This isnt exactly exhaust specific but I do have exhaust work in mind. So my question is what do you guys weld on your exhaust with? Stick, MIG, flux core, TIG, oxy-fuel? I just took some welding courses and got pretty good with stick, MIG, and flux core. The others I haven't really given a try yet, but my aim is to get a semi decent welding rig just for general use. Im leaning towards MIG as its pretty cheap and I know I can get a welder for around 250 bucks. And I know I'm really rolling a lot of questions into one post but what brand of welder do you guys prefer?

 

MIG. TIG would nice if all your connections fit up against each other perfectly. Twin Turbo TIG's but he also gets everything much cleaner than I have patience too. I use .030 wire and CO2/Argaon mix. Works good for me.

 

On my Camaro I used MIG to weld up the exhaust. On my truck I used flux-core since I was out of gas at the time and needed it done quickly to pass inspection. Both worked just fine but flux seemed to penetrate a bit better, even on the old semi-rusty pipes I was patching.

My welder is an older Craftsman 110V welder I picked up at a garage sale a couple years ago for $125. Came with a full bottle of gas, 2 spools of steel wire, 1 spool of aluminum wire, gloves and a mask(not a helmet). I like it but have found myself wishing for a 220v unit. Seems like its hard to start/maintain a good arc, but that could just be me as I've never welded anything before I got this one. Other thing I really hate about it is that the wire is live all the time. The trigger on the gun just turns on the gas flow and the wire feed.

 

Mig. I have had a Lincoln Power Mig 215 for about 5 years and it kicks butt! Best 2,500 bucks I have spent on a tool. I was a weldor before I got into cars my lincoln is way overkill for anything the average guy needs a welder for.

 

sounds like your welder is broken...

 

Nope. According to the info I've found on it, that is the way it is from the factory.

 

Ok guys thanks for the advice...unfortunately I dont have a couple grand to bust loose on a welder but would you say its worth it to go 500-600 bucks for one of the lower end lincolns or millers?

 

I have a lincoln 110 volt. I think it cost a little over $400 for the welder, then figure about $100 for a decent helment with auto shade, then about $150 or so for the gas. That would get you a decent setup. BTW, the $150 for the gas is just the first time. You have to buy the bottle. It only cost me $18 to fill it back up.

I can tell you I could not live anymore without having a 110v MIG welder. I use it so much.

 

Alrighty well then im sold on the mig welder, ive already got a nice auto darkening helmet and couldnt imagine welding without one. Those bottles are kinda pricey but I guess thats the nature of the beast.

 

$18 to fill up the bottle?? Where do you get yours filled? It costs me $45-50 everytime I fill mine and its not even a big one.

 

I just go to the local gas place by me. My bottle is the one that stands about knee high, so its not big. I purposely have a small bottle on the MIG because I bring it so many places. I have a big chest height bottle for my TIG welder though.

 

That's the same size bottle I have. I'll have to call around to some other places. Do you exchange the cylinder, or do they just fill it up?

 

They exchange it. I'm usually there less than 5 minutes.

 

i MIG all my exhaust stuff. i like to use .023" wire and co2/argon. i have a 20y/o little 110 miller-matic. it's awesome for exhaust and mild steel rollbars anything over 3/16" and i'm in trouble. it puts the 1/4" plates on the floors for a roll bar but if i have alot of 1/4" to weld i have to be really patient.

 

220v Miller 440 here

.023 CO2/Ar mix

Great for exhaust work, and pretty much any other steel

 

TIG, no doubt about it.

 

I say tig is best where presision and appearance are
important,but mig is faster
Right now i mostly use mig for steel work and the tig for
aluminum,but i have been starting to practice steel
welding with the tig because the welds look so nice
For critical welds on race cars and airplanes,tig is used.

 

Very pretty, you do some great work. But seeing as how i've had very limited arc time with tig i'll probably just stick with mig

 

Flux usually for the crap alumnized stuff but when I am ready to make something nice out of stainless I go TIG

 

It depends on two things: do you consider your skills with MIG to be good enough for what you want & whats your budget for a welder.

If you are very good at it, MIG will be a fine choice for the money. You can weld aluminum and steel with it and do just fine. But that is very dependent on your skill level.

If you aren't very good at MIG, and have the time and money to do it, get a TIG welder and start learning it. Lincoln makes a TIG welder that runs on 120v household outlets for about $1200 (this particular TIG welder doesn't have an AC output for aluminum). TIG will be very hard to learn because you have to use both hands and a foot to operate the welder. But once you learn it, its almost impossible to mess up a weld.

 

Im good with MIG and i've tried TIG and been succesful with steel but im told that aluminum is harder to get right, I'll have to give it a try sometime I guess. The budget right now calls for getting something 500-600 tops, and from what i've heard I ought to be able to get a decent MIG welder and do some decent quality welds for that kind of money

 

I know I will most likely be flamed but I have had amazing luck with the red harborfreight 220V tig and you can usually get it for about $200

 

Or, it's a flux only welder...



Since I'm lazy (and too cheap to buy a bottle), I use flux even though my welder is MIG ready.

 

Nope, it can do both. I've been using it with gas since I got it. Only use flux when I'm outside due to the small size and lack of ventilation in my garage.

 

Interesting, usually just flux only welders have the always live wire. I used to have a Cambell-Hausfeild with the live wire, a crappy feature for a wire welder indeed.

 

nvmd, i'm loosing my mind today...

 

My Lincoln flux does not have a live wire it is only live when you pull the trigger.

 

Is it flux only or, mig ready flux welder (the one you can add the mig kit to)?

 

It is flux only

 

Well, from what I've been able to find online the Craftsman welder I have is basically a rebadged Campbell-Hausfield. I agree though, its a real PITA to work with it that way.

 

Here it is my first welder. It is cheap and only does flux but it does slap exhaust pipe together no prob and has yet to overheat. I have used others now that are 220 and much more powerful. Mid is easier and TIG is fun but for a 110 flux this has had me covered for many years through many exhausts. I have never had one exhaust weld fail EVER. I have had 2 exhausts rust through because of salt and the welds lasted longer than the pipe.

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