Just EXACTLY What will I need on day one?

[hooda]

Howdy Folks! Five days and counting!! My 250EX is set to arrive, along with water cooler, and wp20 torch (read the bottom paragraph for a little more news on what's coming to me). I'm just itching with anticipation, and I'm putting together possible scenarios on how this could go. I'm going under the assumption that my order will arrive undamaged, intact, and ready to go. Understanding the disclaimer that has plagued modern man since the dawn of time is: "SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED" What I'm getting at is this:

Once I get it out of the box, attach the power supply plug, and the regulator, what is needed to hook up the water cooler to the torch and machine? And, is any of that hardware supplied? What I'm trying to avoid is getting this machine and then spending the next 2 days chasing down fittings, lines, cables, connectors, ...you get the picture. I'm positive that the answer has already been posted, but I'm under a posting time crunch, so if someone has the answer, please share it with me.
I have the following on hand:

• 320 cf Argon tank, 3/4 full
• 3 gallons of water cooler coolant/antifreeze (for WELDING WATER COOLERS)
• Tungsten grinder (see my posts on this, it's NEATO, and cheap)
• 50 amp, NEMA-spec plug to fit my receptacle
• 20-30 sticks of tungsten, mostly thoriated, 3/32", but some of all diameters
• several collets, collet bodies, cups, and a gas-lens setup
• Filler rod in 4 aluminum alloys, 2 stainless, and 2 steel
• 3 different ADF welding helmets to test, review, and post on
• all my equipment, grinders, aluminum-specific files, etc.
• plenty of practice material, and a really good video camera

So, you see, I'm ready to go, and chomping at the bit to get started. If there's a list of what I'm missing, please tell me. Thanks!
By the way, I haven't mentioned yet, but I also have a relative who I managed to convince to try Everlast (he will be part of my business), so, along with my 250EX, I have a 185 micro coming in the SAME shipment! I will be unpacking, setting up, and testing this unit for him before he gets it. I MAY want to try out my water cooler/wp20 setup on it, so anyone with info on THAT setup, please chime in!

[geezer]

A comfortable chair, some decent small hose clamps, a fire extingusher or a couple of 2 litre popbottles filled with water and a nail hole in the lids for squirting hot spots, some kind of table or a halfsheet of plywood across 2 sawhorses to act as a temporary tig table, a fitted lens for the camera so you can film and get more than a flashing glare from the arc, a tool box dedicated to hold all the TIG odds and ends like collets etc, etc, ...there is no end to the stuff a fellow eventualy needs and gets..

[DaveO]

The only things I can think of:
~ a second NEMA plug for the second machine
~ a polycarbonate #10 or #12 lens for the camera
~ notebook? for what went wrong / what went right, or things to remember for next time welding on that same kind of material

I see Geezer mentioned the lens for the camera: that could almost be a project in itself, what with spoofing your camera to leave the lens extended (on mine the lens retracts), what shade lens to use (probably will differ from process to process, or application to application), how to edit the video (delete the dead space that occurs between the time you turn the camera on and light the torch; remove background sounds and add voice over a la Jody), etc.

[hooda]

A comfortable chair, some decent small hose clamps, a fire extingusher or a couple of 2 litre popbottles filled with water and a nail hole in the lids for squirting hot spots, some kind of table or a halfsheet of plywood across 2 sawhorses to act as a temporary tig table, a fitted lens for the camera so you can film and get more than a flashing glare from the arc, a tool box dedicated to hold all the TIG odds and ends like collets etc, etc, ...there is no end to the stuff a fellow eventualy needs and gets..

HAHAHA!! That was in what I call the "given" category, More than anything, I'm thinking in terms of special connectors/hardware needed to accomplish the hookups. By the way, I scored a 32" LCD TV at best buy for under $200.00 Do you think it's in my living room? NOPE! It's in the shop, where it and I belong. Thanks for the ideas seriously. I'm in the process of getting together a dedicated TIG only box, complete with little compartments and everything.

[performance]

Hooda,

I'd suggest having a spare flow meter handy...It's just a good thing to have around. I use both ours, and a Smith, and I have a prestolite for my MIGMASTER 250 that stays on the machine. I'd also have some stick welding rods around...Never know when you will want to light one up.

[sportbike]

I'm curious as to what 4 aluminum rods you picked. I assume 4043, 5356 as a base. Then it woudl depend on what you plan to weld (5556, 5183, 2219 filler, etc).

[Steve]

Don't forget welding gloves. If you do, you will get sun burned hands. Plus they help protect yourself if you touch something hot.

[I_Love_Plasma]

Laptop that's hooked up to your LCD TV. Connect that to your WIFI if you have it, so if you get frustrated, you can go watch Jody TIGin the breezes together, til you (and the piece of aluminum that just blew out on ya) cools down

Keep welding,
ILP

[steveprichar]

You may want to check into a separate ground to the back of the most excellent machine. I listen to am/fm radio all day, but when I use my 250EX, it always loses the preset stations I have programmed into the radio. Not sure what it will do to a television or computer. I would also check every connection on your argon setup for leaks. I needed a 1/8" barb fitting for my argon, and several more fittings for my homemade coolant pump, but until you actually see the hose and their sizes, it's hard to prepare for that. By 'etc,' I hope you included a hand wire brush. Happy tig-ing!

[hooda]

Well, I made a trip to the LWS in town, and to my surprise, found out that they're the only game in town!! (population 60,000) I'm thinking more and more that a little "competition" might just be in order, Courtesy of Hooda, Inc. One never knows what the future may hold.I have some ideas that might just launch me into the next phase on a FAST TRACK. Anyway, they have a great selection of hardware to facilitate the setup, plus were more friendly than any shop in the minneapolis/st.paul area by an exponential factor. They even tipped me off that getting into a class at the local tech would qualify me for some outrageous discounts. I negotiated the lease on a 320cf argon, a 135cf helium, and a 350cf stargon for my mig, I'll be picking them up Wednesday. I'm going out into the shop now to address a power supply issue. The goal being a fully functional 60 amp circuit bt thursday afternoon, so when the big brown truck pulls up, I'll be ready. Hopefully, 72 hours from now, I'll be well into getting to know my 250EX!!!!! Can't freaking wait!! The only snag that I've run into thusfar is that the 25 foot WP20 torches are sold out, so I was sent a short version (16 feet?), and I was notified not to expect it til Friday. Oh well.

[I_Love_Plasma]

You may want to check into a separate ground to the back of the most excellent machine. I listen to am/fm radio all day, but when I use my 250EX, it always loses the preset stations I have programmed into the radio.

Yeah, I would agree with Steve. My Power Arc 200 effects our shop's radio, and I'm a good 20-25 feet away from the antenna/receiver. Get's all staticy. Happens even more with Power IMIG-200.

Hope this helps,
ILP

[Jason]

I wonder if its the high frequency causing the electronic problems. I never had an issues with the radio or loosing stations while listening to it as I used my PP256.

[Grizzly1944]

Any time you create a spark, you are basically transmitting a signal. Spark plugs, welders, electric motors and such create interference of some sort or another. Most of this is choked by some kind of noise suppressor and you don't notice it. The welder sparks are not suppressed for good reason.

My 250EX makes my radio squeel, and on a high pulse setting it causes my cell phone to get warm in my pocket and messes it up. I have a friend with a pacemaker that will weld all day long in DC Tig and stick with no problem. When it comes to HF and AC welding, he keeps his distance from us. Even though some might say that it's safe, but why take a chance. Until there is sufficient data on this, he doesn't want to be a guinea pig.

[Powertig]

This is exciting Hooda I am living vicariously through you. I am actually going to India for the next too weeks but I think I am more excited by your impending shipment, and man it would be cool if you could start out selling gas or something simple....of course things are never as simple as one would hope or think. I look forward to hearing your blow by blow on your first jobs and your first impressions of the machines.

[steveprichar]

"Any time you create a spark, you are basically transmitting a signal. Spark plugs, welders, electric motors and such create interference of some sort or another. Most of this is choked by some kind of noise suppressor and you don't notice it. The welder sparks are not suppressed for good reason.

My 250EX makes my radio squeel, and on a high pulse setting it causes my cell phone to get warm in my pocket and messes it up. I have a friend with a pacemaker that will weld all day long in DC Tig and stick with no problem. When it comes to HF and AC welding, he keeps his distance from us. Even though some might say that it's safe, but why take a chance. Until there is sufficient data on this, he doesn't want to be a guinea pig."

Grizzly- I'm wondering if you grounded yours? I didn't ground mine, but think I will. I'm going to bury a separate dedicated grounding rod near my 250EX and use a bare #6 wire. I'll let you all know if that stops the radio problem.

[Joe from NY]

If you ask a couple of guys on here what you might need on day one, they might tell you a back-up welder, in case the new one doesnt work right out of the box.

[Grizzly1944]

Steve,

I'm not worried about RFI created by the welder. You can ground it till the cows come home, you are still transmitting a crude signal when you make sparks in order to fuse metal together.

[DaveO]

So Hooda, how's it going?! Did we leave anyrhing off the "must have on day 1" list?