The various types of welders are just tools. MIG is a relatively goof-proof, easy, one-size fits all approach. A single button to push. Sort of the crescent wrench of welders (a guy can do a lot with a crescent wrench if he has to!).

TIG is much more versatile, can be a real precision tool, but requires more thought and skill to use. The simultaneous use of three or more is limbs generally involved.

Now, back to that opening sentence, the operative word is "tool". You want to learn to "weld". The art of using heat to cause metal to flow together is discovered in the molten puddle at the end of a blue flame. You can't see this happen using a MIG. You can see it, but it happens much faster using a TIG. With a gas torch you can closely observe, learn, and understand the process of welding. Hands down, the gas torch is the best way to learn to weld. Along with a class at your local community college, or an experienced friend to guide you. After you learn the gas torch, either MIG or TIG is a good tool. And you will always find yourself turning back to the torch for certain tasks the others don't do.

My opinion anyway
DG
(2 gas torches, 1 TIG, 1 MIG, 2 spot welders, and it still ain't enough!)

You'll want to invest in cut-off wheels and angle grinders then.
Chicken poop and burn through.
Heck, I do that even using a good machine :D

Use the tap-tap method on thin metal, and angle more towards the weld seam(thicker heat-sink, good ground, and holds a pool better)

The good ones regulate better, giving consistent heat and wire.

I would still suggest you hunt for a used name brand Miller ,Hobart or Lincoln mig.
The arc will be more stable and they will be easier to weld with than the Chinese/offshore stuff, parts are available and they are still worth something if you decide to trade up later.

One other thing about a Mig....you can use it like a hot glue gun and get similar quality results.....yet you won't KNOW that is what you did unless your weld is properly tested.

That's not necessarily true. If you know what you are doing, you can visually inspect a weld joint and know it is at least as strong as the base material.

This Jeep has my MIG welding all over it. It's been beat within an inch of it's life for many years. Not a single one of my welds have failed (suspension, steering, bumpers/gaurds, etc). But I have repaired several factory welds that have failed. MIG welding is some of the strongest welding that can be done.

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN0147.jpg

Again, this is patently untrue.

Excellent insight. Thanks.

Do you have a recommendation on a particular torch or rod, RG 45 gas filler rod, etc.

My son is excellent with out MIG, but I'd like to try your approach.

You can save me a fortune, because I'm a welding engineer and I can't do that.

:rolleyes:

Sorry, but that is flat out wrong.

Ok then, I'm wrong. Not going to argue with a welding engineer. Just going by what was taught when I went to school for A&P.:rolleyes:

I guess you know better than those who administer welding certification tests and destroy welds to verify penetration.

You might want to call your state licensing board and let them know you've just discovered a way to save lots of time.

Josh the jeep is awesome and it speaks well of your welds.

Note I didn't say mig welds aren't good....I said you can't be CERTAIN unless they are tested.

A good mig welder will make good welds. a bad mig welder (person) can make decent looking welds with terrible penetration.

This issue is at the crux of the 110 vs 220 issue.

I own a Miller 110v autoset and love it but it does have limitations.

Just called them. They said I was fine.

An industrial setting, a book sense, sure. Lawyers are something to consider too.

I'm a novice welder by all accounts. I've done a fair amount of destructive testing, cut stuff up, taken pictures, notes, etc.

I wouldn't put a 69E on a rotisserie, only one step away from from working on the Space Shuttle, if I wasn't confident in my welds. And I've seen poor welds, both mine and when cutting cars apart where I've seen some of the worst welding known to man. From a practical perspective, I'm confident in my welds because I use my welds. I'm confident in my welder because I use my welds. I'm sure books will say I'm wrong, but I use my welds.

OK whatever you win, you're the expert. all hail the guy that has mastered plug welds and right angles in thin stock.

btw you have massive reading comprehension issues. you are arguing a point that I am not even making.

Then you are done here.

If anyone thinks they can visually inspect welds they are wrong. You can't see micro-cracks, and you can't see penetration.

If YOU do the weld yourself and YOU know what you're doing, yes you can be reasonably sure you made a good weld with good penetration.

There is no replacement for cutting/etching, pull tests, mag particle inspection etc. Aside from prayer.

So every single weld should be destroyed and then rewelded?

a) read my second sentence

b) typically at least one destruct is done per shift in production, you do before and after tests

c) what you are welding is probably not a safety weld, if your life does not depend on it then do what you like

d) if you are doing a safety weld without a very high redundancy factor then do an equivalent weld with an equivalent set up and do a destructive test. Or pray.

I can show you beautiful welds with almost zero penetration.

There are not a lot of topics here where I would consider myself more knowledgeable than 99% of the other members, but this is one of them.

Thanks, I feel good about my welds based on my own destructive testing.

And when I weld on my nuclear reactor in the basement, I make sure I X-ray all welds to confirm penetration and such. But when I'm welding angle iron, sheet metal, and such with my MIG, I guess I'm just taking a big risk on my home projects spontaneously falling apart. Something I've got to live with I guess.

I think the takeaway here is learn how to weld, destroy test welds until you achieve a good weld, take notes, make corrections, visually inspect finished welds against your testing.