a long time about 20 years ago my father use to do what i think is mig welding but i thought it was so out dated that i never learned it . he use to use the torch and a piece of close-hanger to weld thin sheet metal . you had to hold the torch in one hand and the hanger in the other . i think this is mig welding or close . i am a very good arc welder and have gotten pretty far on my 65 using the lincoln i have . my question is i have been looking at harbor freight and see a non gas mig welder . is it hard to learn if you can arc already ? i will learn because i will get the mig .but what's the curb for learning ?:b69: :b69:

a long time about 20 years ago my father use to do what i think is mig welding but i thought it was so out dated that i never learned it . he use to use the torch and a piece of close-hanger to weld thin sheet metal .
This is stick welding

you had to hold the torch in one hand and the hanger in the other . i think this is mig welding or close . i am a very good arc welder and have gotten pretty far on my 65 using the lincoln i have . my question is i have been looking at harbor freight and see a non gas mig welder . is it hard to learn if you can arc already ? i will learn because i will get the mig .but what's the curb for learning ?:b69: :b69:

I wouldn't buy a welder from Harbor Freight. If you can arc weld you can weld w/ a mig. If you're going to be welding on sheet metal, get yourself a nice mig and use gas, not flux-core wire. I bought my Lincold 110v welder from Lowe's for like 500 or close to it. Can't remember now. Too many beers since then.:b69:

What he was doing is called brazing ... not mig.

Welsind with a torch and rod is brazing and I thought it was harder to arc than mig and its really not alot different. If your welding thin 16 guage thinner you'll do great with a lincoln 100 with gas and .030 wire. I just got my new toy a clarke 130 amp mig and I'm ready to play but it's too damn cold here to work outside. To anwser your question NO it's not hard to learn but spring for alittle more money and get a gas conversion or welder set up for gas. I had a lincoln weldpak 80 and even on sheet metal it wil build and build (puddle) before you get good penetration. With gas theres less heat and wire used (less heat because less grinding after)

Well depending on the stick welding you've been doing, alot of it can transfer over to your mig welding... The way you hold the electrode holder, whether you are pushing or pulling the puddle.... If you are using a drag rod on your stick, mig is going to be different, you'll have to use some sort of pattern, such as cursive 'E's or little connecting squares... There are many different patterns to use, but this is just for welding plates, not necessarily panels... Panels is about the same for stick, whereas when you strike your arc with the stick, you are done with the tack, same as mig, pull the trigger for a second until its tacked and you are done. As far as the welder with no gas, just wait and pop for one with gas, your gas will be used as your shielding, like stick uses slag on the top of the weld to prevent contamination, the mig uses gas to blow away any contam. Your base mig welder will use Flux Cored wire, which is basically like a rod, it has flux in the inside of the wire that flows to the top like a stick rod has it on the outside. Pick up a cheap welding book at your local welding shop and you'll learn MUCH... Dont know if this was confusing or helpful, anything else, just ask.
Brandon

yeah i can arc ,and i damn sure can mig . i bought a non gas from harbor freight ,and i love it . i see no need to go out and spend double the money on a gas mig .i can use that extra money to buy some chrome inner fenders for my 65 instead of the metal ones .life is great when you learn new things . :agree: :agree: :c2: :c2:

The main reason for gas is cleaner welds and less grinding.

:agree: yeah your'e right but i got me a good grinder too ,from harbor freight .:c2: