MIG or TIG for stainless boat railing

[gregatisa]

Hi all, looking for advice on what to buy
I welded some stuff with stick about 20 years ago, didn't do very well but it stuck together ok.
Now I have a boat and after lots of practice on cheap metal, plan to weld bow rails, stern rails, ladders and other bits mostly from 19 mm and 25mm by 1.6 stainless tube.
I've read a lot, including some posts this site, and still can't decide which would be best - MIG or TIG. As I understand it, TIG will give me a much finer weld with less clean-up, but may be much harder to learn due to having to coordinate 2 hands.
Equipment will be small, probably 180, but as most of the welds will be also small, I figure the slower rate of TIG would be OK and deep penetration not needed for this thickness tubing.
I found an inverter box with stick and TIG functions recently (can't remember the brand but will be back at the shop next weekend looking again) which is in my low price range - about $400, plus $350 for the TIG extras.
Can anyone give me some advice please?

 

[Luke]

It depends what sort of finish you want.

It's fair to say that in general, TIG is used for all work like this on boats, without a doubt.

 

[gregatisa]

Thanks Luke
I'm sure I'll be looking for more advice as I go along

 

[FranV8]

And 180 Amps will be more than enough to weld that thickness.

 

[langy]

For that sort of thickness stainless. Small 160 set would be ideal

 

[KemppiFrog]

TIG will leave much less grinding and general tidying up than Mig or Stick. As you get better, possibly non at all. I have use all three for boat fittings, also depends on what else you might need the kit for. Mig might be a good compromise for hobby stuff.

 

[mike os]

at $750 I would want a dedicated tig with HF start, not an adapted buzz box

 

[gregatisa]

Thanks for the comments.
Pretty sure the one I looked at had HF start.
Dedicated TIG setup price started at $1100.
Advantage of this one was light weight for transport. The boat is in Sydney over 1000 miles away and airlines dont like heavy stuff. Plan to fabricate first, but then will have to weld some onto the boat and fine-tune bits probably.
I should have paid more attention to the brand. Can't find it on the internet to check specs. It was yellow which limits the brands to look for, but no success yet. Shop closed now so i will check a few more things during the week.
I appreciate the advice, so thanks again.

 

[gregatisa]

More info:
I was looking at CEA Rainbow 150 at $900, or CEA Project 1300 at $350 or Project 1600 at $450
All require extra $250 for TIG extras
None are HF start
HF start starts at $2000 for cheapest set.
Prices seem higher here than UK

Any advice from anyone familiar with these would be appreciated

 

[langy]

Stainless tube will look much nicer tigged, migged would probably look like a dogs breakfast !!!

 

[julieanncharters]

i make boat rails and fittings in 316 all time.
don't think people would be to pleased with them being migged, finish would be pants
a little cheap HF set with 100-140amp max would be more than enough for what you want to do.
go for the tig, learn the skills produce a nice job.
if you get good at it expect loads of work as a side line if you want it

 

[gregatisa]

OK
So which one to buy
Will the cheapest one CEA Project 1300 do the job?
Is the Rainbow worth more than twice as much?

 

[gregatisa]

Finally made decision and have bought inverter with capacity to add TIG
Started practicing on cheap steel with sticks first
A few problems with holes in square tube initially but otherwise went OK on first project - prop balancer.
Took about 5 hours.Can anyone advise on the best way to fix holes in tube?