good begginer setup ?
 

im considering giving welding another shot after my failed horrible flux attempts, exhaust is the part i always have to pay alot for because i cant do it my self, can anyone recommend a decent but low cost setup for basicly just doing exhaust, it cost me like $3-400 everytime i need to have a turbo-back exhaust made so it would be nice to do it my self and then have equipment out of the deal, i think if i got a gas setup i could do alright with some practice

how about those clarke migs? i know there cheap but they seem decent and i could probly get one with a regulator and some tanks n ---- for slightly more then id spend on having exhaust made

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

Na not the clarks.
what kinda budget do you have man?

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

i have been rocking the hf dual mig 151. its gas ready and flux core. i have made a lot of ---- with it, very versitile and pretty cheap for a welder.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

My Dad and I got a hobart 180 mig. ------- awesome welder, but probably out of your price range at like $900 for a package + tank.

If you want to weld go with mig. ---- fluxcore. Mig is so worth it. It's easier to weld, and the welds are cleaner. I'm no pro, nor have I even welded that much ----, but I can lay a decent bead with it with minimal effort.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

id liek to spend under 500 but ya.. ive welded with flux a few times (horrible) and once with mig with gas and it was way better but still just ok

so whats up with the HF mig, if i use name brand wire and get gas it should be decent for doing exhaust? maybe even make a crappy mani?

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

ya, but they tear up & lack fine control. I wouldn't do it.
You can get you one of the chinese mig, or the tig/plasma/stick welders for your price range now tho. Just make sure it's from one of the better, more established sellers.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

I have a ching chong meow tig, it works :)

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

Yeah if you want to go ching chong meow welder, then a tig might be a better option. The chinese migs do lack finer control and still tend to weld shittier. Eventually you'll probably want to get a better welder, but I don't know some people can weld decently with a chinese mig with good wire and gas.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/CLARKE-220V-180-...QQcmdZViewItem

I don't imagine a clark welder would be a bad welder, just add a tank. A 20lb tank is around $100, $140 filled. It 220v too. $520 shipped for the package.

So $520 + $140. = $660 for a nice setup.

http://cgi.ebay.com/CLARKE-180EN-MIG...QQcmdZViewItem

If you already have a helmet and gloves and that ---- that one is the same thing only without the cart and helmet and ----. $424 shipped.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

the hf 151 dual mig, the fluxcore welds all depend on the user i have had mine for 6 months now and i can run some clean beads with the flux. if you buy a can of anti spatter it lookss good as with gas

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

I had a small ~$200 Lincoln 120v/88 amp flux core wire feed for about 3 year's, 90% of the time it did really nice work for down pipes and cat backs. But I had to give it back. So I just picked up a Hobart 140 mig, cant wait to try it out. That one was $450.

I was tempted to get a Clarke they were cheaper, had a free cart and just more amps per dollar. But I did some reading up on fab forums and every one said the Hobart does a way better job and is more reliable then the clarke.

What was your old flux welder? Maybe it's just the way you hold it or the speed you travel.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

both times i flux welded i "rented" a carke 130 mig from menards (home depot type store) both times i got pissed at my poor welding and returned them

is tig welding stick / arc welding? does that need gas? ya i dont know ----.. somthing that can weld exhaust/ charge pipes somewhat easy is all i need

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...83_41_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...83_42_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...83_43_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...83_52_full.jpg
This down pipe and charge pipe was made with my flux core Lincoln from Home Depot. It was only $200-250.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

thats pretty good man, i dont think i have the patience for flux, or maybe ive just had bad experiences, but the one time i picked up soem raggedy old snap on mig with gas and layed the best bead i ever did 1st try

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

I all comes down to prep work. Yeah flux can lay down some mean bird ---- but so can everything else if not cleaned up good. Hell just a wire wheel across whatever your gonna be welding is gonna help out tremendously. I think it's just the fluxcore and usually weaker welder just doesn't have the power to get through dirt and ---- to lay down a good bead as a more powerful welder could.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

X2.
Paint and grease does'nt help much.

Re: good begginer setup ?
 

are the smiley ones good for tig, or some i stay away from smiley tigs?