One of the things I’d like to (re)learn with this new truck is welding. Twenty years ago, I was given basic instruction by a guy in the sculpture department at college in exchange for a six-pack of beer, and I’ve forgotten almost everything about the lesson other than “wear a helmet”. After practicing on cast-aside strips of angle iron and flat plate, I built a guitar stand out of rebar, but that was about the limit of my hands-on experience.
Stick welding seems to be the cheapest, but from what I’m reading it’s also the hardest to master and is limiting as far as the thickness (or thinness) of the metal being welded. I don’t know if I’l be doing anything thinner than 18 gauge, but the idea that I could use it on rusty or dirty metal is interesting.
I learned on a MIG welder, so that would be the one I’d like to pick back up if possible. It’s cleaner, easier to master, and works with thinner gauges, which makes it attractive for more than just automotive applications. (What else I’d be welding I have no idea, but I’d love to find something).
TIG welding sounds great, but the cost of entry is extremely prohibitive.
The trick, it seems, is to find a MIG welder that will do longer duty cycles on a regular 110-volt circuit that isn’t over $500. I’ve read up on some of the recommended brands, and it seems that Miller and Hobart are the two most highly regarded—I’ve heard several stories about Miller’s excellent customer service.