It followed me home

[Nolano]

Well, I have a mechanic friend who I acquire leaf springs, coil springs, and torsion bars from, but the stuff I mean are like the people who get lucky and find a nice #250 anvil at a scrapyard and whatnot like that. The neatest thing I ever found at the scrap yard was some wierd old shear or maybe press kind of thing. I have no idea what it was. But I do try to go the scrapyard as often as possible.

[Strine]

Think of it this way Nolano, would you believe that I reckon you're the luckiest man around. I've been looking for a wierd old shear or maybe press kind of thing for donks (donkey's years). I wish I was where you were that day.

[Strine]

this is a pic of a galv. box for quenching, couple of rods, a clamp, and a ground clamp, a couple of rods of verious shapes.

And of a really neat looking chair.

[FredlyFX]

I love scrounging at yard sales. I seldom get out to the scrap yard because the closest one is about an hour drive from here, and from what I've heard tell I may mortage the house and go nuts if I ever go there.

Here is a pic of my last great yard sale day. I picked up the air compressor for $300 at a yard sale. It's a 5hp Ingersol Rand with an 80 gal tank that worked great. I rented the trailer to get it home, and along the way stopped at another sale where a business that had repaired heavy trucks was closing down. I got the 2 tables and shelving unit and all kinds of other great stuff. Down inside the trailer is a whole pile of large U shapped shackle bolts used to bolt axles to springs, and a bunch of large pieces of brass that they had used to pound out bearings and things. I also got a nice 4 point lifting sling. I even got them to throw in a 5ft digging bar because it had a broken corner, and I had bought so much other stuff.

[meco3hp]

Fredlyfx,
Welcome to IFI! Looks like you've got a nice haul there, the work bench looks good and stout! The AC would be welcome in my shop or most any shop out there. IR compressors or nice, easy to get parts for too!

Keep up the good work!
Richard

[Nolano]

Its still there, actually. Just came back today. Im sure with a major de-rusting and some modification, it could be a press. There was some neat stuff there. They even had large sharp carbide tipped sawblades, along with a lot of stuff you have to wonder why someone threw away.

[Candidquality]

withholding names and location to protect the not so innocent.
I finally saw the guys working on the railroad and decided to stop and ask if they had any old spikes or pieces of track I might have. he said "sorry, I don't have any old ones at all." So I explained that I was going to make some knives from them. "how about a dozen or so new ones" he said with a grin. and proceeded to hand me 14 new spikes marked "W HC" I'm still grinning. not quite as exciting as a major find but a nice end to a long day nontheless

[meco3hp]

Hello,
Did you get his name? It'd be nice to send him one after it was made into a knife.
See guys, it never hurts to stop and ask!

Thanks
Richard

[FredlyFX]

This was the luckiest scrounge I have ever made. I was at my local welding supply 2 weeks ago and we were just shooting the breeze. I had talked to him several times about a wire feed welder, but it always came down to not being able to afford one. I almost bought a worn out former rental from him once, but couldn't even afford that. So, out of nowhere he says, “Hey, you want a wire feed welder for free?" Of course I say “sure, what's the deal?” He comes back with "Oh, it doesn't work. A customer gave it to me after he bought a new one. Just haul the POS out of here and maybe you can get it going" I figure what the heck and his guy helps load it in my truck.

I had never heard of this brand and did some research on it. It turns out the thing is used mostly in body shops, which is where this one came from. I tracked down the authorized service center and the guy faxed me a wiring diagram. While fooling around with it I noticed the switch was a little hinky. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes not. I figure that’s what made the original owner give up on it.

What's weird about this machine is that the electrical cord coming off of it is very thin for a welder. It's only about 3/8" diameter with a black, white and green 14ga wire inside. Both the welding shop and I assumed it was a 110 welder. Well after hooking it up to a 110 outlet I get nothing, then later I notice a little sticker that says it came from the factory wired for 208 volt. I figure what the heck and hook it up to an extension cord for my buzz box that is huge 10ga wire. It looks pretty funny, but as soon as I turn on the power I hear life in it. I hook up the ground, and sure enough it welds. Tonight I took out the switch and cleaned it and it works fine now. I bought a small roll of flux core wire just to confirm that it wasn’t a fluke that it welded last night, and sure enough, this thing works great. I need to buy a gas bottle for it and some tips and better wire etc, but basically I’ll only be into this welder for the cost of consumables. It is supposed to weld up to 3/8", which covers about 90% of the stuff I do. Anything larger and I just have to break out the tombstone.

[sandpile]

Good for you, Freddy.

You got lucky on this one.. Probably you are pretty well up on your people skills. You might consider giving the man in the store some of piece of your work just show him you are proud of him.GRIN.

Chcuk