Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

I've got a super ghetto stick welder I got from "Princess Auto" for $77. Its pretty ----, but, it lets me tack ---- up to take to a friend of mine that has a decent welder. I might trey to weld up some other stuff with it and see how it go's.

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

ive never touched anything but stick and i haven't yet to require a mig to do any of my welds :S

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

I've used Arc (stick welder) only a few times. I don't care for them too much. If I can do the job with a mig I'll use a Mig. Sticks usually can get better penetration than some migs can but I would say If your going to buy one for exhaust tubing and stuff, go with a mig. Your welds will look cleaner, you will be able to control the weld better, and they are easier to learn how to weld with.

For the extra $$ get a mig welder and make sure you use a shielding gas setup. Flux cored sucks balls.

I <3 my hobart 180

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

Getting a stick welder for charge pipes and exhaust is a waste, you have to be pretty good with one to weld stuff that thin with an arc welder, go for a wire feed or don't bother

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

FCAW doesn't "suck balls" 99% of people on here just don't have a clue how to weld with that process.

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

Oh when I said flux cored sucks balls I meant flux cored mig, not stick. Stick is good if you know how to use it.

Welding with shielding gas is no different than welding with flux cored on a Mig welder. The process doesn't change at all. Your welds will just come out cleaner, with much less spatter.

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

i am almost done with my flux core migged exhaust. looks like ass but yet it will work. will post pics when i'm done.

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

The biggest thing is the heat range settings on the flux-core machines. A cheap arc welder will produce welds that look just as ------- nasty as any wire-feed will. If the choice was between an arc welder with descent heat adjustments VS a wire-feed welder that has 2 heat settings. Take the arc welder every day of the week.

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

First thing's first. What kind of an "arc welder" are you talking about? Mig, tig, plasma, or stick?

Re: how useful is an arc welder?
 

i'm sure he's talking about an stick welder