My Dad and I are going to split a welder soon so we've both been doing our research. He wants it mainly for bodywork, I want to build manifolds, traction bars, and other general fab parts like that.

I suggested to my dad that we get a Hobart handler 180. He called around and came up with a Miller Maxstar 150 stl for $850.

He likes the idea of a tig because he already has an arc welder and likes to manually control the stick. I would love to get a tig also but I've read that a tig is no good for bodywork because it heats the metal too much and will warp it.

I guess my question is will tig work for his bodywork? Will the Maxstar 150 be good for my needs also? Do you guys have any other suggestions for welders?

 

What you're asking for is like wanting a banana that tastes like an apple. You can find a fruit that looks like a banana, or tastes like a banana, but not both.. The banana will at least taste like a fruit, but will in no way taste near what the apple will.

In other words, you want a machine that will do two completely different things...and I'm assuming you want it to do them well. The Maxstar will not do well for body work for ****, and the Hobart Handler will not do well for your manifolds.

now, that said, the key word above is WELL. The Hobart Handler CAN do both, is the better machine for the body work, and will get by on the manifolds. The Maxstar will do the manifolds nicely, but won't be for **** on body work.

You mention that your father already has an "arc welder"....I'm assuming you mean STICK welder. (keep in mind that tig also welds with an ARC, as does MIG)
Anyway, you can buy a few parts and use the stick welding machine as a tig, and then get the mig machine for the body work.

http://www.az-zbum.com/welder.upgrade.shtml

 

Thanks for clearing a lot of stuff up.

 

Buy a tig adapter for your arc welder. You will probably have to operate the bottle by hand but you can find upgrade kits for your arc probably. I think some even come with a pedal.