WaterH
Well-known member
The "First welder" thread spawned this thread.
I learned to weld with a stick welder in high school many years ago. Later I learned TIG. I was pretty good at both at one time. Now I'm reasonable, but seemed to have lost something. I certainly can't weld like the "weld gods" of Irate. (Probably never could)
I currently have a TIG/stick welder I've had for twenty years. I believe it's a 180 and does every thing I need. I have only played with a MIG one time. I was welding my trailer at a friend's house. I got it welded, but had a hell of a time and made a mess of it. (It was non-critical stuff) It kind of soured me on MIG. It's funny how everybody says it's so easy. ( I will say the trailer was rusty where I was welding.)
Now it seems like everybody thinks MIG is the "go to" welder. While I'm not rich, I can spare a grand for a good tool. Am I stupid for not owning a MIG? If I get one, am I going to love it? Can I teach this "old dog" a new trick? I might only weld twice a month. Will it be ready to weld like that or will it develop "sitting problems"? What about changing material thickness? Is it a pain to change wire or can you pretty much use one wire for 1/16"-1/2"? (I don't weld anything thicker than that.)
I learned to weld with a stick welder in high school many years ago. Later I learned TIG. I was pretty good at both at one time. Now I'm reasonable, but seemed to have lost something. I certainly can't weld like the "weld gods" of Irate. (Probably never could)
I currently have a TIG/stick welder I've had for twenty years. I believe it's a 180 and does every thing I need. I have only played with a MIG one time. I was welding my trailer at a friend's house. I got it welded, but had a hell of a time and made a mess of it. (It was non-critical stuff) It kind of soured me on MIG. It's funny how everybody says it's so easy. ( I will say the trailer was rusty where I was welding.)
Now it seems like everybody thinks MIG is the "go to" welder. While I'm not rich, I can spare a grand for a good tool. Am I stupid for not owning a MIG? If I get one, am I going to love it? Can I teach this "old dog" a new trick? I might only weld twice a month. Will it be ready to weld like that or will it develop "sitting problems"? What about changing material thickness? Is it a pain to change wire or can you pretty much use one wire for 1/16"-1/2"? (I don't weld anything thicker than that.)