Mig vs Tig

[delpha80]

looking at getting a new welder which will be used almost entirely for car restoration type work. Is there a advantage to getting a tig welder or just stick with gas mig with the option to add a spool gun for aluminum?

[MiscellaneousDave]

This thread will be interesting to me as I want to get into welding.

[PJ]

I just have the cheapo wire welder from Harbor Freight. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a nice one. I think your only settings are a high/low type switch and a dial to control the wire speed. But I've used it on my exhaust, trunk pan, a roll around shop stool, built a steel work bench with a wood top... welded a cast iron tractor seat to a milk pale.

Just screwing around practicing really. I suck at welding but I can make 2 pieces of metal stick together and the cheap Harbor Freighter hasn't let me down.

[MiscellaneousDave]

I just have the cheapo wire welder from Harbor Freight.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a nice one.  I think your only settings are a high/low type switch and a dial to control the wire speed.  But I've used it on my exhaust, trunk pan, a roll around shop stool, built a steel work bench with a wood top... welded a cast iron tractor seat to a milk pale.

Just screwing around practicing really. I suck at welding but I can make 2 pieces of metal stick together and the cheap Harbor Freighter hasn't let me down.

I am scared to get into welding because I know how I solder and it isn't pretty.  lol

[Orion1876]

I just have the cheapo wire welder from Harbor Freight.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a nice one.  I think your only settings are a high/low type switch and a dial to control the wire speed.  But I've used it on my exhaust, trunk pan, a roll around shop stool, built a steel work bench with a wood top... welded a cast iron tractor seat to a milk pale.

Just screwing around practicing really. I suck at welding but I can make 2 pieces of metal stick together and the cheap Harbor Freighter hasn't let me down.

I am scared to get into welding because I know how I solder and it isn't pretty.  lol

I am interested in getting into welding as well.  I would probably go with which ever one is cheaper.  Don't want to spend a ton on it because I am not sure how much I will actually use it.  My soldering was ok last time I soldered something but its been a while, so there is no telling.  

[MiscellaneousDave]

I just have the cheapo wire welder from Harbor Freight.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a nice one.  I think your only settings are a high/low type switch and a dial to control the wire speed.  But I've used it on my exhaust, trunk pan, a roll around shop stool, built a steel work bench with a wood top... welded a cast iron tractor seat to a milk pale.

Just screwing around practicing really. I suck at welding but I can make 2 pieces of metal stick together and the cheap Harbor Freighter hasn't let me down.

I am scared to get into welding because I know how I solder and it isn't pretty.  lol

I am interested in getting into welding as well.  I would probably go with which ever one is cheaper.  Don't want to spend a ton on it because I am not sure how much I will actually use it.  My soldering was ok last time I soldered something but its been a while, so there is no telling.  

I wasn't going to go with the stick welding route as I figured it would be better as a beginner to use the electric/gas combo...  Hoping for more input here.

Not to mention I don't have a dedicated circuit handy.  I suppose I could use the dryer plug but would rather not.

[PJ]

I just have the cheapo wire welder from Harbor Freight.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a nice one.  I think your only settings are a high/low type switch and a dial to control the wire speed.  But I've used it on my exhaust, trunk pan, a roll around shop stool, built a steel work bench with a wood top... welded a cast iron tractor seat to a milk pale.

Just screwing around practicing really. I suck at welding but I can make 2 pieces of metal stick together and the cheap Harbor Freighter hasn't let me down.

I am scared to get into welding because I know how I solder and it isn't pretty.  lol

I am interested in getting into welding as well.  I would probably go with which ever one is cheaper.  Don't want to spend a ton on it because I am not sure how much I will actually use it.  My soldering was ok last time I soldered something but its been a while, so there is no telling.  

I wasn't going to go with the stick welding route as I figured it would be better as a beginner to use the electric/gas combo...  Hoping for more input here.

Not to mention I don't have a dedicated circuit handy.  I suppose I could use the dryer plug but would rather not.

I can't imagine an easier set up than the cheapo Harbor Freight one.  Its 110v, you turn it on and hit the trigger.  Smart people grab a mask at some point before hitting the trigger.

Its really a simple machine to use, my welding is just trash.  I always end up pulling away and having too much wire out.

[Orion1876]

I just have the cheapo wire welder from Harbor Freight.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a nice one.  I think your only settings are a high/low type switch and a dial to control the wire speed.  But I've used it on my exhaust, trunk pan, a roll around shop stool, built a steel work bench with a wood top... welded a cast iron tractor seat to a milk pale.

Just screwing around practicing really. I suck at welding but I can make 2 pieces of metal stick together and the cheap Harbor Freighter hasn't let me down.

I am scared to get into welding because I know how I solder and it isn't pretty.  lol

I am interested in getting into welding as well.  I would probably go with which ever one is cheaper.  Don't want to spend a ton on it because I am not sure how much I will actually use it.  My soldering was ok last time I soldered something but its been a while, so there is no telling.  

I wasn't going to go with the stick welding route as I figured it would be better as a beginner to use the electric/gas combo...  Hoping for more input here.

Not to mention I don't have a dedicated circuit handy.  I suppose I could use the dryer plug but would rather not.

I can't imagine an easier set up than the cheapo Harbor Freight one.  Its 110v, you turn it on and hit the trigger.  Smart people grab a mask at some point before hitting the trigger.

Its really a simple machine to use, my welding is just trash.  I always end up pulling away and having too much wire out.

That is good to know.   I will have to take a closer look at the welders at Harbor Freight next time I am in store.  I ventured out to Lowes and Home Depot for the first time in quite a while.  Its starting to look more normal around here.

[MiscellaneousDave]

I just have the cheapo wire welder from Harbor Freight.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of a nice one.  I think your only settings are a high/low type switch and a dial to control the wire speed.  But I've used it on my exhaust, trunk pan, a roll around shop stool, built a steel work bench with a wood top... welded a cast iron tractor seat to a milk pale.

Just screwing around practicing really. I suck at welding but I can make 2 pieces of metal stick together and the cheap Harbor Freighter hasn't let me down.

I am scared to get into welding because I know how I solder and it isn't pretty.  lol

I am interested in getting into welding as well.  I would probably go with which ever one is cheaper.  Don't want to spend a ton on it because I am not sure how much I will actually use it.  My soldering was ok last time I soldered something but its been a while, so there is no telling.  

I wasn't going to go with the stick welding route as I figured it would be better as a beginner to use the electric/gas combo...  Hoping for more input here.

Not to mention I don't have a dedicated circuit handy.  I suppose I could use the dryer plug but would rather not.

I can't imagine an easier set up than the cheapo Harbor Freight one.  Its 110v, you turn it on and hit the trigger.  Smart people grab a mask at some point before hitting the trigger.

Its really a simple machine to use, my welding is just trash.  I always end up pulling away and having too much wire out.

Can't you control wire speed?

[delpha80]

There is a wire feed control knob. But you have to stay in the puddle to keep it from re arching.