Pledge: Welding Equipment

Quite a few people think it would be handy to join more heavy weight bits of metal than you can manage with a soldering iron or brazing torch.

News

A welder has been donated \o/.

We now need to get moving on the essential PPE, and determine how to provide a supply of shielding gas (see options below).

The items

 * A small MIG welder
 * Personal Protective equipment (At least 1 mask, apron, gloves)
 * Additional stocks of wire & gas for welding with.

The PPE is likely to set us back as much as a small welder initially, but it's entirely reuseable if/when we get a larger welder, and entirely essential. (Setting yourself on fire is not amusing - I speak from experience here)

I think we also need a ceiling-mounted welding curtain to protect other peoples' eyes - these seem to be about £50-60. We'd probably want to curtain off the far corner in the dirty shop. Russ 10:29, 22 July 2010 (UTC)

• Not sure what welder was targeted but these are 250-300 for anything above the really minimal. It's hardly ever worth buying at the bottom of the range .. though an offer at Lidl, Aldi, Costco etc. might be worth looking out for if this welder is only a stepping stone to an industrial one.

Things we have already

• regulator for disposable gas bottles, with welder
• spare tips etc.
• gauntlets [1]
• angle grinder
• simple (non-automatic) face shield
• a couple of bottles of gas (in the drawers under the mill)

Things we are planning to buy

• Welding screen - £105
• Automatic head shield, variable - £50
• Welding Leather Apron - £9 x 2
• Mig welder - £258

• Total Target - £431

Extra things we may need / consumables

• gas price comparison
  • small disposable - approximately 5 mins use for ~ £15
  • welduk refillable - approximately 3.5 hours use for ~ £40 + ~ £40 carriage + initial purchase of cylinder ~ £90
  • albee / air liquide - approximately 3.5 hours use for ~ £40 + initial purchase of cylinder ~ £100 if you can find a local supplier
  • Another similar alternative
  • rental from the bastards at BOC. Approx £70 per year bottle rental and £30 per Y-size (5000l, ~7 hours) refill
  • pub gas - needs a friendly landlord to divert a bottle of CO2. Cost unknown. Do NOT use Nitrogen/C02 mix. Note that C02 will give a dirtier weld than Argon/C02 mix.
• apron http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=374
• static masks for onlookers / trainees http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=102
• bucket of sand
• clamps etc. [2] [3] I have some of those clamps which I will drop into the space once I find them. I also have magnetic angle blocks, again they will need finding! --Nigle 21:13, 10 August 2010 (UTC)

Pledges

• £50 --t0m 09:27, 22 July 2010 (UTC)
• £20 --Russ 10:29, 22 July 2010 (UTC)
• £20 --Harry 10:39, 22 July 2010 (UTC)
• £20 --Jonty 10:51, 22 July 2010 (UTC)
• £100 -- Steff 09:57, 22 July 2010 (UTC)
• £20 --Solexious 23:23, 25 July 2010 (UTC)
• £20 --Teabot 17:06, 26 July 2010 (UTC)
• £40 --V21 08:49, 31 August 2010 (UTC)

Running total: £290

Approximate target: £450 (inc VAT + most delivery)

Needed: £160