Well ive been wanting to learn to weld for a long time now..i was supossed to take a welding class a couple years ago but it never fell through..but i really want to learn how to weld now but have no way to learn but to teach myself and try things out sooooooo..

Whats a really good beginners welder? im mostly gonna do exhaust's and try to make a turbo manifold and a header sometime soon just to give it a try and see if i can perfect welding someday..and tips etc. that anyone can give me? and where can i find a cheap (but works well) tubing/pipe bender?

 

if your talking MIG than id say like a miller 175 or 185. they are excellent machines for light/medium fab, thats what i learned on. and if your talkin TIG then id say the miller syncrowave 180. I bought that machine recently and it works great.

 

cool thanks for the input 4cefed

did you start off going into this blind or did you already have a basic idea of what to do?

 

Buy what you can afford. "Starter machines" will only cause you to lose hundreds of dollars down the road when you upgrade. If money is an issue, then it's still best to get the right machine the first time instead of losing money on one and then buying the right machine.

I'd reccomend a syncrowave 250, 350, maxstar (if you don't do aluminum), or even a Dynasty (if you got the green). You can find used welding machines much cheaper than a new one. Miller machines are typicaly made for heavy industrial applications, and can withstand many years of it. Buying a used machine, and its reliability, is rarely any issue to be concerned with. But by buying used, you can get a more powerful machine for the same amount you'd pay for a small machine new.

 

What is up. I don't think you should go out and spend a brick load of money, before you can be a decent welder. Once you see the bead and become one with it, you should then think about what you want. There is a lot of tid bit info that you need in order for you to become a "welder". Welding itself is an occupation in its own. Any bonehead that can turn a nut and pass a multiple choice test can be the almighty ASE certified, or I-CAR, MECP, PHD, or get crunked off LSD. To be a certified welder, they make you weld in all sorts of akward positions and blah blah. In anycase, before anything, go to a community college and take a course on welding. Believe it, you will be glad you did. They will show you all sorts of welders. Oxy, Tig, Mig, Stick, and maybe even Plasma Cutting. If you can, I suggest jumping into Tig welding. Learn to Tig off aluminum. Believe me, if you can Tig aluminum, you can do it all. Not to brag but I will, some industry leaders saw my Oxy welds and they said it was the best they have seen. This was due to learning nothing but aluminum Tig for 3 months straight. I paid like $150 for a tuition, but spent like $1000 of school money just on aluminum (HAHA!). All in all, you can spend $100 on a crap Mig welder, or spend $2000 for a versitile welder, or even $50,000+. You also have to consider if you have the proper electrical connections at home that can power your welder. Lastly, if your doing custom exhaust, I wouldn't use a Mig welder unless you want a Mickey job. Also, you need a mandrel bender to bend tubing properly. Since they cost in excess of $5,000, I suggest buying pre bent tubing, some straight tubing, and a cut off saw.
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