Advice on a welder....

[Ali]

Himself has his new toy now, and his new toy is an old toy that has holes in the floor........... and the doors, and the roof and and and ....

He's buying a welder from the UK.

He asks.......... MIG or TIG and for any advice you can give.

Please?

[Colly]

I have to ask has he used a welder before? If he had would he need to ask
I tried welding with a mig and found it very hard.

I think the answer though is probably a mig I'm pretty sure a tig is for aluminum although I'm sure there are more knowledgeable people on here to correct me if I'm wrong.

[lib]

Mig


but i love oxy has i learnt that first

Very basic reasons, tig to difficult to use for restoration work when working in awkward positions, bench work best etc; neat and tidy finish though.

MIG - must practise a lot on scrap that is about the thickness you will be working on, don't try to do long runs of weld you will distort the metal too much, do butt not lap joints. Tack in the repair panel, run a little at a time spaced out (laterally not druggy) maybe about half inch a run then go back and fill in between spaces, this will not be the neatest but mig is not neat on thin metal. On a 2cv floor section you need to tack to the apology for a cill, thin tube section, so watch out for burning holes, some people weld a slave section in to support the floor panel, used to be able to buy the floor panels as spare part. If the floor edges are reasonably sound repair can be welded to the edges.

Hope a proper welder is on the site they may be of more help......

[Ali]

We had oxy/acet at home, and migs, I know that dad went over to migs for lighter work but tbh I didn't take a massive amount of notice (only when we were welding my mini I did lol) and that was years ago.

I'm not sure if Fli has welded b4 colly, I would have thought so in his apprenticeship but I've failed ever to ask ;D

Good to note the ease (ish) of working with mig v tig.

Thanks so far

Paps we won't be getting wet feet this winter......... (If it'll start that is)

[4STIX]

I agree with Lib for what its worth, when i was serving my time in the yards i learnt how to weld in all three mig /tig & mma whilst mig is by far the easiest to use a little practise never goes amiss just remember on thin metals lower the amps and slow the wire feed oh and never wear your wedding ring whilest welding overhead a lump of molten metal between the ring and finger is no laughing matter

[Ali]

Brill - thanks 4stix and good tip ;D ;D

Looks like mig then, I did also mention to him to get a varilight masky thingy - can see the sense in that lib.

I've wanted him to get a welder for months so that I can use it