What welder for exhaust?

[theskuh]

I want a welder for stainless exhaust building. Can I get buy with a small mig and stainless wire or should I get a small dc tig for this?

I am a beginner welder and have used a mig before.

[Rojodiablo]

Either will work, and if you are concerned with speed more than finished apperance, then I would choose a mig welder.

[theskuh]

It doesn't matter to me I am leaning towards less speed (tig) since it is just for me and not production. I have multiple friends with 110 migs so I can always borrow them.

What are the downsides of getting a little tig machine? Like an invertig 130 from htp.

Should I try to get a DC mig/tig like the MTS 160 from htp?

[ironman715]

Thats actualy not a bad plan at all. That gives you a ton of various options to do more than just one process. I would say a MIG might be easier to install the system once under the vehicle and TIG would give a nicer appearance, well if you want that "stock of dimes" kind of thing...

The MTS from HTP is supposed to be very good. Anyone who I have spoken to that has ANY HTP product has nothing but good stuff to say.

[theskuh]

Cool,

I will look more seriously at the MTS160. I am not sure it has the ability to do foot control of a tig but otherwise i think it would be a great machine for my garage setup. ie I don't have a ton of power available.

[papasloan]

I had a htp 160 tig and it was great. Sold it and upgraded to the 201. I looked at the mts160 and decided against it. If you want a mig get a miller or hobart 110v. If you want a tig I would at least get the htp 160. or miller 150 tig. The Htp 160 has more bells and whistles. And it will also run on 110.
Mig stainless might be ok on car exh. but on motorcycles that I work on the factory mig welded joints have a tendency to crack. Even some of the high dollar european aftermarket pipes that are mig welded have a tendenct to crack.
I would recommend the tig.

[Matthew]

if your devoted to learning one, the tig would be better. once you become able to have good puddle and arc control, mig will be a walk in the park anyway.