It is easy to teach yourself to use a MIG welder. A MIG welder has a
trigger fed gun which automatically feeds welding wire onto the parts you
are welding together. It uses a tank of 'inert' gas (argon, CO2 mix
usually) to shield the fresh weld from being contaminated by the atmosphere
until it solidifies. You can probably put together a MIG welding outfit for
about $500-$600. Figure $400 for a 120V welder, $100 for a tank of gas, and
$50 for a basic helmet and gloves. You can buy a welder that does not
require shielding gas when used with 'flux core' wire but it is much more
difficult to do quality work without shielding gas. Gas refills are about
$20-$25 around here for a small tank. I've had my welder a couple of years
now and I'm just about ready to get a second refill. If you can spend a
little more I highly recommend an electronic welding helmet (I've seen them
for $100-$150) which goes dark a fraction of a second after it detects a
welding arc. Without one you'll be flipping your visor up and down
constantly until you get the hang of it.
Did the gas welding outfit you saw include tanks? If not you need to figure
$100 each for the oxygen and acetylene tanks. If so you'll still need to
have them filled (new tanks from Great Lakes AirGas come filled) You'll
need goggles or a helmet, gloves, and gas welding rod (not flux coated).
One advantage an oxy/acetylene rig has over a MIG welder is that you can
use it as a cutting torch although a plasma cutter is more precise and will
also let you cut stainless and aluminum.
Before you buy anything get a copy of "Welder's Handbook: A complete guide
to MIG, TIG, Arc, & Oxyacetylene welding" by Richard Finch. It is published
by H.P.Books and is available from Amazon, Motorbooks, and Eastwood. I've
also seen it at my local Sears Hardware store. If you have a local Triumph
club I would definitely ask around to see if anyone already has welding
equipment they would let you use.
-Erik
--
Erik Quackenbush, V.P. Operations, Midwest Filter Corporation
1-847-680-0566 fax: 1-847-680-0832 http://www.midwestfilter.com
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