I will be moving into a house with a garage, and im getting a welder for xmas as well as other stuff to go with it.
Im just wondering if all you professionals can give some advice/hints when working with a welder.
Also what other tools would be good to go with it?

kevan

all advice needed

this could be an endless post <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

the short version:

for the welder:

get a welders coat - suede - for protecting yourself if you are under the truck
good welding helmet
leather gloves - always wear them
anti-spatter dip for tip of gun.
extra tank (or 2) of gas ( if it's a MIG )

other nice to have's:

Milkaukee 14" chop saw
Milkaukee 9" grinder
Milkaukee 4" grinder (or 2)
BIG vise
BIG bench grinder
Floorstanding drill press w/ 1" chuck
7" circular swaw w/ metal bladed (must have a metal guard on the blade <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />)

if you want to work w/ tube:
tubing notcher
tubing bender

maybe some folding steel saw horses that you can clamp your ground to to mahe a potable welding table.

Get a welder that's worth having the first time as opposed to getting a little cheap welder that won't do what's expected.

If you are looking at a mig I'd suggest a 135 Amp or above. I'm looking at the Hobart 180.

Stick well as long as it's a 220V box you should be able to do pretty much anything as far as thickness, but if it has a dc reverse polarity setting it would be a big plus. Buzz boxes are ok, though.

I have a 220 Volt buzz box and a 90 Amp mig on gas and I'd give both of them for the bigger mig.

I vote for a auto darkening helmet as well.

A welder is a big investment, make sure to spend the extra bucks off the bat and get a machine big enough for what you wanna do. a good welder will last a lifetime, you don't want to be buying one twice because you outgrew it. pay close attention to duty cycle. I say if you're going MIG you want a 220V machine. gas shielding is worth the extra money over flux core.

Everybody knows a plasma cutter makes the best companion to a welder! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

-Rob

Don't forget a BFH <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bansil

And disconnect the vehicles battery as a precaution
to welding on it.

plasma cutter would be nice, 1,200 bucks would be nice too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I need a welder that will be able to build rock sliders. (i think 3/16?)

table and hand held grinder are on the list, so is a vise.

kevan

A couple cheap wire brushes(hand kind) are good.
A wire rope brush for the grinder would be a cheap necessity for cleaning frame etc.
You need a minumum of a 135amp welder.
Some clamps would be nice.....I like Kant twist clamps,
they are $$$ but well worth the extra $$

Bansil

A fire extinguisher is a very good thing to have,just in case a fire gets out of hand.

Bansil

Especially if your welding in the dry grass, right Bansil? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

The auto dark helmet was one of my best investments. I did my sliders with a 115 v stick welder. It worked, but now I'm in the market for a larger mig with gas.

220 Volt Mig/Tig. I'd rather TIG roll-cages/suspensions than MIG.
Electrician to wire the 220 Volt -Pricey
Grinders- 8", 4", & Die
Cutting Products- 3", 14" chop saw, Plasma Cutter
Protection-Welding jacket, Gloves, auto dark Helmet
Fire Extinguisher
Fab Tools-Tube Bender-Go big ($1,500) or you'll regret it)
Tube Notcher
Drill Press - The bigger the better
Bench - Metal top - help if you need to make temp jigs
Lighting - High intense flourescent lights (it sucks when you can't see what you are working on

Welcome to the darkside Kevan. The biggest question you need to ask yourself before embarking on this adventure is will it be worth the mega costs of setting up your shop in the long run or would it be cheaper just to have someone do it for you. The price of the listed items will add up big time.
My Xmas list. The welder/better tube bender/plasma cutter. Got everything else but don't see Santa carrying any of the wnated items in his rucksack. Bummer