good evening hambers. I just took my first lesson in tig welding lesson last week. I have wanted to learn to weld for the last 20 years and life has gotten in the way. Well time has come. My question is what are you guys/gals mostly using for body panels? I have seen many use mig and tig. Which is preferred and why? I am not really sure what I will do with welding, mainly just to learn the skill and then figure it out.
I think that most will tell you that the Tig weld is easier to metal work plus I'd say the majority will say you can control the heat better.
TIG is the answer in sheet metal repairs . A MIG can be used but will not have the results of the TIG . Just remember when using a MIG skip around . Usually takes me a day or two to fully replace a panel with a MIG . 3 hours with the TIG
Tig . And never skip around use air or Water to cool a weld on a panel . Skipping around just causes multiple shrinks in one area which makes shrinkage worse . I run as long as I can with out stopping . Sounds crazy huh ? Chop I'm doing all tig welded . Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I doubt anyone will argue with this advice but we are on the internet, I also vote TIG because it's much more malleable and knocks down easier than MIG
Ohh yeah the welds are way more soft ! Do it right and you hardly have to grind and that makes me happy ! Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Tig welding come very easily if you have gas welding in your history - the actions required are very similar. Chris
I'd say MIG for repairs, and TIG for restorations. And now you probably wonder why, and what's the diffrence? TIG is a slower, more expensive method, but it produces softer welds that allows the metal to be hammered into the correct shape, requiring a minimum of filler. A slower, more expensive job, with a better result, suitable for restorations where you want a good and lasting result. O/A welding falls into this category too, it makes soft workable welds. MIG is quicker, harder to work with after welding, so in many cases whatever sticks up just gets beaten down and the mess just gets covered with filler - "cave and pave". Probably fine for rust repair on the beater car that you just want to keep on the road for a few more years, so as a repair it would work - but it isn't restoration quality.
...but it might be hot rod quality. If you're planning to go drive your hot rod around and have fun with it, vs keeping it around to look at and admire. There are lots of different reasons to weld things, and several ways to do it. And there are a lot of guys with different desires, wants, needs, skills, budgets, patience levels, etc. TIG is the way to go. But I use an oxyacetylene torch and a wire feed for all my welding. I ought to buy a DC stick welder, one of these days...
Tig. You don't get the additional carbon hardening you get from the additional 15% carbon dioxide in MIG shielding gas. Also the science behind DCEN polarity makes for better penetration... the downfall you need to clean your metal really well because you don't get any cleaning action. I try to do long runs myself as well. You will never not warp (shrink) something when welding it, its science. the key it to weld it in the manner that makes it easier on yourself to get out. I prefer to keep my HAZ even which keeps the heat shrinkage even. Before that I tack from the inside out every 1/2" or so in either direction so I don't trap material Between tacks.
Very helpful replys , definitely sounds like the consensus is tig. I am not 100 percent certain what I will be doing with the new learned skill. I would like to mess around with body panels and do some basic repairs on my 38. Full time job and 4 yr old twins take up majority of the practice time.
Good info about tig welding. I just learned something. Sent from my SM-G930T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
There's no "best" way of welding, in general. I use all 3 methods. MIG is great for quick work, or for places you cannot access the back side to do hammer and dolly work. TIG is great for precise work. Aluminum, stainless, as well. It can be hammered and dollyed for perfection in metal finishing. Gas is great for being able to do extensive hammer and dolly work, and for where the panels don't quite meet up, curvature wise. You can modify the curves since the metal gets heated up more. Gas works very well for aluminum too.
Ideally you learn all you can. The skills you need to fix the trailer aren't the same as what you need to do body work. You can get enough to weld angle iron together by tomorrow, but if you keep fooling with it you will always keep learning. you can never know it all. Start with something with some meat to it, 1/8 inch or so. Much more forgiving than sheet metal. Clean it, grind it, rust makes it more difficult. It all boils down to the puddle, how you create it, and how you manipulate it. Uphill,downhill, overhead whatever.... it's about 20% know how and about 80% practice. It's one thing you cannot learn on the Internet. Time behind the hood is what it takes. Good luck to you.
This is my 2nd session of tig welding. No rod. Really enjoying it so far. Lots more to learn. Fusing 2 pieces
I hate to say it but there newer ways to attach replacement panels that seem to work pretty damn well . GLUE Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
After reading a recent news report about glued panels, I'd be careful with that. Seems a couple bought a late-model shitbox that had the roof replaced with a glued-on panel (no mention of the repair in the CARFAX report either...). They got in a wreck, the glue seams let go and with the loss of structural integrity, the passenger 'cage' collapsed jamming both doors closed. Then the car caught fire.... Luckily for them, some bystanders managed to get them out before they got fatally burned.
I've learnt something too. I've just recently bought a TIG for home use. At work I did a lot of TIG aluminum only though. I would have tried moving all over the panel like you do with MIG. Are you guys mostly just fusion welding sheet? Or is it filler rod the whole way? 3/32 electrode? Red? Nic Sent from my Nexus 6P using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
A REAL traditional Hot Rod was welded with a flame or a stick. Sounds like caveman to most guys around here. Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
Yeah I'm sure you'd be happy paying for work done with 5 lbs of brass 1 inch of lead and the chop done with a chisel and wood saw . Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I use MIG for welding in patch panels and a little filler is not a sin.Mig is what I have so it's what I use.
Listen man you are doing fine with that TIG. The key to all welding is practice, keep your head in the game and weld and you will be fine once you get the basics down. TIG is a challenge, I never saw a need for it until I had some stainless I needed done. Went and spent a bunch of money for the equipment and spent a looong time on a learning curve to get a handle on it, now I cannot imagine not having it. Now I use TIG a lot, not exclusively but a lot. There is a place for both in the shop.
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