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zimasprite

Jedi Hopeful
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Hey everyone,

I thought I would say hello as I am new here to the forum. I have a 62 Sprite MK II with 36,xxx original miles. I started the restoration about 7 years ago but haven't done anything the last 4 years or so. I have most everything apart and need to do body work now. So, I'm hoping to get back into this and that funds will permit me to do so. I want to do the work myself (except the painting) and am pretty good at welding and fabrication work. Just need to get a compressor and welder now ;-).

Thanks and I look forward to participating in this forum!!
 
welcome to the club. When it comes to the welder and compressor, there's no substitute for size on the compressor and no substitute for quality on the welder so make sure you get a good one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I'm trying to figure out exactly what to do for a compressor(and welder too). Problem is my detached garage isn't wired for 230V service. I really don't have $1500+ for a gas powered one. The breaker box for my house is in my furnace room which has an external door opening that is just across the driveway from my garage. I am thinking of putting some sort of outlet in there and a good cable/extension cord that will span across my driveway when I want to use the equipment. Any ideas would be great! Sheesh...need to do this even before I do the body work!!!
 
I have a portable garage, that's sitting about 40' from my breaker box in the laundry room. I just added 2 30A circuits for lights and tools and run extension chords out there for most stuff. Luckly there was a 220V outlet for the dryer already, so I made an extension cable 100' long for the welder running off that outlet. Works great. Get a basic home electrical wiring book and add the 220V circuit and the 110V circuits yourself. It's easy to do.

As for welders, look into a Milermatic 175. They retail for like $800 but I found mine locally for $625. Even with gloves, helmet and gas I wasn't out more than $800 out the door for it. As for compressors, I actually know a lot of people who have had great luck with harbor freight units, the really big ones.
 
I would think that this wouldn't be terribly expensive to get an electrician to set up a 230 V circuit in your garage. There isn't a lot of work involved, and the parts are relatively cheap. A breaker should cost less than $25.

It is even possible to do the work yourself, but you need to make sure to follow the electric codes for your area and obviously work safely. If you aren't very comfortable doing this, I would definitely get someone else to do it for you.

I think that this is better than using an extension cord across a long distance. Most extension cords are necessarily sized for long runs which leads to too much voltage drop in the cable which will cause your compressor and welder to pull more current that what it should. Also, there is a safety factor in having the extension cord run across the ground for such a long run.
 
Currently, my garage already has 120V service on a 30amp 3 wire cable that supplies a breaker box with 2 15amp 120V circuits. The cable is run underneat my paved driveway. I don't think this type of cable can be used for 230V service and I was told that I am only allowed to run one service line or something like that (if anyone knows otherwise, please let me know of possible options...I am by no means claiming to be an expert here). I think that having a long run of cable is worse for 120V service than 230V. After around 100' or so, there are problems, but I would likely be more than fine with 50'.
 
Does the breaker box have a label? If it does what do the ratings say? Also, I assume this is fed from your box in your house. Is it fed by a single pole breaker?
 
The main house breaker box in the furnace shed is a 240V, 200amp system. There is a breaker located on that box that says garage that is occupying a single 120V 30amp breaker. The garage has a small breaker box that can only house 2 single breakers. I did not see a rating on it. It looks like all of the slots on the house breaker box are in use though.
 
Power

Your existing 30A service should run a 90A-120A wire welder just fine.

As for the air compressor, another alternative would be to build a "dog house" or like shelter for the compressor against or near your house and to run a long hose or lay pipe (Schedule 80 plastic or metal) to the garage.

It's a lot cheaper and less trouble to lay a long air hose/pipe than it is a long electrical cable.

An added benefit is that you don't have to put up with the racket from the air compressor.
 
Re: Power

hmmmm..I like the way you think (and the car in your post!!). The furnace room may likely have room for a compressor also. Would there be a downside to putting a compressor into this room? It would fit, but may be a little snug.

Thanks for your input guys...this is very helpful. Also, is a 90-120A, 120V, welder ok to do body panel work? That is my main goal here.
 
Re: Power

Zimasprite,

A 90-120A wire welder is perfect for welding sheet metal.

I have a 100A and it works great. As well as my Healey, I have restored both my 65 and my 66 Mustangs.
I've used it a LOT.

I'd suggest that you get one with CONTINOUSLY variable heat and wire feed speed.

There are two wire sizes .023" and .035". .035" wire will weld up to 1/4" stock.
.023" would probably weld steel cans, but I have never tried.

Be ABSOLUTELY sure that you get one that will allow you to use GAS and if you can afford it,
go ahead and get the gas set-up and TWO bottles up front. I also use the 14 pound spools of wire
so I don't run out at midnight.

If you have any other questions, there are LOTS of guys here who are more experienced than I,
but I'll try to help if I can.

The only downside that I can see to putting the compressor in the furnace room would be excessive heat
if the compressor and the furnace were on at the same time.

If you ventilated the room (louvered panels in the top and bottom of the door) that would probably make
it better. You might also want to put some sound proofing in there while you are at it.

Glad you like my Healey. It is more than it appears.
To see why, please visit www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys and click on Car # 1.

Tim
 
Re: Power

I to have mounted my compresser in a small attachment to my house. this way you can not hear it in the house or in the garage. I also ran lines into the house and into the garage. Have compressed air were ever I need it.. used scheule 40, very easy to work with and have not had any trouble with it in 8 yrs that it been in.

Taz (Carl) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Re: Power

This idea of putting a compressor in my furnace room sounds like it may be a winner. Now I just have to figure out how to wire it, buy a compressor, and figure out how I can change my air filter with a compressor in the way..haha. Somewhere along the line, I need to convice my fiance' that we should spend the money too. All in a days work!!
 
Re: Power

Hey zimasprite,
Rick here. I bought one of the Porter Cable Job Boss compressors from Lowes and it does a fine job on every
thing I've done so far. It recovers fairly quick and is
portable enough that I can use it nearly anywhere with or
without an extension cord(up to 50 ft.). Have not had any
problems yet. I do purchase my air tools with the 6.0
scfm in mind. You'd be surprised at what all it will operate
though.
 
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