Thread: Gasless or Stick?

Yeah that's true too.

Originally Posted by Apples

Don't mean to spoil the party but it's best to bolt the thing together only. The heat will warp the **** out of it. Trust me I've been there.

All accounted for, its planned to build a main base then bolt the top on, basically 4 contact points to the main frame. I built a frame before and know how bad it can pull and twist.


I had some free time today and went and had a look at the smootharc 130 and it looks like a great little unit, didnt get anymore info from the sales rep that I didnt already know.

Originally Posted by Apples

A mig welder is way easier to use than a stick welder. Especially if you are a beginner. Whilst using self shielding wire is not as pretty as using a solid mig wire and gas it saves you money on renting a gas bottle. If you plan to do a fair bit of welding and can afford the gas, get solid mig wire without a doubt. But if you only plan to do the occasional DIY mig welding at home gasless may be the better choice.

Thats the main thing stopping me from just going down there and buying one, currently trying to see if I can get a hold of the old mans arc welder for a week to give it a run.

There is nothing wrong with an arc welder. it's just that it is much harder to learn how to arc weld than it is to mig weld. My cnc plasma table I arc welded up and it did not have the best welds on it, lol.

Here is some stuff on how to arc weld.

Originally Posted by Apples

There is nothing wrong with an arc welder. it's just that it is much harder to learn how to arc weld than it is to mig weld. My cnc plasma table I arc welded up and it did not have the best welds on it, lol.

Here is some stuff on how to arc weld.

Good tutorial site I recon, great application for google adsence also much better than the junk I see people churning out.

Hoping to see if I can pinch the arc welder from my dad tommorow now, and give your techniques a go.

I am going to get more welding instructions there, just need to find the time.

For the price of a name brand mig you can buy a name brand inverter AND a years Tafe tuition. You'll get far better looking welds using stick than gasless mig, plus the added advantage that you can tig with the inverter. As a bonus you'll get to do a thousand practice welds then break them and you'll know that your welds are strong as well as looking good!