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Hypothetical welder question

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Lets also include HeliArc (helium-arc welding) This is what TIG was when helium was the primary gas used.

If I had to only have one ... it'd be a MIG (because I'm impatient) :wink:
 
I have an AC/DC stick welder that I use for anything heavy or structural. I have access to a MIG but really only use it rarely, usually for plug welding. Like Tom, I keep coming back to my OA gear for anything that I can, especially sheet metal.
 
I've got a fair amount of welding equipment.

A proper spot welder for panels- it's the bee's knees and produces great welds that look original. But, if I wasn't doing extensive panel replacement it wouldn't be justified.

I got a mid-power MIG set up and used it a bit... but found that all the apatter was a major annoyance- my eyesight is poor and getting too close to the welding was not good.

I then got a oxy/ace gas and found that really useful, much easier to use. This is particularly good for non-welding heating tasks, like freeing rusted fasteners, burning out bushings that won't otherwise move, cutting metal, etc.

But what I like best for regular welding is a inverter (DC) TIG, it's smaller than the MIG and allows much more control over the welding; and there's no spatter at all so I can clearly see what the weld is doing.

If you can afford it I think the inverter TIG is better than the MIG; and that combined with a gas set-up would be ideal....
 
However, In my experience TIG uses more gas and the gas is more expensive.

But, I agree that it does afford MUCH more control than MIG ... but it is soooo slow (see a theme here?) :wink:
 
I forgot to mention that I also have the same Lincoln 110V MIG welder that Hap mentioned, but I keep it at work. It works fine for welding steel tube and stuff like 1/8" mild steel. It'll probably do more than that, but that's all we've used it for (building robots and go-karts). I use CO2/mix gas with it.

When "inverter" was mentioned, I was thinking the small DC arc welders that are available like THIS ONE

I've always called these "inverters".
I used one of these on our 24 Hours of Lemons car and it was quite good (and it was running off a generator). Nice, solid arc and good weld penetration. Not a TIG welder and does not use gas......just open stick.

I do like my oxy-acetelene tanks and my 220V Hobart Handler 187 MIG welder. It's nice to have both at home.
 
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