Welders?

[Sal-XK]

I figured we could start a conversation about welders. Which type and manufacture do you think is the best for the garage mechanic? I'm not sure about which manufacture is best but I was thinking that a AC\DC stick welder would be the most versatile welder for the DIY projects. What do you guys think? I'm talking about being able to weld rock rails, stingers, bumpers or just brackets for lights and stuff like that. Share your experiences and opinions so the rest of can learn from them. Remember were talking garage weekend warrior here telling us to by a $3000 miller won't help any

[Matt]

Here's a good "quick" guide: http://www.northerntool.com/catalog/...uides/welding/

I've also been eying up this kit: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...7213_200467213

I've been meaning to run this by the welding guru at work to get his take on it. But i think that's a sweet starter kit for a backyard mechanic and weekend warrior.

[Sal-XK]

Thats is pretty pricey bro. I can use my band saw to cut anything I would be making, a plasma cutter is over kill for me anyway. So you think a MIG is the way to go? if you can give your opinion on why?

[Matt]

They have kits without the plasma cutter... that's just one I was looking at. I have multiple ways of cutting metal too, but a plasma cutter makes some things MUCH easier. Not a necessity though at all.

MIG is very easy to learn. It's like the "gateway drug" for welding. I can pick up a mig welder today and put together a decent weld, and its been well over a year since the last time I used one.

[Sal-XK]

I'm guessing using it to tack stuff in place would not be an issue with MIG?

[Matt]

I never had an issue... but honestly I dont have a ton of experience here. I always used the shops or my friends welders and basically did exhaust and fixed trailers.

Would love for someone like Doc to fill us in. Or, if you have a welder you're interested in, post it up and i'll run it by our weld expert at work. I was going to consult him prior to purchasing anything regardless.

[superacerc]

I was thinking that a AC\DC stick welder would be the most versatile welder for the DIY projects.

Is that the one that plays Hell's Bells or thunderstruck each time you put your welding hood down?

Sorry couldn't resist.

I think Mig is the way to go. Easy to use and a little more precise than sticks. The flux core type is nice so you don't have to have a bottle of gas sitting around. Northern Tool and some other companies have a few fairly cheap ones (around 140-300 dollars).

[Sal-XK]

Cool sounds like the MIG is the way to go then. My first project will be filling that huge hole that comes in the suspension skid I know they put it there so you can service the diff without dropping the skid but come on really that hole is huge big enough you can still hit your front diff IMO.

[hoaxci5]

I've got a cheapy Harbor Freight 90 amp mig welder. I haven't done a lot with it, but I did make a roof rack for next to my Yakima Skybox.. it didn't fall apart even running the Mojave Trail and we were bouncing down it pretty good at speed..

I have no idea how long it will last, I know it's not a "quality" welder, but it's done exactly what I wanted and it was right around $100. No need to wire the garage for 220 either. I have two more projects in my head but I'm not sure when I will start either one. But so far for everything I've done and think I will do it's the perfect BS tool. If it breaks it was still worth the $100 at this point.

[Sal-XK]

If you get a smaller one then it might be possible to run it off of the XK while on trail so it pulls double duty. Not sure how possible this is will have to do some research into how power these things take.