Which Welder

[lsmcspaul]

Hi, I'm after a mig welder for welding stainless exhaust pipe and other small parts for motorcycles and will be using gas. It wont be used much, just want to have there when needed so only want to spend around £300.

I've read through a few of the posts on this forum and I'm swaying toward either a 'Blackline 200' or maybe a 'Static Arc' welder but not sure which would be best as there are a few write ups for both but I couldn't see any write ups comparing them against each other.

Has anyone used both and can recomend which one is best to go for?

Thanks in advance for your knowledge.

Paul.

 

[Barking Mat]

Welcome to the forum.

Mig welding stainless, hmm, complicated.

You'll need a spool gun. Or ideally a tig welder.

 

[lsmcspaul]

I've got a tig, but wanted a mig just for tacking the exhaust pieces together in place, it's probably just me but I find it quicker/easier to just tack the exhaust pieces in place with a mig, then when its all tacked in the correct angles, take it to my bench and finish it off properly with my tig.
Plus the mig will be for other small motorcycle parts like small brackets and stuff.

 

[Barking Mat]

I've got a tig, but wanted a mig just for tacking the exhaust pieces together in place, it's probably just me but I find it quicker/easier to just tack the exhaust pieces in place with a mig, then when its all tacked in the correct angles, take it to my bench and finish it off properly with my tig.
Plus the mig will be for other small motorcycle parts like small brackets and stuff.

You need to do your homework on mig welding stainless, others on here are more competent, ie @Hood .

 

[lsmcspaul]

You need to do your homework on mig welding stainless, others on here are more competent, ie @Hood .

It's why I love these forums, people with loadsa knowledge to pass on helpfull advice

I thought I could just use stainless wire and argon with a mig and tack the sections in place before finishing with my tig.

I'm crap

 

[sg66]

You should have dedicated rollers and liner for stainless wire, I've tacked stainless just to hold stuff but it's never been pretty, but I just use what ever is in the mig.

 

[Hood]

You need to do your homework on mig welding stainless, others on here are more competent, ie @Hood .

Nah, not me, only thing I do with mig is aluminium. Stainless is stick or tig.

 

[chris pruteanu]

No need for fancy rollers with stainless mig welding but you need full argon gas and good shielding. Tig is far more forgiving when welding/tacking stainless.