on. See

www.welding-advisers.com/Welding-shop.html

[FusionKing]

I am confused......did you just post a question and then answer yourself???

[walker]

The least??? a welder.

I would think you would need a welder, chop saw, 4 1/2" angle grinder, assorted hand tools (hammer, chisels, wrenches, ratches, sockets, etc), gloves, hood, soapstone, tape measure. That would be a bare minimum to do rudimentary work. I would then add an O/A setup, then air compressor (and air tools), then plasma cutter, then big steel fab table, bench grinder, 'nother welder (need a stick and a mig). There you have a basic shop, then you can shop for the big guns, ironworker, CAD plasma cutter, mill, lathe, sheet metal tools (brake, shear, bead roller, sliproll, etc)
I am somewhere betwixt the two at the moment, and can do most anything, some things just take longer.

[SignWave]

I am confused......did you just post a question and then answer yourself???

Uh.... that seems to be the case. move over, give me a little seat space on the bench.

[tacmig]

I think this is ad spam. Check the link at the bottom of his post....

TacMig

[El Guanche]

Well I just needed some advise and found the article of startup equipment anyone could ad suggestions. I put the link of the article I found but meant no spam. Just need some advice.

Thanks anyway

[migman69]

and for big jobs with a whole lot of grinding i would add a 71/2 inch angle grinder, i got one real cheap at a tent sale for 25 bucks

[tacmig]

Well I just needed some advise and found the article of startup equipment anyone could ad suggestions. I put the link of the article I found but meant no spam. Just need some advice.

Thanks anyway

Didn't mean to offend you! It's that we have had spam here before and your original post along with your reply looked a little odd. In any event, good luck and happy welding.

TacMig

[JH Customs]

a good chop saw is a necessity. A grinder- you can get by with a 4 1/2" grinder but make sure you get a good one because if not you will replace them on a regular basis. torch setup.