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Bill O'Rights · 06-17-2004, 04:27 AM

Coming from someone that was in welding supply for 9 years, and was a welder for 3...do yourself a favor. If you plan on doing any amount of serious welding at all, stay away from the "Harbor Freight", "Tractor Supply" or the "Country General" cheap piece of crap machines. Not to mention, they do not stock consumable parts for the machines they sell, and neither is anyone else, for that matter. Pick either a Miller, Lincoln or a Hobart brand. Either one is very good, and I've sold hundreds. My personal preference is Hobart, but that's just me. I grew up with Hobart machines. Make sure you get one with a gas solenoid, regulator and hose. Sheilded gas welding is far preferably for the type of work that you plan on doing than flux core wire. Slag is not your friend. A good machine, one that you are going to be able to find consumable parts (contact tips, gas nozzles, diffusers, etc. all burn up by thier very nature and must be replaced periodically) for will run you around $700.00.

By the way TIG welding is Tungsten Inert Gas welding...not Titanium. Typically used for aluminum welding applications. What you want is MIG. Metal Inert Gas welding. For your car, you will want a 75%Argon 25%CO2 mix, for shielding gas. Straight CO2 is cheaper, and will work, but will spatter more, and not give as nice a finished product.

06-17-2004, 04:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Coming from someone that was in welding supply for 9 years, and was a welder for 3...do yourself a favor. If you plan on doing any amount of serious welding at all, stay away from the "Harbor Freight", "Tractor Supply" or the "Country General" cheap piece of crap machines. Not to mention, they do not stock consumable parts for the machines they sell, and neither is anyone else, for that matter. Pick either a Miller, Lincoln or a Hobart brand. Either one is very good, and I've sold hundreds. My personal preference is Hobart, but that's just me. I grew up with Hobart machines. Make sure you get one with a gas solenoid, regulator and hose. Sheilded gas welding is far preferably for the type of work that you plan on doing than flux core wire. Slag is not your friend. A good machine, one that you are going to be able to find consumable parts (contact tips, gas nozzles, diffusers, etc. all burn up by thier very nature and must be replaced periodically) for will run you around $700.00. By the way TIG welding is Tungsten Inert Gas welding...not Titanium. Typically used for aluminum welding applications. What you want is MIG. Metal Inert Gas welding. For your car, you will want a 75%Argon 25%CO2 mix, for shielding gas. Straight CO2 is cheaper, and will work, but will spatter more, and not give as nice a finished product. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt. Last edited by Bill O'Rights; 06-17-2004 at 04:40 AM..