newbie from North Florida

[buckshotscott]

Hello everyone,
My name is Scott and I live in Tallahassee FL. I recently ordered a new 256 multi machine for my home shop and can't wait to get it in and running. I just sold a 10 year old Miller 250X mig machine with a 30A spool gun to fund the new 256 and I still have money left in my pocket! My welding experience is from 15 years in the custom wheelchair and custom seating business where I specialized in custom fabrication and modification of factory built wheelchairs to fit a particular patient's needs. I have done a pretty good bit of Mig, Tig and a bit of gas welding as well but have not done any stick welding for a long time. My home shop is fitted for support of my hobbies that include building and racing vintage flattrack motorcycles (the trackmaster TT500 Yamaha shown) and building muzzle loading rifles and making rifle barrels. The attached pics are of my deep hole gundrill and sine bar rifling machines, planer mill and lathe. The gundrill and rifling machines are both of my own design and were built by me from scrap and ebay treasures! I have found that lack of money makes a person much more clever by necessity. I fish and hunt and my favorite past time of all is hunting squirrels with a muzzle loading rifle. I think everyone likes to consider themselves the best at something but sometimes the things we are the best at are not readily recognized by anyone else. I am one of the world's foremost authorities on head support for people with disabilities (you can say it...WOOOWW) LOL--and the best muzzle loading squirrel hunter in the world too(any challengers?)

[Gary]

Hey Scott welcome to the forum. I am sure you will be happy with the 256 its a great welder setup.I am in Florida too but south east of you by 4 hours.Just above Palm beach about 35 miles.
Keep the pictures of projects coming everyone like photos.
I ve got a little 22 ruger that I might challenge you with squirrels. Havent shot that one in 15 years though.
Also I have been in a wheelchair since 1980 from a car wreck (T10 Para )do you have any custom chairs around? I always thought about making one just never took the time and would need to get a bender as well, But my garage is so full now I can barely get around it . A shoptaske bridgemilll and a home built cnc router , now just got through cutting a bunch of metal to make a new welder cart slash welding table.. Going to start tacking it together tommorrow..
Gary

[buckshotscott]

I was let go from Sunrise Medical (the quickie wheelchair folks) on July 2nd after 15 years but thankfully they didn't want me to work for anyone else either so I still get paid until the middle of next year. There are some great chairs on the market now and although making one would be cool it is really not hard to buy something made to fit and still not break the bank. I could definitely get you a demo chair at a discount if you need a new one though. I still know all of the dealers and sales reps in the southeast. The new Q7 is a pretty cool chair...lighter than titanium but made from 7005 aluminum and then heat treated post welding and priced like aluminum too. I can't wait until the new welder comes in... I have some welds to do on a falling block rifle action I am working on and then some boat trailer work and then a tig torch cooler and welding cart. I have worked harder being unemployed than I ever did on the job!

[everlastsupport]

Welcome aboard Scott.

Don't let Gary fool ya, he gets around pretty darn good and in style.

Nice shop and bike.

I have a Rem Viper, but my old westerfield, I would take a shot at those squirrel with you if not so far away. 5 hours from you in West Palm.

Nice that you have time and money going for you. Best of luck and feel free to post.

[buckshotscott]

You need to dust off that rifle and come up and shoot some squirrels in October when the season opens back up. I can't wait. Here are some pictures of my last rifle that I built for my wife. It is a 28 caliber barrel that I made to shoot #2 buckshot. I also make 33 caliber barrels to shoot #0 or #00 buckshot. These are really economical to shoot because buckshot is sold in 5 pound or 8 pound containers for under $40 and most standard muzzle loading rifle balls are sold 100 to a box for around $10. There are around 1879 balls in an 8 pound bottle of #2 buckshot so it will last most folks a lifetime of shooting. In 2006 I ran a perfect day...a limit of 12 squirrels with only 12 shots and all were head shots! I have never heard of anyone else doing it with a muzzle loader before or since and it took me 25 years to do it although I came close a time or two.
I will try to post when I get my new 256 up and running and I sure appreciate everyone sharing their experience. This forum is a large part of why I ordered from Everlast.

[everlastsupport]

Hey Scott,

My Dad and Grandfather have flint and cap-and-ball rifles. I have used them as a kid. Sounds like you like a real challenge. I will stick with my old .22 and a scope. But doubt I would get that many head shots. That's impressive. Maybe I need to bring a Mossberg, then I can match you on kills.

Post up when you get the welder, call if you need any help, hit the "tech support" line to route to Mark or myself.

[trackmaster]

Hello, I am a squirrel (brown) from the woods of the mid-west, uh oh, .... wrong forum!

Lol, kidding! Hey again Scott, nice shop! Dig the rifle boring machine!
Hey whats that? ...... A double down tube 4130 nickle plated flat track frame ....... humm. Ahh, memories! Looks mint, nice bike man!

Hello Gary! ..... hey god bless ya man. It's truly inspiring to see someone that will not let their injuries hold them back from doing whatever they want. Right on bro. - Lou

[Gary]

I hope the squirrels in north florida are edible.. the one we get down here are hot and wormy..
And after what Mike said , I think the last 2 HOT days we have had down here have wore me out , I am building a new welding cart and out in the sun on the driveway is killing me out there . Thats why I am building a new cart , I am adding swing up or sliding (not sure which way I am going to built it) welding table to the left side so I can work in the shade during the day. It been africa hot down here the last week or so. And when I get done I dont feel like taking pics of the build but I will when I get it finished thats for sure..
I used to use my dads 410 over and under for the squirrels that way not as much shot to pick out when cleaning . But started using a Ruger small plastic stock 22 stainles samller model ,added a nice scope and usually get em between the eyes with that little 22.I loved that one you could shoot all day for $10 worth of ammo, Never got in to mussle loading. I did re-load 357 45 shotgun shells and 6MM mag when I used to benchrest shoot in Malabar , They have a nice range up there up to 500yards..
Oh and thanks Lou , I have been in this chair so long that I always just figure some way to get thing done, Might take a little longer but I usually get er done..
Gary

[jandlcars]

Welcome
i am from FL also i am at almost the top Milton North of Pensacola
Nice shop

[buckshotscott]

Thanks for the kind words about the shop. I think you are closer to Texas than to you are to Key West if I am not mistaken! If you get over this way look me up...I think we are only about 3 hours east of you.

[buckshotscott]

Got my PP256 and finally got everything plumbed and working. I had no outside shipping damage but I did have the minor issue with the arc start like Jody had on his in the video. Mine was a bit of both of the common causes with the points being slightly bent and the bus bar bent up and contacting the film can looking deal above it. So far so god and the next step is to make a welding cart for it and my Lincoln 135 mig unit. I plan to build the water cooler reservoir into the base of the welding cart to save space. I already have a small radiator with fan and a pump and a 12 volt power supply to run them both. It should be pretty lick and I will try to take some pictures along the way. I did make a cool adapter to use to connect a standard argon fitting on a standard tig torch to the quick coupler on the front of the 256. I got tired of trying to find the right connector to use so I turned a piece on the lathe and soldered it to a female argon fitting. Also made up a 3 way ball valve to switch easily from Argon to compressed air for the plasma cutter. I promise I will share everything once I finish the welding cart.

[aaxiss]

Wow neat hobby. I am also in the wheelchair modification business, but all of mine is for personal use. I'm a t-4 para and I will tell you no master what one of the above posters said I have never bought a wheelchair that I liked before making quite a few modifications to .