Welding frames and fab

[satansmeerkat]

I'm looking at getting a cheap little welder to do some light fabrication on a project; making a seat, sissy bar, saddlebag supports etc; some work to the sub-frame too, but nothing tooooo heavy.

My question is MIG, TIG, or Stick. Money IS an issue, the cheaper the better; any suggestions, advice etc is welcome.

Cheers guys

[Stu]

If all steel then mig

[eastanglianbiker]

mig for all steel work but dont get one of those poxy gasless ones never seen anyone get a good weld with them yet

[Guest]

Stick is out, not good on thin wall tube, unless you have experience. MIG is easiest to learn and you can get a reasonable weld with little experience, but don't go for gassless. Clarke make a reasonable small unit. I prefer TIG as it's nearest to gas welding and is very flexible with regard to materials and finish weld aesthetics. If your gonna do a lot of welding ask your gas supplier for a portable bottle as the small refills are quite expensive. Try and get an Argon mix like Cougar it makes the weld flow easier.

[Guest]

Money IS an issue, the cheaper the better; any suggestions......

 

Not with welding kit it isn't -, you will find that crappy welding kit just won't give satisfactory results.

[fastbob]

Do you need any formal training to learn to weld or can you just fool around until you acquire the knack ? I wouldn't fancy finding out how good my welding is while riding at high speed. Regarding equipment, I often see electric welders at car boot sales but I've never bought one mainly because I have a certain fear of electrocuting myself or inadvertently blasting a big hole in the thing I'm trying to repair. I remember many years ago when a friend and I tried to modify a luggage rack using his dads welder. Every time we went to weld it pieces of it just vanished in a blinding flash .

[Guest]

I wouldn't fancy finding out how good my welding is while riding at high speed...

 

Amen. There endeth the first lesson.....

If you really gotta feck about, try http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/

Have fun.

[Westbeef]

Don't worry guys, if he did weld it and it was shit he's probably binned it already.

[fastbob]

Don't worry guys, if he did weld it and it was shit he's probably binned it already.

 

Who welded what ?

[Tango]

Don't worry guys, if he did weld it and it was shit he's probably binned it already.

 

Who welded what ?

 

Original post was from 2014, fastbob.....I think that's what beefy was suggesting.....

[fastbob]

Don't worry guys, if he did weld it and it was shit he's probably binned it already.

 

Who welded what ?

 

Original post was from 2014, fastbob.....I think that's what beefy was suggesting.....

 

Ah ha.

[Bender]

Holy thread resurrection batman.