what welder

What's your budget?

An inverter would be best then....

Sealey
Carke
SIP

all good makes for a diy welder

And an inverter means you can also use it to TIG with a gas bottle

any 150 / 185 amp mig is well capable of that mate the trouble sometimes is getting them low enuff to weld panels

Unless you have been trained in the use of MIGs i wouldn't recommend a MIG

Its very easy to think you have a nice strong weld to only fall apart under load

Stick (Or MMA) welding is alot easier to create a strong weld and as long as the weld hasnt got massive chunks of slag in it you know you have a strong weld

MIG is too deceptive especially when your doing structural work like roll

a mig is a better all rounder (easy to use in tight spaces and capable of welding anything ) and lets be fair the welder is only as good as the person using it !

if your competent /confident with a certain type of welder then thats what you shld be using

The only point i am trying to prove is that if your self taught (not knowing yours or Mystics welding training) then you might be producing what you think might be a strong weld but is in fact simply sitting on the surface of the metal

Like this example of a MIG Weld that has been X-Ray Tested....



As you can see it may of looked a good strong weld from the outside but it hasnt even fused with the bottom plate!

JerseyJimny wrote: The only point i am trying to prove is that if your self taught (not knowing yours or Mystics welding training) then you might be producing what you think might be a strong weld but is in fact simply sitting on the surface of the metal

Like this example of a MIG Weld that has been X-Ray Tested....

As you can see it may of looked a good strong weld from the outside but it hasnt even fused with the bottom plate!

It is just as easy, if not easier for an unskilled welder to make a weld like that with a stick welder.

I myself is not in way skilled at welding. But I use both welders from time to time. I know when a welding is good and when it's gone bad. And I can say it's much easier to make and durable and good welding with a MIG welder, than with a stick welder. For me, the main concern when welding with MIG, is getting it set up properly.

TomDK wrote: It is just as easy, if not easier for an unskilled welder to make a weld like that with a stick welder.

Not true...

Trust me its ALOT easier to make a weld like above with a MIG welder....

Like i said before (and hopefully other skilled welders will agree) that with stick welding it will be obvious that you have made a f*&k up of the weld due to massive slag inclusions

Example

MIG

May look like this on the surface



But looks like this internally




Where MMA (Stick) you know the differnce between bad and good....

Good



BAD

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/attachments/box-inside-1-5mm-jpg.15882/

Most welders learn how to weld using stick first as it is alot easier to mess up and its easier to notice your mistakes and where your going wrong...

Like above.... I would say not enough amps and the arc gap is too long

TomDK wrote:

JerseyJimny wrote: The only point i am trying to prove is that if your self taught (not knowing yours or Mystics welding training) then you might be producing what you think might be a strong weld but is in fact simply sitting on the surface of the metal

Like this example of a MIG Weld that has been X-Ray Tested....

As you can see it may of looked a good strong weld from the outside but it hasnt even fused with the bottom plate!

It is just as easy, if not easier for an unskilled welder to make a weld like that with a stick welder.

I myself is not in way skilled at welding. But I use both welders from time to time. I know when a welding is good and when it's gone bad. And I can say it's much easier to make and durable and good welding with a MIG welder, than with a stick welder. For me, the main concern when welding with MIG, is getting it set up properly.

+1 ..

correct wire speed gas flow and most imoprtantly clenliness is the key to mig welding !

when your used to using a mig you can judge how well the thing is welded .... the most promenent way is the heat penetration pattern that follows the weld .

if its glowing red hot its done lol

But with out any training how are you ment to know when you have the correct settings?

I am not preaching about something i dont know

I am qualified in MMA (overhead) TIG (Vertical Up) and MIG (Vertical up) and my tutor says MIG is THE hardest process to pass on due to the nature of it disguising any lack of penetration etc etc

I whould agree arc is alot easyer I use mig arc and tig but love going back to arc when I can very easy to weld with and not alot of setting up as your half the controls. Mig is all about setting the welder up right and knowing your weld but whould say welding steel with tig once set up is tge easyest and neatest way of welding

what a load of shit some people talk
plus befor you say anything im a coded welder in all welding techniques and have been for 15 years now! o and iv seen your welding on ya bumper nice not lol lol lol lol lol

JerseyJimny wrote: Unless you have been trained in the use of MIGs i wouldn't recommend a MIG

Its very easy to think you have a nice strong weld to only fall apart under load

Stick (Or MMA) welding is alot easier to create a strong weld and as long as the weld hasnt got massive chunks of slag in it you know you have a strong weld

MIG is too deceptive especially when your doing structural work like roll