if you want to make/modify frames you can be confident in, its gotta be tig. buy a cheap stick welder to practice, then learn tig. a lot of bicycles are chromoly and using anything but tig will make brittle, dangerous welds because you need precise heat control. tig is also by far the best process for thin material aka bike frames. tig is also the best for aluminum.
Thinking about buying a mig-welder...
- Thread starter dimentio
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I agree. I like to use MIG to tack something together just enought o hold things then move to TIG for the finish welds. TIG is the ultimate machine for precise, strong and good looking welds. Takes some practice but if you can master the technique you'll be years ahead of any other form of welding available to the home/shop welder.
There is some exotic stuff out there but way out of the reach of the average hobbiest.
Tom
There is some exotic stuff out there but way out of the reach of the average hobbiest.
Tom
I mainly Tig weld. Interestingly, Chromoly was developed in war time specifically for brazing, as the lower temperature wouldn't create embrittlement, and you would have a strong and light airframe or whatever.. The aircraft boys are a little bit more serious with their Tig heat treating of chromoly frames. A lot of old old bikes were brazed together, and some cool custom bikes have clear coat over the bare metal and braze, looks trick!