MIG/TIG welding

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:51 am

*LMAO*

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:12 am

Hi Ilyaaz
Have you done any welding before? If not MIG has the shortest learning curve, but has some limitations, especially for body work.
TIG is the holy grail of welding, and there is a lot of "voodoo" around it, but the basics are simple. If you want to do things like weld razor blades and Coke cans back together it's a little more difficult

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to underspec / underspend on the machine as you will soon be dissapointed by it's limitations. Thermadyne is a brand which seems to offer a good compromise between cost and quality. Figure on spending R6-7k for a MIG that will handle everything you may need in a restoration. Stay away from the flux core (Gasless) MIGs as they really are a waste of time.
There are scratch start inverter TIG machines for under R2k which are nice as they double as normal stick welders , but regulators, TIG torch etc are extra. AC TIG (for ally) runs about R8k plus.
As stated add in bottle rental (Monthly approx R60-70)

Another option which tends to be frowned upon a little these days is an OA setup. Harder to learn, but once you've mastered it learning any other technique is a piece of cake. For thin stuff you actually need a smaller torch and regulator than what's freely available. Other bonus is you can then heat stuff to bend, and a gas axe when you go steal bits of other guys cars (carrying 2 bottles is a PITA though

)

Take your time and research it well as it is a big investment.
As with anything there are mountains of info on the old interweb, but there is some BS too, so take believe everything you read!!
Barry

Blitzkrieg · Post by **Blitzkrieg** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:15 am

Barry wrote:Hi Ilyaaz
Have you done any welding before? If not MIG has the shortest learning curve, but has some limitations, especially for body work.
TIG is the holy grail of welding, and there is a lot of "voodoo" around it, but the basics are simple. If you want to do things like weld razor blades and Coke cans back together it's a little more difficult

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to underspec / underspend on the machine as you will soon be dissapointed by it's limitations. Thermadyne is a brand which seems to offer a good compromise between cost and quality. Figure on spending R6-7k for a MIG that will handle everything you may need in a restoration. Stay away from the flux core (Gasless) MIGs as they really are a waste of time.
There are scratch start inverter TIG machines for under R2k which are nice as they double as normal stick welders , but regulators, TIG torch etc are extra. AC TIG (for ally) runs about R8k plus.
As stated add in bottle rental (Monthly approx R60-70)

Take your time and research it well as it is a big investment.
As with anything there are mountains of info on the old interweb, but there is some BS too, so take believe everything you read!!
Barry

Thanks for the input Barry...

I am researching carefully and will decide in the course of next year as to what I will invest in...

Regards,

Ilyaas

Riftvalleyvw · Post by **Riftvalleyvw** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:25 pm

Ok Seriously now.
I have been welding PROFESSIONALLY for 30 years.
I was originally trained by Rockwell as a jet engine welder and worked on the Space shuttle in Downey California. Besides a little stick welding experience I hadent welded much before then. So I guess you can say that I learned to TIG (GTAW) weld first. I was big on TIG welding for everything. That was untill I found out about Mig welding. I was working on my second Sand Rail and decided I wanted to weld it myself because I could! I started out trying to TIG weld it. I found out quickly that a tig torch is only 14 feet long so I had difficulty getting to many places. There was a lot of out of position welds and I wasted a lot of tungston by toushing the weld puddle with the tungsten. So I broke down and bought a MIG Welder and finished the project quickly. I was very happy with my MIG welder and used it for almost all my steel welding. Well I needed more money so I started welding ductwork for Air Condidioning and soon found out that I got too much distortion and people wer not too happy with the apearance of my duct. I started asking others how they welded it and was told to try Innershield (Fluxcore). Well I always heard that it was no good and refused to use it But eventually I gave in and tried it and was not to happy with it. But I had no choice because I took a big project and I was required to use the Innershield. After a while I got used to it and found out that it had much better handeling properties than MIG welding. My customers wanted me to go to the job sites and start installing the duct and I quickly found out that MIG would not work. If the wind blew holes burned thru the metal. It was not good. Caused me many problems.So I started using the Innershield there too. It can be used flawlessly in any position and you could change direction or type of weld with little problem. With the innershield there was no burnthru on the back of the sheetmetal. So I started using Innershield for everything steel.

That is why I like innershield. as long as you are welding steel it is the best choice. I have $35,000 worth of personal welding equipment and the one I use for 99% of my welding is a $500 portable lincoln wire welder.
This is really the best welder you can get and use. You can use it for welding on your car or making fences or even stainless if you buy a regulator and bottle. And you can take it anywhere. Great welder.

http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs ... img][/img]

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:17 pm

You worked at NASA?

Riftvalleyvw · Post by **Riftvalleyvw** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:29 pm

No. Rockwell was the contractor and made them. NASA strapped rockets to them and launched them. The interesting thing is the place in Downey where we made them is now a Movie studio....... Progress....

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:35 pm

So,let me get this straight.
You were trained to work on rockets,then you left that and started fixing old Beetles?

Why?

hitlers revenge · Post by **hitlers revenge** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:38 pm

Maybe it was Rifts fault, that the shuttle blew up a few years ago. LOL!!

Riftvalleyvw · Post by **Riftvalleyvw** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:41 pm

Well, I am from California and grew up during the hotrodding area. Now I am a business man. I work on VW's as a hobby and for fun. And I am trying to corrupt the Ethiopians and make them into good faithful hot rodders

Plus. Anyone can fix a rocket. But a VW is another story! Requires skill!

Riftvalleyvw · Post by **Riftvalleyvw** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:43 pm

hitlers revenge wrote:Maybe it was Rifts fault, that the shuttle blew up a few years ago. LOL!!

It was those peskey NASA rockets that did the Shuttle in.... Cheap chinese o-rings..

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:05 am

*lmao*
*lmao*
*lmao*

My vote for the best thread of the week.

brianj · Post by **brianj** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:08 pm

how about this?

FOR SALE: Thermadyne TST200i DC Pulser Inverter tig welder Normally sells for R6,000, asking R1500 urgent sale Please contact Robin: 0797219438

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:10 pm

BB is away until next week.

Drop him an SMS if you want.

N.

ZeroAxe · Post by **ZeroAxe** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:36 pm

F ME!!! Can I buy it!?!? I wouldnt mind a TIG welder!!!

Post by **Wentzel** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:16 am

Hi,

Lots of interesting info. What experience have you guys had with welding aluminium? Can it be welded (Brazed) with gas with success and good results?