new to forum need advice

[turbobrian]

hello everyone,
my name is brian. i currently own my own automotive performance shop. we do everything and anything to cars. most of our welding is subbed out to local welders. some of the things we do are custom exhaust systems in 16-18 ga stainless or aluminized tubing. custome front mount intercoolers from alluminum. we also weld alot of things onto cast steel exhaust manifolds. i am now ready to do all this welding myself. we are wasteing alot of money subbing these things out. the reason we did sub them out was first we didnt have the equipment and the space to do it. things have changed, we now have enough room to dedicate a welding and fabricating room, and we have the money, but i would like to save money also. if it means spending a bit more to get something very nice i will, but im sure there are machines that will get us by just fine. so i ask for help in search of the right machine to do the job. i was thinking of getting a decent mig for fast welding when fixing exhasts and be able to weld things on the car in the air in akward positions. and i would like a tig to do allum and do very nice welds on stainless custome 02 housings, headers, and anything that needs a strong weld, and to look pretty. i dont think we will ever need something that welds more than 3/4". any suggestions or comments from anyone would be much appreciated. i forgot to mention i do have welding experiance and have done mig, tig, and arc welding for years. its been some time since ive done it but im sure i can pick it all up again.

[turbobrian]

i probabally should have read the forum before posting. i see that this question has been asked a few times before. so far i see that maybe the ECONOTIG AC/DC is what i might need.

[HAWK]

Brian,

You mentioned 3/4" material. Are you wanting to TIG or MIG this thickness? Either way some type of joint prep will be necessary to insure 100% penetration-perhaps a double v-groove. You may want to look at the Sync 350 LX pushing 400 amps and a 354MP inverter, also 400 amps, with a pulse feeder for the mig. This is the extreme side.

Maybe the Sync 250 and a MM251 will do what you need. I am a little confused on the 3/4" material-what and how it will be welded. The Econotig is an okay machine, but best left to hobbyists and occasional users. It's not made for day in and out use. It is only rated at 150 amps on a 20% duty cycle. This does not really put you in the 3/16" thickness. Maybe for a short, short time period.

If you can specify what alloys and thickness will be tig and what will be mig, maybe the choices and dollars spent can be narrowed.

There are some of guys using the Sync 180 and a MM210 combo for this type work. It all depends on what you want to tig and what you want to mig and or stick (included with the tig machines).

Good Luck

[turbobrian]

thanks for the reply

as far as the 3/4 inch thickness goes. yes i always plan on giving everything a good prep and giving it the v shape first. i will not have to weld stuff that thick very often. some times when we do tube frame sections we have to weld to the rear cross member. i have seen it as thick as 3/4". but mainly i will be doing exhaust system components in stainless tubing 14-18 guage, alluminized tubing 14-18 guage, alluminum sheet 16-18 guage for intercoolers, cromolly tubing 16-18 guage, and we sometimes have to take a cast steel manifold and plasma cut a 30-50mm hole in it and weld a flange on for a external wasegate. pretty much i can do everything except allum with a good mig, but as i get into custom fabrication of o2 housings and headers the weld needs to be nice looking as in a good looking bead and not a blob. it also has to be strong...so thats where i would need a tig...so i think. i am just starting to learn all the differences of the welders out there. i plan to reserch this for a month or so then make a decision. i have been reading the boards as much as possible befor i go talk with sales guys that might not tell me what i should hear. i want to know if they are helping me or selling me.

this machine will be used almost every day. not 8 hrs a day but at least once or twice. so i do need something reliable. my price range is 800-1500 as of right now. but like i said if it means paying 2500 for something well worth the 1k extra then i will do it. i also have bought things and said to myself i wish i just did it right the first time.

[cope]

For your use, an SD180 would be a better choice than the Econotig.

[turbobrian]

went to ABCO today. which is the local welder supplier. i think i might go with the millermatic 135. seams like a decent machine, not to expensive and will do 80 percent of what i need done.

[HAWK]

Brian,

If you are leaning towards a mig machine, double think the MM135. You will be limited to joining 1/8" material. I think you'll b e disappointed with it's limitations for what the work you are describing. Take a good look at the MM210. You can always add a tig machine later

[Justin00Stang]

120v MIGs serve there purpose but they don't do a whole lot...anyone who is remotely serious REALLY needs a 220v mig. Longer duty cycle, more power, etc.

[turbobrian]

thanks for all the greta feed back. i am slowly getting back to knowing whats what. i am definatly leaning towards the 210. and i can get a nice tig later when i have some more $$$

[xseabee]

Brian, I grew up in R.I. what part are you in? Not that it's big place . My dad still lives there ,I'm in tn now and only visit about once a year.

[turbobrian]

grew up in narragansett.

[xseabee]

Was born in Newport. Graduated from North Kingstown. Learned to weld in the navy and have been welding Alum. in a boat shop since 1996.Mostly mig and alot of tig ...

Gregg

[ROCK]

Hi guys..........And I was staioned at Quonsant point.......Many many years ago.......not even sure if the spelling is correct. R.I. ERS straighten me out here.........

I think I would consider either the MM210/MM251 with spool gun option for the ocassional aluminum job that doesn't need tig welded and you will get them. I have a friend who runs performance automotive and you will get them in.......... For tig I really like the sybncrowave 250 or syncrowave 350.......... Those are my suggestions...... However when it comes right down to it the call will be yours as it is your hard earned cash your spending.......... Let us know what you decide TURBOBRIAN and why you chose what you did......... And welcome to the forum...............Enjoy...........Rock..
[email protected]

[turbobrian]

thanks for all the advice

i am going to purchase either a 210 this week or my fabricator/exhaust guy that i use also needs a 175 becuase his just is not working and he said he is tired of fixing it, so he told me to buy the 175 use it for a month or two, see how i like it and if i need more he will take my 175 so i can buy a 210. i might just do this to get a feel for what i need. and after i decide he will help me get back into tig.

[cope]

Brian, the two complaints you never hear are I bought too much welder and I wish I didn't have all these welders.