Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I've got a DC stick welder which gives me the option of getting a tig torch for it? What's tig like? I know it looks good and I'm sure it's got strength but is it difficult? I can't get a mig coz I don't have the power supply to run it. So would a tig do the same as a mig? ie thin stuff as well as thick?

TIG is good and more flexible. It's harder than MIG cos you have to use both hands. Not like MIG where it's just point and shoot. If you can get TIG, just do it!

On a personal note, one of my neighbours welds for a living. I had a chat to him about doing stuff to my car and he's keen to help out. He's got TIG and MIG in his garage, plus grinders and other tools. The only thing he doesn't have is a bender but I might just get a manual pump hydraulic bow and arrow bender from a toolshop. Woohoo!

i pref the TIG...i have a stick & mig the only thing with DC TIG's is you cant weld alloy very well. The Tig is great for chrome molly, stainless ..its cross between stick and bronzing. When you get good at it its great!...speedy and I use it for everthing...the mig has nearly been put into retirement. CIG have some good books on how to weld.
Dont forget that tig rods, depending what they are for and gass can add up$$$$ wise!

I agree! the TIG is the go!..they are great things...i have a Lincoln tig and ist a great little thing!

Beebee, i believe Tjpete is a bit of a pro at TIG, as what i've heard he built his whole rig with a TIG.

POS , you will be writing poetry next !!!

as what i've heard he built his whole rig with a TIG.

TiG welding is a beautiful but often misunderstood welding craft by those that have not practiced it.

It is most similar in technique to oxy DA welding; if you have mastered oxy DA weling you will surely master TiG with patience and practice.

The advantages of TiG should not be generalised as is so often the case.

MiG welding is perhaps the most efficient form of welding when compared to other welding executed "hands on" by a person. Although robotic TiG is very impressive when you see the feeder and gas extractor and speed compared with robotic MiG.

For someone starting out in welding who does not have access to mates in the trade, consider enrolling at your TAFE college, start with thermal cutting and welding and pregress straight to MiG for the shortest path.

Remember, many race cars are MiG welded, you don't have to get into TiG and it is dearer to set up for.

I am not going to get into a TiG versus MiG versus MMAW because that is stupid. In welding there are definately horses for courses but for the general populace of blokes & blokettes, MiG will get your Outlaw onLine sooner if you don't have a welding background.

Forget the oxy DA Gas Axe also for anything other than rough cutting. The damage it inflicts in the heat affected zone is unacceptable for anything other than a BBQ.

Yeh i noticed that but i could think of any other way of putting it.


You see i used MIG on most of my RIG

but if you want to use TIG than i dont dive a FRIG

i have heard that welding with TIG can be a real PIG

Do you want me to STOP as i think i've typed enough ROT.

tjpete wrote:TiG welding is a beautiful but often misunderstood welding craft by those that have not practiced it.

It is most similar in technique to oxy DA welding; if you have mastered oxy DA weling you will surely master TiG with patience and practice.

The advantages of TiG should not be generalised as is so often the case.

MiG welding is perhaps the most efficient form of welding when compared to other welding executed "hands on" by a person. Although robotic TiG is very impressive when you see the feeder and gas extractor and speed compared with robotic MiG.

For someone starting out in welding who does not have access to mates in the trade, consider enrolling at your TAFE college, start with thermal cutting and welding and pregress straight to MiG for the shortest path.

Remember, many race cars are MiG welded, you don't have to get into TiG and it is dearer to set up for.

I am not going to get into a TiG versus MiG versus MMAW because that is stupid. In welding there are definately horses for courses but for the general populace of blokes & blokettes, MiG will get your Outlaw onLine sooner if you don't have a welding background.

Forget the oxy DA Gas Axe also for anything other than rough cutting. The damage it inflicts in the heat affected zone is unacceptable for anything other than a BBQ.

Yeah I've done like you said. Enrolled in a TAFE welding techniques course. Did Oxy, MMAW, MIG and a little bit of TIG. Well recommended for everyone. Because I'm starting out, I would be looking at getting a decent MIG welder and getting a socket put into my garage. The running costs don't seem too bad and you can charge beer to all your mates for borrowing it.

Lol @ POS.

Nam, you won't have any trouble running a single phase (240V) Mig at home. Mig's weld on DC power it's only when you use AC welding (Tig aluminium and AC electrode welding) That you will melt the plug off the wall. In all likelyhood you shouldn't even have to change your existing plug.
This is some of my Tig welding, you won't get these sort of results with a single phase 240V machine though.
Regards Andrew.

Then why is it that those small portable migs will throw a circuit breaker without too much difficulty where as my dc stick welder will work of 30m of extension lead with no problems?

you must have some shoddy wiring or be running to much shit off the one circuit.

Anyone know a good book or online guide to give some basics to stick welding? I figure it was the cheapest way to start, then progress to mig from there...hey...if I can get good at stick, mig should be easy I simply don't have time for the TAFE course at the moment...will do it one day tho.

Tig welding certainly has it's place, but for most of us.. we require strength not fashion. Average Joe would find it much easier to pass a weld test with a 3run fillet by mig rather than the equivalent in tig. As for awill i'm sure you do "nice" work but we have had nothing but drama's getting cooler's built that can pass a minimum 350bar pressure test, we have a local shop (brendale-Qld) that had 3 tries at getting it right, i'm sure you know who A*E. There is nothing rong with stick if you are good it's really easy to do all positional work, and strenght is second to none, most of our hydraulic cylinders are done using a LH root run with iron powders over top, and i have pressure tested them to over 14000 psi (then i blew up the $3000 CAT guage - oops!). We have heaps of different processes we use at work, submerged arc, electro-slag & our new toy " rotor-arc" which can really lay it down.
Just my $0.02

I have been to Andrew ( A Will 4x4 ) work and his welding is A1 as it should be, he builds race car chassis most of the day.
Shyt I wish I could mig like him.
Andrew I will drop around soon.