Reply To: Learning to weld

[Mumbles]

If you already have a torch setup, that is all you need to fix the broken shocks as they braze up very nicely. The trick is to keep them straight while it’s being welded or brazed.

Welding is a trade and takes a four year apprenticeship to become a journeyman so only the basics can be discussed on a forum. As for a machine, there are traditional AC arc (stick) welders, AC-DC stick welders, MIG and flux core wire feed welders, and my favorite, AC-DC TIG welders which can do fine work in both steel and aluminum. The MIG can be set up with a spool gun to weld aluminum but it and the TIG welders both require a seperate gas bottle, usually filled with Argon or a mix of gases, depending on the material to be welded. The bottles are usually leased but can be purchased from some vendors. Purchasing is better financially in the long run.

A welder will say the expensive red or blue (Lincoln or Miller) machines are superior to any except for maybe a Hobart but they are now composed of Asian parts and only assembled in the US, not manufactured in the US anymore. For the average Joe, these machines are more for professional use in a production setting and unnecessary for the average home user. A used one in good condition may be the way to go or if going new, consider one of the Asian brands sold at the discount tool stores or online. Some of them are pure garbage but some of them can perform just as good as the red or blue ones and do it at a fraction of the cost. You have to do your homework to figure out what suits you best and go online to find any reviews of the machine you are looking at. Better yet, talk to someone who already welds at home and ask lots of questions.