What welder to buy

admin

I am interested in buying a welder mainly for building up exhaust parts for my car. I have limited welding experience. I have used MIG and oxy-acetylene but I am just a beginner at welding. I am looking for a welder to do stainless exhausts and possibly intercooler (thin aluminum piping in the future) It would probably double duty to do around the house type stuff and possibly smaller metal sculpture if I get into that. So mainly tube and thin metal welding.  I am totally unsure on what I want to purchase. I think Ideally I would have a full on tig machine. One that would do stainless and aluminum. I think it is a bit pricey for how much I am going to use it. I don't think I can justify ~3k for a welder. I have thought about mig for stainless exhaust but what I have read says it is subpar? I probably could farm out the aluminum work if need be. I probably should anyway as it is going to be over my head. So I was thinking ether get a MIG and do the stainless wire thing on the exhaust or get a smaller portable DC tig. People say don't get a little tig first because it is too specialized.I would be learning with this machine. I probably will take a local class on whatever I get but I don't plan on making any structural or life dependent welds until I am sure my skills are up to the task and I have someone who is a master welder checking my work. I don't want to be a master welder at everything just want to learn how to weld exhaust pipes now and have the best tool available. Also what would you use to cut stainless exhaust pipe? nibler? bandsaw?  Thanks tom