Welding set up?

[Grendl]

Can someone direct me to a decent welding set up for buidling a Suomi, sten, and barrel brakes?

I'm a newbie to welding with only some torch experience.

Thanks in advance.

[kcstott]

Pay someone else to do it. Then once you have developed enough skill. Go buy a set up.

That said if you really insist on getting your own set up. Get a miller 140. This will cover all you will ever need for doing light seat metal work. it can also handle up to 3/16" with no problem. Get a small steel mix bottle and get a centerfire conversion for the mig gun it's a life save and cheep too.

.025" ER70S6 wire and you're good to go.

[Arisaka]

Can't pay a welder to make you a gun, unless they are a manufacturer. Buy a TIG setup and learn. The little Harbor Freight TIG/Arc inverter setup is only $220 or so. Then get a shielding gas bottle and you should be good to go! I've build a few things with just the little Harbor Freight fluxcore welder (the $89 one) and it works fine. Good enough for my Galil reweld....

[kcstott]

Can't pay a welder to make you a gun, unless they are a manufacturer. Buy a TIG setup and learn.

That's not what was stated or implied.

You can take any part to a welder and have him do what ever you want while you wait.

Edit : So long as the welder is not completing the receiver portion of the build taking it from a non functional receiver component to a functional receiver. Let me be completely clear here.
Once you the user have done what needs to be done and receiver meets the requirements for a firearm as defined under DOJ and BATFE laws. You could then have an experienced welder do modification or repair work on your receiver. As long as you are there when the work is being done and the receiver never leaves your sight. You can not have the guy weld up your receiver chunks nor can you leave it with him over night.
This also hold true for any machine shop that may do work on firearms from time to time. It is legal but you must not leave the firearm with them at all. You have to be onsite with your receiver.

[Arisaka]

Can someone direct me to a decent welding set up for buidling a Suomi, sten, and barrel brakes?

I'm a newbie to welding with only some torch experience.

Thanks in advance.

Pay someone else to do it. Then once you have developed enough skill. Go buy a set up.

That said if you really insist on getting your own set up. Get a miller 140. This will cover all you will ever need for doing light seat metal work. it can also handle up to 3/16" with no problem. Get a small steel mix bottle and get a centerfire conversion for the mig gun it's a life save and cheep too.

.025" ER70S6 wire and you're good to go.

[Arisaka]

That's not what was stated or implied.

You can take any part to a welder and have him do what ever you want while you wait.

Except build a reciever.

[mr821907]

miller

[bigcalidave]

That's not what was stated or implied.

You can take any part to a welder and have him do what ever you want while you wait.

No, you can't.
This is firmly established. If someone else is doing the work to make the leap from piece of metal to firearm, they either have to be building it for their own use, or an FFL 07 manufacturer.

[Arisaka]

What up BigCaliDave, beautiful day, huh?

[kcstott]

No, you can't.
This is firmly established. If someone else is doing the work to make the leap from piece of metal to firearm, they either have to be building it for their own use, or an FFL 07 manufacturer.

So you mean to tell me that a guy that brings in his prefolded flat that screwed up a hole has me repair it while he waits is in violation. Wrong buddy.

Once the flat is folded or the FCG is machined the firearm is done
The rest is assembly Even if a cut up receiver was just tacked up it would still be a firearm. So you could get a demilled receiver tack weld it up and take it to a real welder for a repair.

Welding the the mag well on a sten doesn't qualify as long as the receiver is done and is already a firearm at that point. And sten doesn't need the FCG welded to it or the well well attached to be a firearm. All it has to have is the receiver cuts.

Like I said once the receiver is done the build is over. You can then walk said parts into a shop and have them do work for you while you wait.

The firearm does not need to be complete nor operational to qualify as a firearm. Use the DOJ's laws and interpretations against them along with the BATFE's. If that was the case you'd never be able to get a stripped lower you would only be able to get a complete rifle. and lowers would not be a no FFL required.

[Ak707]

i have a millermatic 180. Its soo easy to use its ridiculous. I highly recommend a new millermatic 140 or 180 and a bottle of argon/co2 for someone looking to start welding. A cheaper option would be a hobart welder, they are made by miller and are probably identical on the inside. and don't cheap out on a helmet either get something with auto darkening lens. I got mine from harbor freight for $50 it works great.

[bigcalidave]

How is that what I said in any way?????

I specifically said, " If someone else is doing the work to make the leap from piece of metal to firearm"

Come on, at least read the quote first. Repairs aren't making the conversion from an 80% to 81% or whatever the ATF calls a firearm. If you want to try and get away with what you are suggesting, just hope you don't get caught doing the work for someone else. There is no way I'd recommend having someone else do the majority of the work. The receiver is not "done" when you tack a few spots together. Unless you have some ATF ruling on this, which you don't, please don't suggest it.

[kcstott]

How is that what I said in any way?????

I specifically said, " If someone else is doing the work to make the leap from piece of metal to firearm"

Come on, at least read the quote first. Repairs aren't making the conversion from an 80% to 81% or whatever the ATF calls a firearm. If you want to try and get away with what you are suggesting, just hope you don't get caught doing the work for someone else. There is no way I'd recommend having someone else do the majority of the work. The receiver is not "done" when you tack a few spots together. Unless you have some ATF ruling on this, which you don't, please don't suggest it.

The receiver only needs to "Be able to be assembled into a functioning weapon" It says nothing about being able to say together after one shot. And i'd be willing to bet if a gun shop started Tack welding receivers together they'd be railroaded right friggin quick. So based on that a receiver is done as soon as it is able to be assembled into a functioning weapon. Again whether it will hold together or not is irrelevant.

Where did I say have the welder complete the receiver?
Yes my comment was broad but use some common sense.
I will never condone nor suggest breaking the law.

Why do it when it's so much easier to skirt it or find a loophole to jump through.

[nicoroshi]

I re-weld with a mig welder from HF. Cost me $170.
Not a miller, Hobart or Lincoln but it can do the job for the milled rewelds I have done.
I use .030 ER70s-6 wire and 75%Argon 25%CO2 gas.
Granted I wish I still had my Miller Syncrowave 250 Tig welder but the little HF machine has done quite a few re-welds to date, and is still chugging along.

[DREADNOUGHT78]

Get the Miller 211 and never buy another welder again. I am into my set up for around $1500 and that is the Welder (with regulator),bottle,helmet and even a pretty nice set of Miller gloves. The good thing about the 211 is it runs 115 and 230 all by just switching the plug (which is included) as opposed to the Miller 140 that is 115 only or the 180 that is 230 only. Also it's yours to learn on and once you start getting the hang of welding you will use it more often. CS with Miller is great as well.