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Opinions Please-Mig or Stick

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Bud, if you're planning on one welder for general purpose use, a MIG is probably your best bet. Personally, I prefer to gas weld sheet metal, but a MIG works nice too. I've got MIG, gas, and stick, and can't honestly remember the last time I even had the stick plugged in.
Jeff
 
First the disclaimer - I am a super novice.

That being said, I would go with MIG. I picked up a Hobart Handler 140 a few months ago and LOVE it. I can't begin to describe how much cleaner the welds are with gas vs. flux core. Also, sheet metal repairs on these cars are done with fairly thin gauge. The MGB is mostly 22 with some 16 in structural areas. I have little-to-no experience with stick but would think that a stick welder would be very effective in blowing holes in thin sheet metal.

If you're interested in seeing some of my welding projects in the past few weeks, just click on my resto blog in the sig.
 
I use stick on thicker material where cosmetics are not important and speed is, things like BBQs.

I used a MIG for years for all my automotive welding so I have to agree with what has been said. MIG is great.

Having said that, now that I have upgraded, TIG is greatter.
 
I have two stick and a mig welder. Also, a gas setup. I keep a stick welder for welding outside (Migs do not like wind). I prefer the mig but I'm very good with the stick even on thin metal. The problem I have is the darkness of the helmet and I hope Santa cures that problem (auto helmet). I would not get a tig for a first welder. I can convert my mig to tig fairly easily and cheaply.
 
Mig 15, Mig 21, Mig 27, Mig welder.... Migs are good. (if you are the one using them, and each in their own niche.) hehehehhe Stick is difficult to use on thin sheetmetal if you're not very experienced with it (and know what settings, and sticks to use)... Mig is a lot more forgiving... just learn to use it.
 
Hello all,

not strictly an answer to the question, but if I had to choose from one type of welder I would pick gas due to its versatility in the workshop. You can, with practise, weld most metals, it makes good smooth and soft welds on outer panel repair sections, you can braze and solder (radiators), cut heavy section steel, and warm up seized fastners etc.
Certainly there are drawbacks but all in all it is gas for me. I also have a stick set and recently bought a simple scratch TIG. I have never considered a MIG but a spot welder would be nice.

Alec
 
i replaced some inner fender aprons on wife's mustang and used a cheap mig welder i bought. i had never welded before, or taken any classes. i read a book on mig welding and went at it. turned out ok, most of the welds are hidden. but, it was fairly easy to figure out and i only started one fire -- get a fire extinguisher (luckily i had two nearby).
 
"""""what is best for overall resoration work (including body panels)? """"""

good post so far but no-one mentioned heat capabilities.

You want a MIG of course unless your going to be 4 stories up and welding 12" I-beams (or hard surfacing on farm machines).

Doing sheet metal you need unit that goes way down in heat....as in 20 amp range and has variable wire speed. Use an Argon -CO2 mix with E70S2/E70S3 wire for bodywork and use E70S6 or E80S2 for structure.

If your trying to save a buck try to find a decent used Millermatic or Lincon pre-digital machine.

BTW...I might suggest NOT an auto darkening but getting some diferent shade lenses as required. A DECENT auto-dark is fairly expensive. Getting sand eye just in case of malfunction is not pleasant in the case of a hat made in a country of undetermined origin.
 
Hello Jerry,

"You want a MIG of course" Only if it is an option against a stick set, but as I said before, it is not my choice by a long way. Good old fashioned gas is the way.

Alec
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello Jerry,

"You want a MIG of course" Only if it is an option against a stick set, but as I said before, it is not my choice by a long way. Good old fashioned gas is the way.

Alec

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? I dont know anyone who still uses an oxy/acet rig for welding anymore. Almost everyone has converted to MIG.

I took a welding class at the local community college to learn how to weld. We were not allowed to touch a MIG until we could make decent welds using a gas torch. We were given 6in square plates of steel and told to weld them into a cube (using a gas torch). If your cube held water you passed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Wish they taught welding here, would love to give it a real go. All they teach is computers.
 
I did a weekly 3 hour night class at a local college. Learned to do gas welding first, then MIG and had a chance to do a little TIG.

I found the TIG to be the easiest of them all and bought and use an inverter type TIG. It only offers DC TIG but its so effective- no spatter, complete control over the welding amperage and material feed, etc. that it makes welding thin body panels more doable.

I've a lot of welding in my project and have Gas, MIG, inverter TIG and a spot welder. I use the TIG for most of the work. If you haven't that much to do then the MIG might be the most suitable. If you've a lot of welding then the extra cost of the TIG might be justified....
 
I have a 140 amp DanMIG that works well for me, but I think of it as a hot glue gun for metal. I enjoy gas welding including aluminum and stainless. Here is an example of three gas weld beads. No grinding or sanding, just cleaned with acetone and textured paint. Metal is 1 ½” square tube to get a feel for the scale. One advantage of MIG over gas is less warp-age of the pieces you’re fusing together.
293487-weldbead.jpg
 
I would say that for the novice, Mig welding is the way to go. Tig welding does a fantastic job, but requires more experience and a steadier hand. If heat spread is not a problem, even though it can be controled, gas is good, but still requires a lot of skill. Bottom line is though, Gas, Mig, Tig and stick all have their place depending on the project at hand. It's just that most novices will have an easier time learning the mig system, as it's very forgiving. JMHO. PJ
 
Bieng a welder for 30+ years, there are advantages and disadvantages to each welding process a good quality AC/DC T.I.G. welder will do it all! Including lead and brass/bronse. The only thing it won`t do is cut material. That bieng said a gas torch set is a good thing to have in your arsonal for the simple reason that many minor sheetmetal repairs can be accomplished including cutting material and repairs can be made with lead or by braising, which a T.I.G. will do and do well but so will an inexpensive torch set. The disadvantage of a T.I.G. is you have the heat control to contend with IE. foot pedal or finger roll control on the torch handle which can be awkward to manulipulate. On the other hand a good quality M.I.G. welder is excelent for sheetmetal repair as well as heavy manufacturing providing it has the required capabilities of selectable heat ranges and wire diameters. An Argon Co2 mixture is my recomendation for gas choice {75/25} however for economical reasons straight co2 can be used if desired
An industrial M.I.G. can even weld aluminum {properly} {Not short arc but spray arc or pulsed arc welded} For most of us car buffs a small gas torch set and a 110 M.I.G. {like the Hobart handler 140 or 160} will be all we need to accomplish the tasks at hand.
 
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