All,

I am not at all unfamiliar with welding, coming from 15 years in the brewing
industry where welding was everywhere, as well as 30 years hanging around
auto garages while they repaired my rusted heaps. I definitely want to take
some courses, and I understand the need to get exposure to different types
of technology. But usually when I adopt a new hobby, I start with "starter"
stuff - the technology used when others started out gaining experience -
then buying new technology as I became more experienced. A pattern like
torches - MIG - TIG - Plasma. I just want to start with the best technology
this time - I don't want to repeat history. It would be one thing if there
were a huge difference in price, but in the research I've been doing, it
appears plasma is the best technology out there. I don't have a lot of years
left to learn Oxy/Ac then MIG then plasma - just want to do it right the
first time and invest in the best all-around technology from the start.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Dana


"Dana Rohleder" <boreal@charter.net> wrote in message
news:vjt6hrb772rad0@corp.supernews.com...
> All
>
> I have never welded before, but I would like to start. Rather than
> collecting a bunch of technology that I'll likely replace, what would you
> recommend? I'm thinking of going straight for the plasma welder/cutter -
> something light for the home garage. My first inclination was to simply go
> with a small set of portable torches. However, I would like to do a fair
> amount of body work, and I understand the torches will burn through light
> gauge steel in today's cars. But I would like to do some cutting. Since I
> already have a good air compressor, I am thinking I can get the plasma
> welder/cutter and it should do fine for me, as opposed to torches and a
MIG
> welder. That way I don't have to deal with O/A tanks. Any thoughts?
> --
> Dana
>
> "There's an old saying in Tennessee-I know it's in Texas, probably in
> Tennessee-that says, fool me once, shame on-shame on you. Fool me-you
can't
> get fooled again."- G.W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
>
>

 

"Boreal" <dcrohleder@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vjv1atqv5e3e58@corp.supernews.com...
> it
> appears plasma is the best technology out there.

for certain applications, yes. for typical jeep fabrication, no. before
you purchase anything, learn how to "stick" weld. the principles and
proceedures involved in "stick" welding apply across the board and will make
you a better welder no matter what process you ultimately decide up. after
you learn to "stick" weld, buy yourself a "mig" and be done with all the
crap. also get a chop saw, a good 4.5" grinder, and a torch.


--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com