SGR removal and air chisel

[ATH]

That’s a help, but you’ll do a lot more once you add in a 50A/240V receptacle!

Saved room on the panel. Just doesn't make sense to spend the money on that until I know I am going to use it.

 

[Reach]

The Multimatic 220 AC/DC has a $600 rebate...but it is $4200.

MSRP for the Multimatic 215 is only $200 more than the Millermatic 211. But no rebate.

I had looked at a Klutch multipurpose welder at Northern Tool...but thought I'm probably better off with a Hobart (or, even better, Miller) MIG than a lesser brand multipurpose. I figured I can get an old Lincoln tombstone for better stick welding.

The Miller is definitely the best machine you can buy, but Lincoln is a solid second. I would put Hobart in third, and a good ways down below Lincoln.

The Lincoln 210 is half the price of the Miller, which should help the budget a bit, if you can come up with enough for the Lincoln. https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/products/k3963-1

In my opinion, you’ll never regret buying a welder that can do more than you need. And while a Lincoln tombstone will give you some extra welding power, it’s all AC stick, and DC stick is much better, easier, and more versatile.

 

[ATH]

The Miller is definitely the best machine you can buy, but Lincoln is a solid second. I would put Hobart in third, and a good ways down below Lincoln.

The Lincoln 210 is half the price of the Miller, which should help the budget a bit, if you can come up with enough for the Lincoln. https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/products/k3963-1

In my opinion, you’ll never regret buying a welder that can do more than you need. And while a Lincoln tombstone will give you some extra welding power, it’s all AC stick, and DC stick is much better, easier, and more versatile.

That is only $115 less than a comparable Miller Multimatic 215

I was thinking $1K was stretching the welder budget. $1500 for a Miller (after $400 rebate) started to sound digestible. Now I'm asking if another $500 for multipurpose is worth it... I honestly have trouble justifying that for a business purpose.

 

[pete3d]

As someone who took a short welding course about 45 years ago and never practiced much in the interim but likes to be able to fabricate a small project in steel a couple of times a year I find a little 110v inverter flux core MIG just the ticket, in that it’s low capital investment ($140 or so) and permits a fellow with little skill or practice to solidly if not beautifully join thick and or thin steel.

If going this route I definitely recommend that you buy brand name flux core wire for it and some spare tips.

I do have a dc stick welder, but since getting the MIG about 3 years ago just don’t use it. The cash I saved by going so cheep on the welder I put toward an acetylene torch which is a another of those tools a man really needs.

 

[Vicente]

If your welder is undersized for the thickness of the steel you can also pre-heat your weld area it let's you get a deeper weld with less power.

 

[Dan Cobb]

Am I the only one that finds a chainsaw to be a useful tool for SGRs?

 

[pete3d]

Am I the only one that finds a chainsaw to be a useful tool for SGRs?

A small sharp one.

 

[ATH]

Am I the only one that finds a chainsaw to be a useful tool for SGRs?

I've tried...but it dulls so quickly, I spend more time sharpening it than it saves.

It probably would have helped here since many of these roots started above ground. More often, much of what we are cutting was under ground and no matter how much I blow it off, there is still enough soil embedded in there, that it's just going to kill the teeth.

Have thought about carbide tooth chain, but haven't tried.

Any tips for using a chainsaw effectively?

 

[evo]

Am I the only one that finds a chainsaw to be a useful tool for SGRs?

nope, got piles of old worn out chains and a couple of garbage bars in the truck. Still will use anything at my disposal... Just bought a oscillating battery saw for the house, and my mind instantly went to pruning roots..
No matter the tool I still frequently end up making the final cut with a chisel

 

[TreeCo]

Well done!

Those were some serious girdling roots.

I liked your use of the air chisel. It worked well.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Am I the only one that finds a chainsaw to be a useful tool for SGRs?

I think so.

Chopping...brute force chisels, impact tools, drills, etc
Cutting...cutting discs in drills, multi-tool or reciprocating saws

Over the years of SGR work and forum feedback has put chainsaws low on the list. YMMV

 

[RogerM]

Great video.... I really would love to see those same trees a year from now. Thank you for putting that together.... informative...to the point.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I really would love to see those same trees a year from now.

Agree. Its pretty easy to get twig elongation measurements from a few points of the tree to compare. My guess is that you'll find a lot more small twig growth too.

As Iv'e done sgr work over the years I get a feeling of calm from the gasping tree.

 

[ATH]

Thanks for posting that!
If you wanted to get a bit more punch out of your air chisel upgrade to Milton type V high flow air fittings.

Per your recommendation, I upgraded to high flow fittings on air hoses and the tools. Haven't used it yet, but I fully expect more power. Or, at least not a drop in power when running 2 chisels at the same time.

I also replaced the old regulator with a high flow regulator.

Additionally, I took out the quick connect fittings between between the Chicago/Dixon fitting and the manifold...it is all straight piped with 3/8" fittings to try to maximize air flow through that setup. Here is what that looks like now. (just realized, shoulda taken pic from other side. The "top" quick connect on the manifold is the non-high flow one I didn't switch out)



Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[flushcut]

Looks good!