I'm baaaaaaack...

[everlastsupport]

Welcome back Trip. I always say there is room for anything to get better and just keep saying that (while you were going, I went though some pretty bad stuff). So I know.. Work for me.

Did you get with Oleg. He get you good deal. 200DX? LX?

What are you doing on the knuckles?

[Trip59]

Thanks Dave, Mike, glad to be back. Not to go into details publicly, but let's say... lawyers aren't cheap.

I called in to see what was available and caught up with him, talked about the PM and ship dates and whatnot and decided on a 200DX. I took a serious look at everything I have going on in the near future project-wise and decided that model would fit the bill for capability and budget.

I traded my truck for an '84 Ironhead Sporty, I'll post some pics and details in the project section. I'm hand forming fenders and a gas tank from some 16ga 55 gallon drums I got a hold of. I was debating on skinning a tank, adding parts to it, with my MIG, but decided I'd really rather build it from almost scratch. I'm still likely going to have the neck done, have a friend of a friend that's been doing them for 50 years or so, and with a 22" over front end, it needs to be done right the first time.

This ate up just about my whole budget, so it may be a little while before I can grab a tank and consumables, but I have some things to do that my MIG would struggle with, but an arc welder would take care of, so a pack of 7018's will be the first thing burned through with the welder when it comes in (some 15/16" CRS but welded to some 3" diameter bar)

[Trip59]

Regarding the knuckles, it's been something I've tossed around for years, had a few ideas. I've consistently had a pin, patch, buckle, cap, etc. with D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F. on it for the last several decades. Hmmm, 8 letters, 8 knuckles... I said about 6 months ago if I got free and clear of my 'issue' I was going to run with it. My friend/artist/biz partner offered to do them once I was clear. We were going to do them Thurs/Fri, but I decided to wait till after the weekend so I didn't waste three days in the shop. I figure by the time the welder ships, I get the power run and get some time, I'll be healed enough to get welding Good timing all around.

Yeah, I know lots of folks are against ink in general, I'm a collector and work with the industry (not an artist, but I do design work, computer work, equipment design and repair, etc.) As they can be easily covered with bandaids or makeup for the rare business meeting (I haven't had a face to face meeting in my professional career in the last 10 years...) I figure what the hell

[everlastsupport]

Sorry to hear about the cash flow. Hope Oleg made up for the lawyers a little. Best of luck on the truck and sure you will be on you feet in no time. economy seems to be a little better on the welding side.

[Trip59]

Well, financially (other than expenses) it's been an interesting year. My 9-5 is going strong. I left one contracted position and picked up what appears to be a better one. The expenses and the downturn last year (how fun is it losing a 45k/year contract? NONE AT ALL) have me still trying to catch up.

I was sitting at the bar the other night talking to a friend about a weld school commercial. If it wasn't for my disability rating, I'd seriously consider going back to it. Unfortunately, last I talked to anyone, no one wanted to hire me because of my physical condition. My new Everlast should allow me to get a couple products up and running for a business I'm trying to start, as well as some job shop type work.

Well that was cool, halfway through my post, my neighbor showed up. He asked if I could design and build a laptop mount for his Peterbilt. Said he'd buy me a bottle and first fill in trade (I told him I had the steel for it). Then I just need to get up to speed on AL as well and redo his reefer trailer.

[Trip59]

Ok, so I'm not asking the neighbor to buy the bottle, though I'll let him chip in...

I DID get the helmet issue addressed... couple bucks a piece from weldfabulous got me an 11, 12, and 13 shade for my flip front helmet. Have a few ideas to address convenience, I have a handful of high output LED's, may wire up a light for the front of it to illuminate the weld area and strap a switch to the foot pedal to cut it off when I start welding or something... or I'll just do it the old way like I did in the Navy (weren't allowed auto-darks)