Went from a Wannabe Weldor to a Gonnabe Weldor

[Teikas Dad]

Well, I managed to only singe the edges of the credit card today...didn't melt it but I tried.

Went to TSC this morning and bought the last boxed HH187 they had along with a couple spools of regular and flux wire to start off with. Got home and ordered my AD helmet from Northern Tool. ($49.99 and it got a whole bunch of great reviews on epinion and Northern's site.)

I just wanted to thank all of you guys on the forum. The advice you have given to all of us Wannabe Weldors is great. Ronnielyon said it best about buying the best you can right from the start. Swat283 offered great advise on the Northern AD helmet and Sparkeee24 gave a whole bunch of overall tips and advice. Thank you all.

I figure the 187 will probably outlast me and will do all I want to do now plus some. I won't have to kick myself down the road and say "****...I should have spent the extra money and bought the 187. I'm a police officer and think nothing of dropping $500 to $600 on a gun, so in the grand scheme of things the extra couple of hundred $$ for the 187 isn't that big of a deal in the long run....but I think I'll have a lot more fun with the welder.

Off to the LWS this weekend to get a tank of gas....Lowes to get a heavy duty plug to tie into my breaker panel...then all I have to do is wait for the helmet and it will be time to start learning how to make some sparks.

Thanks again all....anyone who is looking for info or advice about welding couldn't get anything better than is offered on this forum!

[Clay Walters]

You'll enjoy that new toy I suspect. Careful; its addictive.

Clay

[Teikas Dad]

I'm off to Lowes this afternoon for the proper sized plug for the 187. I want to make up an extension cord for it too. Is #12 wire heavy enough for the 30 amp load or should I go with a #10 wire?

[Sully2]

I think you're gonna like that "LEO". ( get it..."LEO"... )