Let's say I wanna buy some welders...

[Marc70challenger]

I wanna buy some welders ...


RIF

[pink aar]

A Miller welder is the only way to go.

[ViperMan]

I have a very close friend who is a arctec rep and he bought a Tesco fabricator 211i. he is very happy with it and it is cheap. alot more practical for the hobiest.

https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/tweco-fabricator-211i-mig-tig-stick-welder-pkg-w1004201

Holy crap, @Shooter - that looks like a pretty good unit!  Price seems very very good for a unit that does MIG/TIG/Stick AND 120-220VDC.

[Shoooter]

I have a very close friend who is a arctec rep and he bought a Tesco fabricator 211i. he is very happy with it and it is cheap. alot more practical for the hobiest.

https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/tweco-fabricator-211i-mig-tig-stick-welder-pkg-w1004201

Holy crap, @Shooter - that looks like a pretty good unit!  Price seems very very good for a unit that does MIG/TIG/Stick AND 120-220VDC.

for the average guy and budget that most of us have it work just great. I know when it comes time thisbis what I'll be buying

[ViperMan]

Hey @soundcontrol have you gotten to try the heat-control puddy yet?  Just curious!  I'm really anxious to hear how it works!  I guess my concern with it is that it'll keep the heat isolated to a smaller area, amplifying the effect on a smaller area, creating the need for even more body work.  But then again if it actually "sucks" the heat out of the metal, then that probably won't be a problem.

*shrug* - I dunno!

Thats what I did, started with a TIG, (a DC TIG, way cheaper than an AC/DC) practiced a lot before I welded on my car, now, after 2 years with the TIG, I got a small MIG (its really a MAG, because of the gas I use), and I will use that for plug welding and when I put together stands etc. I will use the TIG on all sheetmetal since its softer. I can plug weld with the TIG also, but its so much quicker easier with the MAG.

I got a regular gas welder also, but I don't use it, and the TIG can do sticks also, I used that once, on my fence, its not as easy as I thought!
My TIG also has a plasma cutter buit in, never tried it though.

I got a good TIG welding DVD if you want it, @ViperMan

Have you ever messed with the heat-absorbing putty before?  I was wondering if that might help cut down on warping, making the TIG even easier to work with...

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-anti-heat-compound-1-qt.html

Funny you asked, I just today, ordered a can of that! Never tried it but the very experienced body guy I visited yesterday recommended it. It can be reused and will last forever almost, he had a can for 20 years, just added a splash of water when it dried up too much. Gonna be fun to try, that and some copper backing, good speed on the TIG....

[ViperMan]

Hey @Cuda70-74 - I just thought about your current project and thought I'd invite you to the conversation - what do you use for your at-home welding projects?  Any preference MIG over TIG or vice versa?  Just curious, as you're currently in the trenches of your project! 

[Cuda70-74]

Hey @Cuda70-74 - I just thought about your current project and thought I'd invite you to the conversation - what do you use for your at-home welding projects?  Any preference MIG over TIG or vice versa?  Just curious, as you're currently in the trenches of your project! 

Hey thanks for the invite. I'm using a Hobart Handler 210MVP Mig welder. Tig is cool but it takes alot of practice to get good at it. Plus it uses gas alot faster which isn't good for practicing with. Get yourself a nice mig welder with shielding gas  and you will be fine

[ViperMan]

Hey @Cuda70-74 - I just thought about your current project and thought I'd invite you to the conversation - what do you use for your at-home welding projects?  Any preference MIG over TIG or vice versa?  Just curious, as you're currently in the trenches of your project! 

Hey thanks for the invite. I'm using a Hobart Handler 210MVP Mig welder. Tig is cool but it takes alot of practice to get good at it. Plus it uses gas alot faster which isn't good for practicing with. Get yourself a nice mig welder with shielding gas  and you will be fine

Are you going to use the MIG to weld the panel in the sunroof opening of the roof?  See to me, I'd be TERRIFIED of using a MIG on that thing and warping the sh!t out of the roof...

[Cuda70-74]

Hey @Cuda70-74 - I just thought about your current project and thought I'd invite you to the conversation - what do you use for your at-home welding projects?  Any preference MIG over TIG or vice versa?  Just curious, as you're currently in the trenches of your project! 

Hey thanks for the invite. I'm using a Hobart Handler 210MVP Mig welder. Tig is cool but it takes alot of practice to get good at it. Plus it uses gas alot faster which isn't good for practicing with. Get yourself a nice mig welder with shielding gas  and you will be fine

Are you going to use the MIG to weld the panel in the sunroof opening of the roof?  See to me, I'd be TERRIFIED of using a MIG on that thing and warping the sh!t out of the roof...

Yes i will be using my mig welder and also going to go up a gauge of steel when I do. These car were made mostly out of 18 gauge. I will be using a 16 gauge to patch roof and gave it a bit more rigidity

[ViperMan]

Hey @Cuda70-74 - I just thought about your current project and thought I'd invite you to the conversation - what do you use for your at-home welding projects?  Any preference MIG over TIG or vice versa?  Just curious, as you're currently in the trenches of your project! 

Hey thanks for the invite. I'm using a Hobart Handler 210MVP Mig welder. Tig is cool but it takes alot of practice to get good at it. Plus it uses gas alot faster which isn't good for practicing with. Get yourself a nice mig welder with shielding gas  and you will be fine

Are you going to use the MIG to weld the panel in the sunroof opening of the roof?  See to me, I'd be TERRIFIED of using a MIG on that thing and warping the sh!t out of the roof...

Yes i will be using my mig welder and also going to go up a gauge of steel when I do. These car were made mostly out of 18 gauge. I will be using a 16 gauge to patch roof and gave it a bit more rigidity

Will do you do a flange around the edge and do a lap-weld to the original roof?  Do you use anything like the heat-absorbing putty from the previous page?  Just kinda curious - trying to learn from other's experience. 

[Cuda70-74]

Hey @Cuda70-74 - I just thought about your current project and thought I'd invite you to the conversation - what do you use for your at-home welding projects?  Any preference MIG over TIG or vice versa?  Just curious, as you're currently in the trenches of your project! 

Hey thanks for the invite. I'm using a Hobart Handler 210MVP Mig welder. Tig is cool but it takes alot of practice to get good at it. Plus it uses gas alot faster which isn't good for practicing with. Get yourself a nice mig welder with shielding gas  and you will be fine

Are you going to use the MIG to weld the panel in the sunroof opening of the roof?  See to me, I'd be TERRIFIED of using a MIG on that thing and warping the sh!t out of the roof...

Yes i will be using my mig welder and also going to go up a gauge of steel when I do. These car were made mostly out of 18 gauge. I will be using a 16 gauge to patch roof and gave it a bit more rigidity

Will do you do a flange around the edge and do a lap-weld to the original roof?  Do you use anything like the heat-absorbing putty from the previous page?  Just kinda curious - trying to learn from other's experience. 

No just good old butt weld/spot weld with probably a damp rag or compress air to keep warping down as I go around. I want to use the less amount of body filler as possible.

[Brads70]

A wet rag and a spray bottle  would be easier/cheaper than that putty. I'd say parts availability is everything . Those offshore machines are usually lacking in that department, among other obvious issues.. I have a Lincoln 110v mig thats over 20 years old and used lots . Also have a Lincoln tig welder for about 10 years now, and it also has been great!
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-gb/equipment/Pages/product.aspx?product=K1855-2(LincolnElectric_EU_Base)

My grandfather had a saying that stuck in my head...." If you can't afford to buy the best tools, then wait till you can!"

[soundcontrol]

Hey @soundcontrol have you gotten to try the heat-control puddy yet?  Just curious!  I'm really anxious to hear how it works!  I guess my concern with it is that it'll keep the heat isolated to a smaller area, amplifying the effect on a smaller area, creating the need for even more body work.  But then again if it actually "sucks" the heat out of the metal, then that probably won't be a problem.

*shrug* - I dunno!

Hey, I got a message today that the company stopped making the compund, so they canceled my order. But I found some at another place, another brand, will order from there instead. Will not be able to try it right away though, work work work....24/7 now for a while...

[Roadman]

      This might be helpful.             http://www.rodauthority.com/tech-stories/welding-101-getting-started-with-mig-welding-basics/             

[Rich G.]

I have a Snap On Muscle Mig and have no problems with it.