Start a Welding Business - How to Buy Used Welding Equipment

One of the things that seems to confuse welders who want to start a welding business is the purchase of welding equipment. There are so many options available that its hard to know where to begin. And you do not want to make any mistakes here because unlike buying a car or a new set of golf clubs, this decision can really make the difference between being successful or failing. For example: Should you buy new or used welding equipment? What brand is the best? Miller, Lincoln, Esab, Hobart? Should you get a multi process machine like the Miller Shopmaster that is capable of Tig, Mig, Flux core, and stick welding? Or should you buy a separate machine for each process? Oxyfuel cutting outfit or plasma cutter? Air compressor or electric grinders? You see what I mean?

This article about starting a welding business is strictly opinion but it is based on solid experience. It is only because I have a welding business that I feel qualified to weigh in on how to start a welding business.

Here is what I would do in a down and dirty nutshell:

Stay away from multi process machines like the Miller Shopmaster unless you get a smoking good deal on one and intend to use it for only one process. Why? It just takes too much time to swap processes and the hoses, torches, and cables are downright unmanageable.

For your main Tig welding machine, try to locate a Miller syncrowave 250 on eBay or craigslist. If you are patient, you can find one with all the accessories for 2000 bones or less. A bargain.

For a Mig welding machine, again shop eBay or craigslist for a Millermatic 250 or 251.

Somewhere around 1000 bucks is a good deal. Anything less is a steal.

If you are cramped for space, a foldable welding table or two is the ticket. They are strong and you can hang them on the wall to get them out of the way.

You can get by with electric grinders at first and I would definitely get a couple of straight grinders and 4 1/2 inch angle grinders with a good assortment of consumables.

If you have a shop and not just the garage in your home, I would recommend an oxyfuel cutting, welding, and heating kit. Very useful. Owners size cylinders are roughly 175 each and the torch kit along with cart might cost another 300. Thats a total of 650 dollars. But you need it.

In fact, you really need to have a spare cylinder for all your processes. Welding gas cylinders are available in basically two kinds: leased cylinders which are the full sized cylinders used in industry, and owners cylinders. Owners cylinders are usually about 125 cubic feet or roughly half the capacity of the big ones. I recommend getting two owners cylinders for everything. Why? Because running out of argon on Saturday evening when the job is due out Monday morning is not bad for business. Having an extra owners bottle will not add to your monthly expenses and buys you time in getting your main cylinder refilled.

2 argon, 2 argon/co2, 2 acetylene, 2 oxygen at roughly 175 each = 8x175=1400

So here is the breakdown:

Used Miller syncrowave 250 2000

Used Millermatic 250 or 251 1000






8 gas cylinders 1400






4 grinders 2 straight, 2 angle 500






Oxyfuel kit 300






Miller spectrum 375 plasma cutter 1400






2 foldable Welding tables 300






Total 6900

This list is a great beginning toward starting you own welding business.

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Welding Gases

There are a variety of different types of gases that are used in welding. One of the major ways that gases are used is for shielding the area to be welded from gases that come from the atmosphere. The reason the shielding area needs to be welded is because these other gases can change the way the weld looks or make it difficult to use.

Whether a gas is used, the type of gas, and how it is used will be determined by the welding process that is used. Some of the most common gases and their uses are listed here:

Acetylene Gas -- this is a flammable gas that is also colorless and some people say it smells like garlic. The periodic table designation is C2H2. This gas gets the hottest of all hydrocarbon gases because it has a structure that is called triple bon. When you combine this gas with oxygen, which is how it is often used, the temperature of the flame can get as high as 5580 degrees Fahrenheit. This gas can be used for small or large projects. This gas is often called Oxyacetylene when it is also combined with oxygen.

Uses: bracing, welding, cutting and soldering and they are usually stored in pressurized steel cylinders.

Air -- believe it or not air is considered a gas in a welding situation. Air is found in bottles and is often compressed for the purpose needed in welding.

Argon -- this is a nontoxic, nonflammable and inert gas which means that it doesn't have a chemical reaction when it comes in contact with metal or other material. This is also a colorless gas and doesn't carry an odor.

Uses -- it is basically used for arch welding, the manufacturing of electronics, making steel and heat treating. Also used to weld aluminum and stainless steel (when combined with oxygen).

Oxygen -- is primarily used to work with other gases where high heat is necessary to do the weld. It is most often used with acetylene but it can also be mixed with argon and other types of gases.

Uses -- necessary when you want to use a high heat on metal.

Gases are most often used with a torch that has a regulator that can control the amount of gas that is distributed at any given time. The torch itself is attached to the regulator through hoses and the regulator is attached to the cylinders that hold the gas. Some gases like propane are in cylinders that have a short torch at the end; the torch is connected directly to the cylinder.

There are many safety precautions one should use with gases so that you cut down the risk of being hurt. Some things are common sense but it is a good idea to mention them anyway. Some of the precautions you should take include:

Store the cylinders in a place where they won't be damaged or over heated. If they are large cylinders make sure they are chained in a way that stops them from falling. If you have extra gas or cylinders with oxygen they should be stored separately.

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A well built wood retaining wall can add to any landscape, providing both visual beauty and a high degree of safety to any sloped property. When put together correctly a retaining wall built out of landscape timbers provides as much stability as any rock or concrete block wall, with the added good looks that only wood provides. The other nice thing is the functionality that wood provides, allowing for any number of designs that can be customized for each individual landscape.

A wood retaining wall is just as durable and functional as any stone, or block wall as well as being a safe and effective way to add a dynamic feature to your landscape. Wood adds a certain luster to any landscaping project and is a great material to utilize in the yard.

It is important to properly lay out and design any retaining wall, and one made out of wood is no different. A small wall is easy for the weekend do-it-yourselfer but for a large wall that is required to hold back a large sloping area it is best to go with a professional landscape service that has experience with large and intricate retaining wall construction. This is particularly true of a terraced wall that may have stairs built into it.

Some people may question the strength of a wood retaining wall but because of the way they are built they are exceptionally strong and are able to hold back large amounts of dirt with little problem. In fact the bigger and more complex the wall the stronger it usually is. This is because each section of wall is tied together, creating a large interconnected frame work. This creates a very heavy wall that is impervious to just about anything.

If you are a homeowner with a sloping landscape then a wood retaining wall can be a great way to add a visual element to your landscape that will also add value to your whole property. When it comes to retaining walls there are many choices and wood should always be a first consideration.

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