welding 101

[Chopper]

I have a Miller at the shop and at the house. You don't need a stick welder unless you're doing heavy frame or construction applications. A "wire" welder will serve your every automotive need. Do not be tempted to buy a cheap flea market, Harbour Freight,Wall Mart type machine. This is one area where you really do get what you pay for. There are a ton of 300 dollar Chinese crap pieces out there that make splashy, lousy, joins and frustrate the bejesus outta you with wire feed jams and such. Save up or look used, but get a good machine. It will make you a better welder, and you'll produce better, cleaner work... but you said you were a welder didn't you. You know all this already. Any help I can give... don't be shy. Wayne

[etlsport]

thanks for the info, thats what i thought but wasnt sure about the constant changes in heat of the exhaust and engine

by 'experienced' i mean i took a class on welding 2 years ago and probably welded once every other month since then... so im far from a great welder, but figure once i get the welder ill be able to build up my skills before trusting my welding skills go to 100mph lol..

my workshop is probably about 70% craftsman tools so i was thinking about a craftsman welder (id also LOVE to get a plasma cutter too.. but goin to school leaves my funds a little low) but i have used exclusively miller welders so far.. and have yet to encounter a problem so i dunno, that seems like a good option too

[Chopper]

Just read your post Zeus. Don't know about the combo units,but our stand alone cutter is f'in awesome! If you ain't a fabber before you get one, you will be 20 minutes after you get the hang of it. Metal art for the front yard.. air bags for the lawn tractor, aquarium stands for the fish you don't have, custom jack stands! What a toy! 'course I like things that go BANG! and make fire, alot.