Do yourself a favor. Go ahead and get a MIG. For under $500, there
are several nice home MIG welders on the market. You will appreciate
the superior weld quality of the MIG. Besides, how much money are you
going to spend on your frame-off? Why save a few dollars on a piece
of equipment that will last a lifetime?
I have never used a "Mini-Mite" welder, but as a Welding Engineer I
know the ease of use and weld strength of the MIG will be much better
than an arc weld. Get a MIG that uses a shield gas (argon, CO2). I
have seen welds made by flux covered wire. There is a night & day
difference between flux covered and gas-shielded welds. Yes, the gas
bottle can be a hassle but you get what you pay for. For home
welding, dollar-for-dollar, you can't beat a gas-shielded MIG weld.
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Welder
Author: Martin Libhart <mlibhart@fn.net> at smtp
Date: 10/1/96 08:06 PM
I am in the process of deciding which small welding unit to purchase
for minor welding work during my frame-off restoration. Anticipate
mainly body sheet metal work, with an occasional frame patch & repair.
Has anyone used the "Mini-Mite" welder available from Eastwood's (and
others)? It's a small 115v. arc welder that also has a stitch welder
attachment for doing light gage sheetmetal work. Or, what's your
experience with the small gas-less wire feed units (MIG-type)?
The bottom line is: I want to do most of the welding myself, I need
the ability to do light gage material, and I don't want to spend over
$250.
Any help out there?
Martin Libhart
Wichita, KS
1970 Spitfire-In-Progress
|