Welder question: MIG or TIG?

[dallas_]

Check the local community colleges for weekend welding classes. You can probably find an introductory class that gives you the basics on the 4 main processes and enough booth time for you to really see what you like and what you need.

[lippy]

Even if I go with just a basic MIG like the Hobart 125 it will just be a 110v unit so it will be very limited. But I still want 110v capabilities so I can use it outside my shop. The next step up is a dual voltage MIG, which will cost $800-900. At that point I may as well spend the $1000 and get the Lincoln 210 MP. It's a dual voltage MIG out of the box, but I can run it as a TIG later if I want for the cost of a torch and foot pedal. More than I want to spend but it makes sense. Btw I looked online at used units and the aren't that much cheaper for a quality machine.

[Three Peaks]

Mig is the way to go for a hobbyist who won't be using the machine on a regular basis. Easy to pick up and make great welds, easy to adjust- especially if you get one of the Millermatic units, and will last forever.
Tig machines make great welds, but you need to stay in practice and learn how to not only use your machine, but to set it up and maintain it, sharpen electrodes, etc....

99% of the time, the Mig welds will be more than presentable for the work you will be doing and there is no real set up time. A couple practice passes on some scrap metal and you're on to your project.

I have a 110V Miller 135 Mig and used it exclusively for my scratch built cobra welding and it worked great. At times I pushed it to the limit but it never gave me a bit of trouble and the welding came out great. A few of my other projects needed more power, so I looked around and bought a used Millermatic 251 machine that will handle anything I can throw at it for my lifetime. I would love to learn to Tig, but just don't have the time to take it on right now and not enough projects that require Tig to make the investment worthwhile. If that changes, I'll be shopping for a Tig and a good Tig welding class.

Remember that any of these machines will require some accessories on top of the initial price. A spool gun if you want to do aluminum will run anywhere from $400 to $750, depending on what you will need and the size of your machine. Also, a good 120 CF bottle of shielding gas. I found a bottle on craigslist for a great price as my little 40 CF bottle always seemed to run out at just the wrong time.

Here is one of the better prices on a machine that would probably be perfect for you if you aren't into structural work-
Miller® Millermatic® 180 Auto-Set

Bob

[Jerry Clayton]

Of course you should also consider that after you get a nice welder and you and your boys learn to use it----------that you will need a band saw, lathe, milling machine, grinders, etc to make up all the pieces so that you can weld them together

[lippy]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

Of course you should also consider that after you get a nice welder and you and your boys learn to use it----------that you will need a band saw, lathe, milling machine, grinders, etc to make up all the pieces so that you can weld them together

Two girls and a boy! And those tools are already on the list.

[Dwight]

I've owned a MiG welder for 15 years and a stick machine since 1969. A buddy loaned me his TIG a couple of years ago and I still have it. Yes, I pay rent on it. It's become a joke among us.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I had one of my younger brothers weld up a angle iron cart for the borrowed TIG machine. He used a MiG. Fast and easy. I noticed he sprayed all the metal around the area he was going to weld with Weld Aid brand Nozzle Kleen No. 2. After he finished welding he took a rag and wiped all the spatters off. Easy, no grinder??? Wow I've been doing it the hard way for years.

Part number 007022
it's about $8 a can.

Never to old to learn

Dwight

[madmaxx]

Excellent customer service and pricing: Welders Equipment | Welding Supplies | Welding Machines | Plasma Cutting Machines | Used Plasma Cutters | Welding Helmets | MIG TIG Welders | Welders Supply Company Beloit-Big Bend-Burlington Wisconsin and Rockford, Illinois. In addition there are some great rebates from Miller. For example a Millermatic 211 for $1087 from weldersupply and you get free shipping and not taxes depending on where you live. Miller rebate is $200 so total price is $887!!!!!! You can also get $400 rebate with a millemratic 211 and $400 worth of miller supplies. So you can get the Millermatic 211 with aluminium spool gun ($215) plus wire, cover, safety gear for $1087. I have been looking for over a year and this is the lowest price I have ever seen on a Millermatic 211 quite possibly the worlds best selling dual voltage mig maching. Weldersupply also provided a real mom and pop type customer service.

[lippy]

Months later, I've picked up this topic again. Still deliberating.

I ran into the guy who does these: BLOWN RANGER BUILD

He is an incredible craftsman. I asked his opinion and he said to do gas welding (like Razerwire). Said he does most of his welding with gas, and he likes it because you really get to know and work the metal and welding process, and it also doesn't require a power supply. I'll also add that I think that learning to gas weld (and teaching my kids) would be bad ass.

So, I'm now considering gas welding too.

The options for me and my budget right now are:
(1) Gas, which is cheap, works on steel/stainless/aluminum, and importantly is "clean" and doesn't splatter a lot
(2) MIG with a 115v Hobart Handler 125 or 140 [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500521-Handler-EZWire-Welder/dp/B000SSUHW0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447634395&sr=8-2&keywords=hobart+handler+125"]Hobart 500521 Handler 125 EZWire Feed Welder - Welding Wire - Amazon.com@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Af82it6zL.@@AMEPARAM@@41Af82it6zL[/ame]. The one concern I have with this is that my workshop is a bit confined though not tiny. I worry about splatter near the cars and my other stuff
(3) TIG, either a 2016 AHP Alpha for $680, which people say is a nice machine (AC/DC, 110/230), or a Thermal Arc 95s [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Thermal-W1003203-Inverter-Portable-Package/dp/B002JXZH86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447634559&sr=8-1&keywords=thermal+arc+95s"]Thermal Arc W1003203 95 S Inverter Portable DC Welder Stick/TIG Package - Welding Gas Regulators - Amazon.com@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f8g6NbgaL.@@AMEPARAM@@51f8g6NbgaL[/ame]. Or an Eastwood TIG 200, which is a DC unit (110/230) but has a foot pedal.

What do you think?

[redmt]

Gas welding is the most expensive by the time you buy the equipment and refill bottles, and buy quality equipment. It also is the slowest and generates the most heat.
I think I said before, You can try out any of the 3 methods in my shop and I have a 110 machine and bottle for cheap if you're interested.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by redmt

Gas welding is the most expensive by the time you buy the equipment and refill bottles, and buy quality equipment. It also is the slowest and generates the most heat.
I think I said before, You can try out any of the 3 methods in my shop and I have a 110 machine and bottle for cheap if you're interested.

....and heat means distortion. Gas welding with steel is easy enough, but aluminium welding takes some confidence - ie a lot of practice - to get a reasonable result.

Cheers,
Glen

[Three Peaks]

Keep in mind that if you want to weld aluminum with a TIG, you will need an machine capable of AC.

For all that you plan to do, I'm thinking the MIG 140 would be the way to go. I have a Millermatic 135 and it is a sweet machine. I've used the heck out of it and pushed it to it's limit many times and it hasn't given me a bit of trouble.

Bob

[razerwire]

I have to weld on Bennett car so I purchased some welding blankets to protect my floor and to shield the body where I have to weld. Two types, cheap ones from harbor freight, which shed fiberglass and good one to clamp on body of car that does not shed. Cheap one will go on floor and carefully back in bag when done using it . Good ones available at wielding supply.

[lippy]

Right now I'm ok if I can't weld aluminum, and I'm ok if I can't do thick steel. The more I watch videos the more I think MIG would be a problem in my space. So I'm thinking either TIG (Eastwood 200A 110/230 DC TIG with HF start and pedal, but no stick capabilities, or the Thermal Arc 95s, which is stick + TIG, 110, DC only but a better brand), or Gas.

[A98Coupe]

Originally Posted by lippy

Right now I'm ok if I can't weld aluminum, and I'm ok if I can't do thick steel. The more I watch videos the more I think MIG would be a problem in my space. So I'm thinking either TIG (Eastwood 200A 110/230 DC TIG with HF start and pedal, but no stick capabilities, or the Thermal Arc 95s, which is stick + TIG, 110, DC only but a better brand), or Gas.

Jeff,

I bought a 160amp TIG (AC & DC) about 1 year ago. Took a bit of practise to start with, but soon got the hang of it and the results are amazing! IMO get a TIG and you'll not regret it.

[indianamoon]

Tig all the way!!

[map]

All the Lotus race cars were brazed together.

[Bernica]

I decided to take welding classes a few years ago and learned traditional stick, FCAW, Oxy/Acet gas, MIG welding and plasma cutting. Tried a little TIG, but not much. To me, TIG was like trying to play a drumset! But the welds were awesome. I use the MIG most of the time and agree about the splatter spray. It works great.

So that led to the disease...
And I now own a great Millermatic 180 AutoSet on a cart with a big bottle, a complete Oxy/Acet setup with big bottles and Victor Journeyman hose / torch setup, and a Powermax 45 plasma cutter (love it!). Then of course you have to get a cool auto-dimming Miller helmet and lots of accessories for all the stuff! Then you end up buying or building a rolling welding table.

Then you want to start making stuff all the time, so I pulled out my old broken-down circa 1980 Lincoln AC225 stick welder and completely rebuilt and restored it and made a very cool cart for it. Now I think I have it all covered!

[lippy]

Thanks for all the good input.

I decided to go with the Eastwood DC 200 TIG. I know it's a Chinese machine, but at least it's backed by Eastwood. It was on pre-Black Friday special for $379 and includes a torch and foot pedal. The feature set is good for the price: dual-voltage, HF start, and DC TIG up to 200A.

Now I just need a helmet and the rest of the gear...

[Bernica]

Good job Lippy!
Look up a local Air Gas location for all your needs.
Next choice would be a Praxair location.

[Bernica]

And you need TIG gloves. Different from regular welding gloves so I hear.