I need a welding machine

I just had a really long response typed out to this but tapatalk is a fucker so I lost it.
The gist was:
I spent many years on a mig.
Now I don't use it.
I use tig.
Wish I had started with tig, I'd be a tig master by now.

Tig has just recently gotten affordable, that's why so few use it. It's always been way out of the garage mechanics budget but now you can get a dc tig for about the same as a mig. So why wouldn't you?
If you stick with building bikes you're going to want to upgrade to a tig eventually so why not just start there?
Sure the learning curve is a big tougher than a mig but it's still not difficult. Just spend a few hours practicing before you try welding your frame.
 
SONIC. said:
I just had a really long response typed out to this but tapatalk is a fucker so I lost it.
The gist was:
I spent many years on a mig.
Now I don't use it.
I use tig.
Wish I had started with tig, I'd be a tig master by now.

Tig has just recently gotten affordable, that's why so few use it. It's always been way out of the garage mechanics budget but now you can get a dc tig for about the same as a mig. So why wouldn't you?
If you stick with building bikes you're going to want to upgrade to a tig eventually so why not just start there?
Sure the learning curve is a big tougher than a mig but it's still not difficult. Just spend a few hours practicing before you try welding your frame.
Click to expand...

This. My Lincoln mig should be welding ships together. My torch set can do almost anything. I'm going with a "quality" Chinese tig to get up to speed on. I'm not taking a bath on a TIG that I sell a year later once I find the setup I want. Do I go water cooled torch, A/C, etc etc.

I'm happy paying $300 for a Andeli TIG and seeing how much I will use it and HOW I will use it. Then if I want, I'll upgrade to something more commercial or production oriented.

Some people here sound like someone who says go buy a gixxer 1000 as your first bike, lol.
 
cosworth said:
Some people here sound like someone who says go buy a gixxer 1000 as your first bike, lol.
Click to expand...

That and the OP said "..battery boxes and cafe loops..cheaper the better but something that can adequately do the job."
Chinese machines suggested for being cheap and more than adequate for simple work like that.

Im not doggin' the Miller, Lincoln, etc machines as they are far superior in quality and are the kind of machines that survive a generation or two of users, but thats just not what OP was looking for.

EDIT: Also, yes on TIG, stack dem dimes.
 
I agree about the need to learn on an oxy/acetylene setup. It's much more difficult to teach someone how the weld puddle should look and act on a MIG than with the torch. That being said if you can swing it, look on your local craig's list type ads, find a good deal on a torch set as well as a mig that will handle the .120-.1875 steel without being over taxed and call it good. I spent a lot of time looking into finding a small welder at an affordable price with good features and I feel that XB is right in the need to get a torch first.

I'm still saving up for a good regulator setup to get mine running (I purchased a miller at a steal of a deal from a buddy first) and wish I would have got it working first so that I can properly bend tubes and pre-heat/cool things as well. Don't be discouraged by the chinese brand machines and the lesser well known machines or the lincolns and hobarts offered at your local big box or farm supply stores. If you doubt a chinese machine, check out knifemaker's killer XV build, most of it was done with a chinese tig and the guy openly admits to being an engineer at NASA.

Get what fits your budget and meets your needs, but first determine what those two requirements are.
 
yep you can teach a monkey or the average attention span deficit idiot to lay down metal with a mig but it aint a proper weld unless you learned how to weld from square one with a flame,watching the puddle and understanding what the fuck the process actually is
otherwise the "weld" ends up being just like the shit poser bikes they build all looks no performance
 
cosworth said:
Some people here sound like someone who says go buy a gixxer 1000 as your first bike, lol.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't buy a gixxer 1000 as my fifth bike. Get with it.
 
deviant said:
I learned just like you. I also grew up working on farms and never used anything but a torch or an occasional stick until much later in life. Lazy or not, MIG is by far the easiest to learn, and a monkey can make a good weld with one.
Click to expand...

Not 100% true, it's real easy to have a good looking weld that is total crap with MIG, with gas or stick, it can look like crap but be real solid
I learned with gas, then stick and eventually MIG (still don't have any TIG experience ;D )
MIG is easy as long as someone sets things up for newbies
 
crazypj said:
Not 100% true, it's real easy to have a good looking weld that is total crap with MIG, with gas or stick, it can look like crap but be real solid
I learned with gas, then stick and eventually MIG (still don't have any TIG experience ;D )
MIG is easy as long as someone sets things up for newbies
Click to expand...
I agree. I've been teaching for 12 years and just speak from the perspective of what students learn faster. Not what is better or whether they always do it well. I don't know how this convo became a debate about which is better. They all have limitations in certain situations. But 35 years of my work experience has shown me that MIG has the least limitations for my welding applications. I use O/A for a lot more than just welding. And typically TIG has been better suited for bench work or work that is right in front of you and upright. That's just my experience and it has nothing to do with POS GSXR's or aborted cafe builds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I don't think any are 'better' just different. (except for inclusions, etc ;D )
When welding real thick stuff, (1/2"+) stick is probably easiest to learn
MIG is definitely easier after all the settings are understood for thinner material (~1/8")
Either works fine in between those sizes
 
each type of welding has its best application regarding heat,material thickness,and accessibity. But,they're all versatile, I prefer tig because of the cleanliness and control of the heat and the welding of metals like titanium,magnesium,n stainless. But you can't weld brass with it so I use the torch for that. I mainly mig when its thicker metal and/or structural like trailers and heavy duty equipment where i want more body to the weld.Mig is also a lot faster and is relatively clean. To fabricate I feel all types should be in the shop because they all have their place. But for everyday around the house or small shop mig is the way to go n a torch setup should follow if you're serious. And when buying any welder I advise to buy quality and look at it at an investment. I personally only use Miller products because they are built to take the punishment and are popular so that makes parts and accessories easy to obtain. The 130xp is a older style 110 mig machine that's reasonable when bought used,Miller's have the best wire feed which makes em easier to learn and will give the best weld.
 
ok, I'm down to start with a torch. any advise on a torch set up? (sorry if this "sparks" more debate) ...see what I did there?
 
Victor setup with a #2 and #0 welding tip, a #0 cutting tip and a #0 rosebud. If you buy the kits, they usually come with flashback arrestors, hose, and regulators. Some people like the Harris style. My local Airgas sells Radnors which are Harris style. They have different sizing codes that are a little more complicated. I personally prefer the Victor style. Get your tanks from your local supplier, or someone like Airgas. I would go with 80# to 100# tanks. They'll be about 50lbs to handle, but you won't be getting refills as often.
 
You can't go wrong with a good torch set up. I also use airgas,n prefer Victor but for the money the Harris style is grerat for a home shop.
 
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