Another newbee

[Monster966]

Hi all

I've been having a good read around on here for a few weeks now & decided that I was being a little rude, so I thought I'd better get registered

I'm trying, like many others, to decide what to invest in, not so much machine but process, tig or mig?

I've had the use of a pretty good mig set for a while but obviously it's owner wanted it back at some point I now need to purchase a replacement but I'm very taken by the idea of a tig set. I did an apprentiship at Rolls Royce Aero Engines many many years ago during which I had to spend some time learning to weld, some of which was tig, which was fun, if a little outside what I could purchase for myself! Most of what I've done since has been mig on vehicles but I have a hankering for making my own stainless exhaust system for my bike & also to make a few aluminium parts for it. Being as these things would be very visible I would like them to be as neat as possible.

What do you think? I know that ideally one of each would be best but my pocket just isn't that deep Is the tig useable for general vehicle work? I have a beetle to finish & a split screen camper to follow it which requires a large amount of welding (1st project will be making a body roller!) Is an expensive-ish mig capable of doing good ss & ally work?

Thanks for reading, any help will be greatfully received.

Steve

 

[mongpig]

welcome steve.

trying to fix a 76 bay with help from here.

rick

 

[simon718]

welcome mate

yes, you can do ally with a mig, however general opinion is it will do your head in trying to set it up, especially for a small job, you really need an AC tig to do it right. Someone more knowlegeable than me shall be along shortly im sure

 

[Monster966]

Rick

Hi, saw your posts, your bay sounds almost as much work as my split, very painfull I have a thread going on the ssvc forum showing where I'm at.

Simon

Hi & thanks for the welcome. I know it can be done, I even had a 'rubbish' go at it with a very old sip mig on a 60's cast ally rocker cover for a friend & it was crap however I was using the wrong gas & the unit was on it's last legs & I'm sure things have moved on a fair bit. I'd like to hear from anyone who's done the ss & ally thing as a non pro & hopefully made a success of it, that way I can try & forget the tig thing for money/house harmony reasons

Steve

 

[simon718]

have a look through this thread mate

 

[andypocock]

Now I've seen this:

I want one to cut in half.

 

[Monster966]

Cheers Simon

I'm getting the idea that it's quite possible just a bit of a faf. Anyone got anymore pics of ss & ally mig welds. I have tried the search facility but as with most things on a pc you have to ask the right thing. I take that ss is so much like mild that it's not a problem?

As another thought would it make sense to buy a set with a euro torch & get a spare torch to use with ally?

Andy

If you're gonna do it make sure you don't cut up a good one, they're getting quite hard to find