a question for the welders

the boss just sold the shop and the tig went with it, a big part of my income was stainless trim repair, and fuel tanks and stuff, so, if i am to continue with welding ss i need to know if any of you have done it with a mig? ive welded ss with 030 mild wire but it wasnt something that had to be pretty. any one got any pointers?

 

If you want to keep doing Stainless trim repair,I would suggest you buy a TIG.
You can do it with a MIG,but there is no comparison.

If your doing poduction welding on gas tanks,get a MIG.
If it has to look real nice,get a TIG.

 

UNK's right. MIG is out for thin stainless. You burn a hole before your wire melts, and spatter is a HUGE issue.

JOE

 

http://www.turbomustangs.com/forums/showthread.php?s=5e8985b7431c734e1572c04932f8b0cf&threadid=8872&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

thats a link I saved from a past post on making a homemade tig welder if your feeling industrious

 

I've done a little SS with my Henrob. I was very happy with the results.

 

Its hard to beat the Miller Maxstar TIG/Stick. We have 6 or 7 of them at work and have had no problems at all. They switch from 110v to 220v automatically, depending on what they're plugged into, and they will weld anything from 24g to 1/4".

I think we were getting them at around $900. They come with a Stick lead too and on 220v power they will run 7018's just as good as a Buzzbox.

http://store.cyberweld.com/milmax140tig.html

 

I'd look for a Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC (220v), with an air-cooled TIG and argon. You can find Miller Hi-Freq units that run on seperate 110v, for aluminum, too. I have one for portable pontoon welding, and it would be perfect for everything "car related"

JOE

 

I personaly prefer ESAB's... Ive welded with lots of welders and ive never once had a prob with esab... but i also used to work for them... anyway... id would use GTAW if u were you.. but use whatever you feel most comfortable with them. Ive also done some ss FCAW.. but that was pretty thick... blah.