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Welder For Home/Car Projects - MIG Or TIG?
All this talk of welding has me interested.
I've done a little TIG welding. Never MIG. For car and home projects, which is better - if you had to choose just one?
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1989 3.2 Carrera coupe; 1988 Westy Vanagon, Zetec; 1986 E28 M30; 1994 W124; 2004 S211 What? Uh . . . “he” and “him”? |
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JW Apostate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Napa, Ca
Posts: 14,164
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The little 110 volt Lincoln MIG is great.
I've done lots of projects with it. 3 roll cages and loads of repairs on sheetmetal, etc. It will weld up to 5/16" material. KT
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'74 914-6 2.6 SS #746 '01 Boxster |
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JW Apostate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Napa, Ca
Posts: 14,164
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![]() Solid! KT
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'74 914-6 2.6 SS #746 '01 Boxster |
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,769
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Assuming you take the time to learn, TIG is the most versatile but obviously costs quite a bit more than a 110 wire welder.... You can weld anything with it. I would love a 180 + amp mig to speed up non critical larer welding projects, but my Miller tig has served me well over the last ten or so years welding chromoly aircraft tubing, auto repairs, stainless tubing, aluminum repairs, misc shop projects etc.
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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i want one of those...
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: formerly a grass shack in Hawaii, now Peoria, AZ
Posts: 3,030
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for car and home projects, definitely MIG. I LOVE TIG, but nothing beats the speed and versatility of having a MIG around the house. Imagine lying on the garage floor while trying to TIG a leaky exhaust in the back of the Vanagon, and having to hold the torch with one hand and pressing down the foot control with the other...not fun.
that said, if my garage was fully equipped with a lift or where I didn't have to be lying on my back welding, I'd weld everything with TIG.
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Jeff '72 911 T Targa widebody VTK #111385 http://www.911vtk.com |
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,769
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Quote:
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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(the shotguns)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21,581
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Money no object i'd get a tricked out tig machine.
As it is i have a 110 miller mig and like it just fine.
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***************************************** Well i had #6 adjusted perfectly but then just before i tightened it a butterfly in Zimbabwe farted and now i have to start all over again! I believe we all make mistakes but I will not validate your poor choices and/or perversions and subsidize the results your actions. |
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Posts: 6,056
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John,
I am not a welder but I used to work for a company that sold welding supplies. The above answers are pretty valid. the one thing I would add is that if you get a 110V mig machine, make sure it has variable wire speed. Last I checked, Miller and Lincoln both had a machine with this feature. Some lesser machines don't. Word is, this makes all the difference in MIG. Larry |
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Registered Abuser
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southwest Montana
Posts: 2,738
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I too prefer TIG because of versatility (all metals). Longer learning curve
MIG is fast and easy. Great for mild steel. Most forgiving process. Which ever process you choose buy a good brand name machine. Miller Lincoln Esab Used is Fine Steer clear of the harborfreight stuff. It will just make you mad.
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MT 930 1987 930 - Gone but not forgotten A man with priorities so far out of whack doesn't deserve such a fine automobile. I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth - Steve McQueen американский |
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: I be home in CA
Posts: 7,684
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What about Mig for aluminum?
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Dan |
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,769
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Not ideal for high quality welds in non production settings.
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: I be home in CA
Posts: 7,684
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Thanks Tim.
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Dan |
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i want one of those...
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: formerly a grass shack in Hawaii, now Peoria, AZ
Posts: 3,030
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Tim, never heard of the thumb wheel for the TIG (Air Force Guard units don't have that fancy stuff
![]() If output is adjustable with your thumb I'd go with TIG!
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Jeff '72 911 T Targa widebody VTK #111385 http://www.911vtk.com |
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John - you're welcome to come over to my house and try out my ESAB 250. If you have a portable project, bring it over or just bring some scrap (house is for sale, so scrap has been elminated).
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Josh 85 M491 Coupe - "Fat Bastard" |
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Thanks Josh. No need now -I've got to focus on getting the garage set up for making my kitchen cabs. The welder question is for the future plans - unless I see one on Craigslist . . .
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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We have a lincoln set up for aluminum and dedicated just to that... Its a BEOTCH... You have to have the metal perfectly clean with a CLEAN stainless brush... Then you have to hold your mouth just right and hope no flies in Zimbabwe fart while you are running the bead...
We are looking to buy a tig at some point FWIW.... |
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 37,674
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That's what it does. The foot pedal is replaced with a thumb operated device allowing the user to weld lying down or on his knees, etc.
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MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,769
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Quote:
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German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
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i want one of those...
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: formerly a grass shack in Hawaii, now Peoria, AZ
Posts: 3,030
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thanks guys, in that case I stand corrected, and would definitely go with TIG if it were just one machine.
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Jeff '72 911 T Targa widebody VTK #111385 http://www.911vtk.com |
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