Type of welder to buy?

admin

I know this question has been adressed in many different cases before, but I would like some feedback regarding the best welder for my specific case(s).I am not a welder by trade... when I was growing up i gained some experience stick welding thicker steel and stuff like that.  I am just looking for something to have around the house to do general "fixes" with.  I will NOT be using this unit frequently or anything like that.Here are a few things that I am looking at doing:1.  I have a stainless steel exhaust system on my car.. I want to weld 2 joints where there is a clamp right now.2.  I have a kitchen chair, which appears to be made out of some thin, hollow type tubing.. maybe some type of aluminum.. well one of the welds broke holding the leg on... I want to fix it if possible.3.  I want to make steel, aluminum, whatever.. between 1/4" and 1/2" square or round tubing shelving.. which will hold horizonal glass pieces...those are just a few of the things I want to start doing... I was looking at the flux-core units due to the fact that they don't need gas.. I am not sure which gauge my exhaust piping on my car is, but someone told me that it may be too thin for flux-core or stick-welding.  Can someone suggest a welding machine that may fit all of my needs.. Thanks!
Reply:won't be able to do stainless w/ just a flux core machine. If you are looking to dink around with JUST these projects, find a buddy that has a MIG welder, if you have more than that planned, I would suggest the Hobart 140 or 180. The 180 is a little more flexible for what you may be loking to do, If you are thinking production typr welding or messing more on structural welds you will have to go in the 200 range, I would suggest miller, but any of the big 3 have decent systems. (Lincoln, Hobart, Miller.)
Reply:Thin aluminum (<1/8") will require TIG