Quote:

I agree, but panel beaters were using oxy / acetalyene for a long time before migs were around.

Yes - You have to be more careful about how much heat you put into the panels, but as a cost effective option, you can certainly get good results from an oxy set.

Judge for yourself: -

From this -


To this -


And finally, this -


All using an oxy set.

Hey this is a very informative thread good work!
I have heard important things in choosing a MIG welder are:-

duty cycle. More info

detachable handle. Cheaper and easier to replace inner sleeves once they get dirty (i recon just dont let dustetc get into the machine and onto the wire)

Wire size.More info plus a few interesting points

cheers

flux core wire is probably going to make it really hard unless you have a good one with current and feed speed, which if you did probably could tig also.

i've learned my lesson no MIG on sheetmetal! ( of not unless you got a really good one,etc..)

I'd use the MIG for quick little things like making a grille or things out of 1/8" stock, mine's no good on thinstuff, and it overheats if you really get welding...

Its surprising what you can do with the flux cored wire but using a shielding gas is supposed to be the way to go for body work. Much cleaner welds it seems.

I don't know about the availability but in the US we can get a small TIG for around $225 at Harbor Freight. I have both a small home/hobbyist MIG and this small TIG. I am still learning the technique but common wisdom says that if you can get the "touch" that the TIG will produce cleaner/nicer welds. Of course we are also able to "rent" a bottle for lifetime for $80 and re-fills are about $20 so I have one of each argon/co2 mix and straight argon for the TIG.

Anyway, I agree, give it a try. If you got the car for nil and the welder for the prices that are being talked about for your area the worst that could happen is you learn to weld and have a welder for other projects to boot. And I would say to stay away from the flux core wire unless there is no other way. It makes acceptable welds, you just have to chip and wire wheel a lot of stuff off. Sort of like welding with the stick welder.

have a go mate! yo will be glad you did. take your time. you can get flux coated wire for a mig but it is not the best. surfaces need to be very clean other wise no penetration... if you set your reg properly (14 litres per min) then you will be surprised how far a little bottle goes. i am still on the same bottle for a year and i have repaired a front end on the r100 and bunch of other stuff and still have half a bottle

i plan to do most of the stuff myself on this car..even tho i have no idea wat so ever on most of it. but im a quick learner so why not ey? whats the worst that could happen? i stuff up a car that was given to me..im willing to risk it

Hi guys, all i want to say is give it a go and do it your self, then you know that you didnt pay 5 grand for a bog job. I bought a 150 amp mig off ebay to repair the rust in my coupe and it cost just over $500. Now im welding everything that needs to be done. Iv been going for 6 months and no where finished yet but it will pay off in the end and you will learn so much about the body along the way especially if you have on idea about panel beating like me.

yeah thats why i was hoping the arc would b ok.. no gas or bottle rental. how much welding can you get out of a small bottle?

i think these go new for around $700.. second hand would be ok if it has been looked after. there is one in my area for $250. i know this doensnt help but it gives you the idea. the problem arises after purchase cause gas companies now torture you for money. i have the smallestbottle available and i pay around $130 a year in rental then the $80 to fill it everytime.