grabercars.com

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject: Lets Talk Tools!

I bet you've got a tool or 2 that are really helpful in building a chassis. I used to tell everyone that I build my prototype chassis in 1/2 of a 2 car garage using a sawzall, a 4" angle grinder with a flap disc, a vise, a big hammer and a handy-mig welder. Nowdays I have a lot more tools. Let's hear about them.
_________________
Components, core kits, premium component kits and rollers now available Smile

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Things that I have bought that I thought, wow, what a difference this makes.
1.)Plasma cutter - Life is so much easier when you can cut through metal with the same amount of effort as drawing a line on a piece of paper. I wouldn't recommend the cheap Chinese one I got but the machine when working does a fantastic job.
2.)Auto-darkening Welding Helmet - I picked up one of these from Harbor Freight (blue-flame) since it was on sale. My starts have been so much better since I bought it.
3.)Ryobi One+ Cordless tools - Life without cords is great. Especially when your dealing with hot metal. I've melted several power cords that accidently crossed over places that I had welded recently. The Ryobi ones have been nice since they use the same battery for all of their tools, even the new lithium ion batteries fit the old tools which is very nice. Plus they're not too expensive.
4.)Stepped drill bits - WOW! These things work wonders. I bought a set of 3 of these from Workshop Tools for $10 and they have been great! This was prompted by me needing to drill 3/4" holes which I didn't have that large of a metal bit for. The stepped bits made the holes super fast and I use them everywhere I can now.

Things I felt I kind of wasted money on.
1.)Chop saw - Yeah it did call the cuts for my car, but it made a mess, was very loud, and it's hard to be precise with it. In hind sight, I would have bought a bandsaw to cut the tubes or just used the plasma cutter if I had it in the beginning.

2.)T-handle spark plug wrench - I bought this for my Corvette since the spark plugs were very difficult to reach. It didn't work, in fact, I haven't really ever found a good use for this one. It's acutally larger than a regular socket so anywhere this would fit, a socket would as well.

I have a very large selection of tools now which have been purchased from Harbor Freight mostly. It's been a pleasant experience. I haven't really had any trouble with their tools not working, it's usually the ones that I buy beacuse I thought the Harbor Freight ones were too expensive. I guess that should be a warning flag right there.

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

Those stepped drill bits are fantastic. I use them all the time. They are also nice because the next step up can be used to create a nice chamfer in your hole, cleaning up the edges.

One little tool that I have really used a lot is a socket driver bit for my cordless drill. You can put a socket on the end of your drill and really spin nuts and bolts quickly. It's such a small thing, but if you want to move quickly on removing nuts and bolts there is nothing can beat it.

I'd also say that an air compressor is almost an essential tool.

Maybe what we should do is break these ideas out into individual threads and talk about them in more detail?
_________________
Components, core kits, premium component kits and rollers now available Smile

Last edited by captjim on Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:31 pm; edited 1 time in total

Several years ago I was building a model boat from scratch. I was trying to duplicate a model a friend had built. I ask my friend if I could borrow his plans. He looked at me straight faced and said, " you don't need any plans, just take some wood and cut off everything that doesn't look like a boat." Building the La Bala involes in a little more than taking a stack of metal and cutting off everything that doesn't look like a car, but you will find yourself cutting a bunch of metal. I will be adding to this post from time to time as my build progresses. I'll also include photos and techniques that work well for me. Every once and a while a tool gives me a warm fuzzy feeling just by it's functionability. I'll move these to the top of my list. Very Happy

I'm going to start out with a few safety tips. You will be working with a lot of hot, sharp and heavy stuff. Cutting, grinding, and welding can be very satisfying, but they do present some hazards.

Always Wear Eye Protection
I think one of Murphy's laws states that welding splatter will always seek the way to your flesh. A good set of work boots will save your socks, and your feet. They also help if you get mad a kick an unmoveable object.

As I start listing some of the tools I've found helpful in my build I first want to make a disclaimer. I do not own stock in Harbor Freight, but I do get valet parking when I shop there.

You will be doing a lot of cutting and welding. I do 90% of my welding with a Miller 135 MIG unit. It runs on 110V 15A and will weld anything in the car.

When you get your MIG unit, pick up a set of these pliers. They are the greatest thing since slice bread.

For more delicate welding I like to use the HF TIG unit. This welder will also work as a stick welder.

For cutting up to 1/8" The Hobart Airforce Plazma cutter works pretty well. If I had it to do over again I would have bought a heavier duty unit.

For cutting thicker stuff, I haul out the old Oxy Acydeline rig.

_________________
Always remember, ain't nothing is as simple as it seems.

Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: Welders

How big a welder will I need? Will 110volt mig work for this? I have a friend that is going to teach me to weld I hope if not I will take a class.
I would like to pick up a welder should I get a new one or try to find a good used one cheap?
Thanks

Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Welders

Jim - every pair of socks I own has a hole in the top side! LOL.

Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject:

I used a 220V, 130amp welder for mine, and I'd say you want no less power than that. Of course, that's a Harbor Freight welder. So, if you were to say purchase a more quality 110V welder such as a Lincoln or Miller, then perhaps you would be alright. The amps are the more important fact here.

As for the requirements, the thickest stuff in the project is 1/8" steel expect for one part that is 3/8" which you could get welded for you if you don't have the machine for it. So acutally, anything that will reach about 130 amps (realistically) then that would probably do it.

Check out www.weldingweb.com They have a forum there with all the welding pros who will help steer you to the right equipment.

A used welder is just as good in my book as a new one. Especially if it's a name brand like Lincoln or Miller which you can easily get parts for.

Personally though, my Harbor Freight welder has been good but I don't think their 110V model would cut it since the 220V barely did.

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys I know that TSC sells Hobart welders but I do noe have the money for that now. I will keep looking for a good used unit. The guy I work with has been welding for years I just need time for him to show me what to do and how to do it.

Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject:

bump
_________________
Always remember, ain't nothing is as simple as it seems.

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:48 pm Post subject:

I'm going to upgrade from my flux welder to a 135/140 mig , but do I need a plasma cutter also?

Thanks
Nick

Here is my current list tools

small angle grinder & bench regular grinder
small Drill Press (its not too small, but its not an industrail one)
reciprocating saws
chop saw
small band saw
flux welder (going to be upgraded)
a few saw horses for make shift tables
small 2 gallon air compressor
vices

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject:

You definitely want a MIG welder.

You can get by fine without a Plasma cutter, especially so if you buy all of the tabs and brackets pre-made. It just makes things easier. You can do all of the cutting with a saw, torch, grinder, or whatever you got that cuts metal. A plasma torch just makes cutting metal as easy as drawing with a pencil.

If I had my choice of tools to start this project again and knowing what I know now I would have:
4.5" Angle grinder (I have a 4", but a larger one would be nice) - You'll want to use the sanding flap-wheels a lot, they work great.
Recip. saw (the best tool for correcting mistakes and making quick cuts)
Band saw (still don't have one, but still want one. I used a chop saw for all my "straight" cuts)
Plasma torch (got it, love it)
MIG welder (got it, love it)
Auto-darken helmet (Made my life much easier with the auto-darkening).
A build table (It was very hard for me building on my uneven garage floor.)
Cordless drill (I got the Ryobi lithium-ion, and LOVE IT!!!!!)
Step-down drill bit set (real handy and fast on the hole making)
Bi-metal hole saw set (I bought like 6 different ones, would have been cheaper to get a whole set by now)
Hydraulic rivet gun (Riveting the floor in took FOREVER, and leaves your hand sore, but it's doable without it, I did it).
Drill press (got a table top one, came in very handy)
A sturdy vise (I got the $20 from Lowes, it sucks, I want a beefy one now)
Brake tube kit (Flaring tool and a tubing bender)
Clamps (clamps, magnetic clamps, etc.)
Level
Angle finder
Square
A set of different colored markers for writing on metal (Sharpies FTW!!!)
Socket set
Jack/ jack stands
Air compressor (gotta have for the plasma torch)
Socketing wrenches (If you've ever tried these you'll know, they are awesome!!!! Sometimes called "dog-bones")
Face masks (coughing up metal pieces is bad, mm k)
Cherry picker (Bought one at harbor freight, used it many times)

Um....I think that's about it, probably a lot more. I've been a frequent visitor to the tool store over the past 2 years. Do yourself a huge favor and get all of the safety equpment first. Glasses, goggles, face mask, welding gloves, etc. Your body will thank you later.

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you have a good start. I like my Miller 135 MIG, a lot. I have 4, 4 1/2" grinders that I bought from HF for about $19 each. I have 1 with a grinding disk, 1 flap disk, 1 cutting disk, and 1 with a wire brush. I only wore out the one with the grinding disk during the La Bala construction. I bought HF's small metal bandsaw and the good bimetal blade for the majarity of my tube cutting. The 4 1/2" cutting disk works great for doing rough shaping and fish mouthing tubing. I then use the grinding disk to finish the shape. Make sure anything you want to keep painted, and any glass is far enough away from where you are grinding. My windshield was about 6' from the fab shop and ended up with a lot of pits. Confused

_________________
Always remember, ain't nothing is as simple as it seems.

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:22 pm Post subject:

Great list!

The plasma cutter was one of the later additions to my workshop, but I do wish I had purchased it much earlier in my lifetime. I used to use an air shear to cut steel and aluminum sheet, but now I clamp a straight edge to the sheet and draw the plasma torch head along. It makes the job fun and saves an incredible amount of time.

I also scribe round and square tube miters and notches and make my rough cuts with the plasma torch, then finish to the scribe mark with the flap disc on the angle grinder. For me, any chance I can use the plasma torch I do.

I dislike grinding steel, it's noisy and I have been known to get shards of steel in my eyes even with safety glasses.
_________________
Components, core kits, premium component kits and rollers now available Smile