What kind of welder is good to weld thin walled steel piping? I have a little welding experience with a friend's TIG welder, but no other types. I know the welder I used was freaking $1500 or so. I don't want spend that kind of dough.

Are there other types of (cheaper) welders that would work? Keep in mind I am not making manifolds that need deep penetration, just I/C piping and maybe a downpipe.

 

Really depends on the material, for mild steel...you can use a MIG
With aluminum or SS you'll have to use the TIG, either way TIG is the better choice.

 

TIG welders are quite expensive compared to MIGs and MIG welding if very easy. You can do steel, stainless, and aluminum (with a spool gun) with MIG.

Ben

 

TIG is what you want, MIG is probably what you'll get.

If you can afford it, you want this:
http://www.cyberweld.com/milmax140tig.html
Maxstar 140 TIG

Else, get this: http://www.cyberweld.com/millermatic135.html
Millermatic 135 MIG

I have this:
http://www.cyberweld.com/milmax200dx.html

Dustin

 

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

I can tell you from experience that MIG works on steel stuff but it is a bit of a pain in the *** to get a good penetration weld AND not blow holes through the pipe. I usually end up welding a bead around at low current to build up metal and then going over it again at higher current to get some penetration once there's enough material not to burn thru it. It is possible, results are decent, I haven't had a weld fail yet; it's just a bit ugly and a pain in the *** compared to TIG.

 

do you guys get that cottage cheese look with the MIG wire feeders also?? I hate that...

Dustin: HOw's the econoTIG? DOes it come with everything needed? I don't know poo poo about TIg welders or TIG welding

 

Cottage cheese comes from welding with too little current in my experience; if you heat it up more it smooths out a lot... right before it blows a hole through your workpiece.

 

You can get a nice 220v arc setup for a few hundred dollars. But, you wont be able to do aluminum, and arc welding is slightly harder to do than a feeder syle welder.

If i was welding intercooler piping, i would go for around 40amps with some thin rods. The best way to avoid blowing holes is to get rid of the gaps
gaps suck

 

Stick welding is mad ugly.

The econotig is OK but it has a really low duty cycle and takes 68A input current.

You would be much, much better off getting the Maxstar 140. It's soo small and runs off normal house current.

Dustin

 

basic maxstar 140 comes with everything I need right?

 

You want this one:
http://www.cyberweld.com/milmax140str.html

Comes w/ the remote that is very necessary.

Dustin

 

can you upgrade to a torch or does it only allow a stick welder

 

Stick welders weld pretty crappy from what I have seen.

 

The maxstar 140 is an awesome TIG welder that can also do stick (I dunno why you would ever want to though).

Dustin

 

Im going to have my intercooler piping welded by a local welding shop when the time comes, but Im going to tac in place so all they have to do is weld the peices all the way around, not actually fit it to me car. Would I beable to use a basic MIG welder to tac stainless steel in place?

 

ive got a cheapo arc welder, and as said it blows holes right through
gaps, how can i prevent this, id really like to weld my own piping...
JC whitney 2.5 U bends..

i already have the welder set at the lowest
amp setting that gives me enough current to spark my rods..
im using 3/16 (i think)

would thinner rods help.??

 

Hey! whats with all the knocking stick welders? Dont get me wrong, i'm not recommending them to any newbie welders.
BUT, stick welders produce some of the BEST looking welds, not the crappiest. Its just a hell of a lot harder to weld with. I've been welding for years, and i'm just now starting to get good. Dont knock stick welders is all i'm saying, i'd put my best looking weld against a feeder weld anyday.

 

let's forget about welding IC pipings....I think that's the easy part of the job...

What about trying to cut the pipes so that they match up nicely instead of leaving fawking 2" gap in between on some sides...I wanna know how everybody's piping looks so good compared to my artwork...

 

 

i use a table saw with a metal cutting blade...