Fireworks Surprise! (New Tool!!!) VIDEO on Pg.2

[90GTVert]

I got this private message on April 2nd...

190mech said:

Hey Brent,
Ryan,Scott and I are sending some fireworks your way in multiple packages,assembly required..We think it will be useful in your efforts to help the scoot nuts throughout the world..

The "fireworks" clue gave me a couple of ideas, but I never know what to expect.




I was working on a stubborn tire today when UPS showed up with a heavy box that I pulled this out of.






Well, now I'm pretty sure it's a welder since this is an 80CF tank, I assumed for inert gas or a mixture.

Within an hour or two, Fed-Ex shows up with another box. A couple of hours later, the mail lady leaves 2 more packages at my door. After unboxing everything, I've got all of this stuff!




















It's Christmas in April... and I'll probably look like an April Fool whenever I try to use it. lol Here's the list :

80CF Tank
YESWELDER TIG-205DS TIG/MMA/ARC Welder
PrimeWeld Argon Regulator
2% Lanthanum 3/32" x 7" Tungsten Electrodes
Bundle of Welding Rods
Lincoln Electric Welding Gloves
Plus a couple of "practice pies" (small cuts of steel tubing)


I know nothing about TIG welding, but it looks like probably all I'd need to start welding other than a tank full of argon. Related to that, I assume when you have a nice new tank that you can ask for it to be filled. I've heard some say that fillers only want to exchange tanks or fill their own tanks, but this thing is "shiny" and new.


I can't say thank you enough to John, Ryan and Scott!
190mech oldgeek ryan_ott
These are some of the same folks that are responsible for me getting a mini-lathe. John also hooked me up with a bandsaw not long ago. I'm not usually terribly motivated to try new stuff like this, as I always assume I'll fail... and I am guilty of buying scooter parts to the point that I have no money to spare. Using the mini-lathe, even poorly as I do, has really changed how I do a lot of work and broadened what I'm capable of. The bandsaw is a great help and simplifies or speeds up tasks. I'm guessing since this is sitting in my garage now, that the guys think TIG welding is the next big step for me toward becoming a mildly competent scooter dude.


At some point I will get the bottle filled and figure out how to set it up and try it out. Eventually I will post a video about it and unboxing. I've already unboxed it, as you see. I did note that some things about the YESWELDER do not feel as quality as my Hobart MIG. Minor stuff like fit and finish and material. Please know that any negatives are purely me being honest for the sake of anyone else interested and in no way a reflection of my gratitude or some lack thereof for what these folks have done for me. On the same note, if I don't get it ready to roll and going immediately, that's not lack of enthusiasm.


Once again, thank you so much to John, Ryan and Scott!!!

[jkeney]

Wow that is awesome!

[oldgeek]

As far as Argon cylinders go, they usually only have the capability to trade them out for you. As a matter of fact, at the place I used on my recent bottle swap, they were out of the 80cf cylinders. The guy said "I can give you 125cf cylinder if that's ok with you". Apparently a cylinder is a cylinder to them, and the cost to fill the 125cf bottle is only $6 dollars more than the cost to fill the 80cf bottle. IMO if they will let you upgrade to the larger cylinder, do it! Argon go's fast

I am glad you like everything, you deserve it and more.

[jbjhillbilly]

Sweet! That’s super nice of the guys.

[90GTVert]

I ordered another Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight) welding cart. Same thing my MIG is on. For $40, I have had no complaints with it and it really has no competition at that price point. Probably won't see that for a bit, because HF's flat rate shipping is often leisurely when there aren't widespread shipping issues.

I was looking up welding gas suppliers. Not much choice. The nearest larger town 10 miles away has Matheson, and they aren't well reviewed. If not there, I'd have to go 20+ miles to a Robert's Oxygen, which seems to be better reviewed. I'll probably just call both and see who has a better rate for 80CF when I'm ready to get it.

I've looked a little online and it does sound like there's a pretty slim chance of a bottle fill vs exchange. One person said local companies may do it, but everything around me is a chain. Then I saw people talking about bottle certification and timelines. It did make me wonder, what if I get a bottle in an exchange that's just ahead of it's certification requirement, and then I take it back later and they don't want it? One person online said something like that happened to him and he ended up having to buy another bottle because no one would accept it. I'd hope that's incredibly unlikely.

[oldgeek]

Apr 5, 2021 22:44:22 GMT -5 90GTVert said:

................I've looked a little online and it does sound like there's a pretty slim chance of a bottle fill vs exchange. One person said local companies may do it, but everything around me is a chain. Then I saw people talking about bottle certification and timelines. It did make me wonder, what if I get a bottle in an exchange that's just ahead of it's certification requirement, and then I take it back later and they don't want it? One person online said something like that happened to him and he ended up having to buy another bottle because no one would accept it. I'd hope that's incredibly unlikely.

Exchange prices seem to vary a bit. At my local Airgas shop the price is around $70 for the 80cf exchange. My last swap was at a welding shop that is a few blocks from Airgas, they were $5 higher but they allowed me to exchange the 80cf for a 125cf cylinder. Strangely, the cylinders at the welding shop are filled by the Airgas shop.

Also, I previously asked Airgas if I could pay them to trade up the 80cf to a 125cf, they said they no longer do that.

[90GTVert]

I guess they weren't done yet. I was working on the TMAX today and the mail lady brought a box up with a bundle of welding rods in it. Thanks again guys!

[Lucass2T]

What an awesome gift to be getting from the dudes here at 49ccscoot!

[Zino]

Brent
What a great group of guys for hooking you up
To keep up your Mad Scientist Testing and Modding.
I caught some of your vids on youtube 5 years ago and I was hooked .
You have inspired and built something special that has a worldwide following.

 

[90GTVert]

The welding cart came in from Harbor Freight yesterday. I assembled it and then took the hanger pieces back off. They had sharp edges, so I ground them down and repainted them. I ordered a small organizer from them too, since it seems like there are quite a few bits involved with TIG, but that didn't show up with the cart.

I called the 2 local gas shops this morning. Matheson that's ~10 miles away wanted $65.87 for 80CF of argon. Robert's Oxygen ~20 miles away wanted $45.00 so I went there and exchanged bottles.






Almost. This ain't gonna work. I need to figure out what the fittings are and if there's a coupling or I need a different hose or regulator fitting or what.




I took the time to clear a spot so I can store it by my other welder and toss the welding blanket over both to keep some of the dust out of them when not in use.

[FrankenMech]

Does one end of that gas hose fit the gas connection on the back of the welder? If so then there is probably some regulator problem either the wrong one or a coupler is missing.

You are loved Brent.

[90GTVert]

Apr 10, 2021 1:55:07 GMT -5 FrankenMech said:

Does one end of that gas hose fit the gas connection on the back of the welder? If so then there is probably some regulator problem either the wrong one or a coupler is missing.

Yeah. The hose came with the welder and fits it. I haven't measured anything yet or tried to match it up to see if it can be as simple as a coupler. Both being male, they don't look like the same connection style so I don't think it's going to be as simple as a female to female coupler. I don't know welding gas setups though, so it may be common for all I know.

EDIT : This is not the same regulator, but it was one of the first results to come up when I searched for the PrimeWeld regulator to see if they listed fitting styles. It looks like the regulator has the same thread as mine and there is a coupler or adapter to attach the hose like the welder has. It says 9/16-18 and 5/8-18 so I will try to measure. Maybe I can find just the coupler.

[oldgeek]

Brent there is a coupling that joins the regulator to the hose. I will look to see if it is on the spare hose I have when I go over to the shop.

[90GTVert]

I've looked for about 30 minutes and can't seem to find the adapter that I would need. It appears to be common, so I must be searching wrong. I thought maybe it was under the foam in the box or something and I missed it, so I went to check and there's the cutout in the foam for the regulator and then a round cutout that nothing was in. Worst case scenario, it looks like most regulators come with that adapter if they have that outlet size and I can get a whole regulator for ~$30 on amazon to grab the fitting.

Scott, if you happen to have one that you don't need I will buy it. You guys have done a lot for me already.

[oldgeek]

I found it! twas with the spare hose. Ill get it out to you today. Sorry about that, $2 fitting holding up progress!