basically i know nothing about welding and have been looking around the web to try to get some help. this summer i want to build my own turbo kit and i want to do the welding myself. basically my question is will i be using mig welding for all my car stuff? what exactly is mig welding? i went to look up what it would cost to buy something to do some minor car pipe welding and i found this site.....
http://store.weldingdepot.com/....html
i saw mig welders were about 210 and arc welders were under 100. what is the difference? can i buy the arc one? what else do i need to do this kind of stuff........ anything you guys can tell me will help and if you know any sites you can send me to teach a dumbass like me that would be great too! oh yea, and if you know any other places i can buy this stuff for cheaper too! thanks
Welding101
It's important to look at duty cycle when comparing welders. The cheap ones have low duty cycles, meaning that they can only operate maybe 30% of the time to avoid overheating. Also, cheaper ones use less current and can't be used on thicker metals. Bigger ones, on the other hand, often use more current (and more voltage) than what's available in many homes. Know your limits or you'll be blowing circuit breakers repeatedly. If you just want to experiment and give welding a try on sheet steel, nothing wrong with going with a cheaper model. MIG/TIG welders (metal/tungsten-inert gas) are all but mandatory for welding aluminum, but arc welders are usually ok for steel. MIG welders cost more to operate because they provide a constant flow of compressed gas around the weld tip and work area. The inert gas keeps air and moisture out of the weld while it solidifies, which is very important for aluminum and alloys. If moisture gets in the weld, the metal will oxidize and the weld will be much weaker.I haven't looked at their welders, but I buy a lot of tools from this place:http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net
mattback wrote:TIG TIG TIG TIG TIG
a great welder to go with is something like a Miller EconoTIG.
rocks the ****ing mig.
DAMN STRAIGHT. I bought a Home Depot Century 170 MIG welder. Total crap. It coulf barely do 1/8 steel. No chance on aluminum. Bought a Miller Econo-Tig. That thing ROCKS! Aluminum, stainless, mild steel all like buttah.For more information on welding then you can shake a stickat go here: http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-...c.htm
you should def look into a TIG if you can afford one. around here, the cheapest TIG will run about $800.
i just bought a new MIG 110, runs off a standard 30 amp outlet, for rebuilding my MGB. it uses Argon as a shielding gas and it came with a filled Argon tank and the tank regulator. it also came with a heavy duty MIG cart to hold the whole thing. all for $420.
i also found an Oxy/Acet tank regulator kit on eBay for $80. you can rent Oxy/Acet tanks at most welding supply places for not much money.
i'll use the MIG to fit all of the replacement body panels, and the Oxy/Acet to heat and shape parts.
i just bought a new MIG 110, runs off a standard 30 amp outlet, for rebuilding my MGB. it uses Argon as a shielding gas and it came with a filled Argon tank and the tank regulator. it also came with a heavy duty MIG cart to hold the whole thing. all for $420.
i also found an Oxy/Acet tank regulator kit on eBay for $80. you can rent Oxy/Acet tanks at most welding supply places for not much money.
i'll use the MIG to fit all of the replacement body panels, and the Oxy/Acet to heat and shape parts.
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Holisticbeatz
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WorkinDriver
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2003 5:20 am
- Car: 240's
I agree. I took a welding class at a community collage for 25 bucks and you can weld anything. As long as you bring it in. They have industrial size equipment. Great for making intakes. I made Knockoff K&N intakes for all my friends. The metal shop even mandrel bent the tubes for free. Check it out I think you will have a lot of luck.