What welder for a auto shop??

[wiartonwillie]

I work at a garage that does all types of repairs on cars and light trucks.
Our old Snap-On mig died last week and we are looking to replace it. We can get one at our welding supply shop for $1000 plus tax. BUT it does Mig, Tig and stick welding? Is there any use in having a tig welder in a auto repair shop. None of the guys in the shop have ever tig welded before. I think the boss should buy a mig welder and put the left over money into other equipment. Please let me know why a auto repair shop would use a tig.

 

[Bobcat753]

Look at the Multimatic 200 from miller. It is a nice compact 3 in 1 machine and it is affordable. Plus it runs off of 120 and 220 outlets. Check it out on millers website.

Also TIG is nice for thin metals,stainless exhaust, and for aluminum welding. But a spool gun is easier. The multimatic can handle all metals and processes.

 

[zkling]

In the general body shop, I think you will find a mig machine doing most if not all of the work. When you get into custom fab and restoration work where detail is critical, then the tig or even flame torch set takes over.

 

[bobcatdan]

I bet a miller 211 would do everything you want to do. I'm guessing the 3 in 1 your boss looked at is a cheaper unit. $1000 is cheap for a good welder, a 211 is around $1200.

 

[IOWNJUNK]

If nobody knows how to use it then it's a waste of money to buy one.

 

[bobcatdan]

If nobody knows how to use it then it's a waste of money to buy one.

I will say the OP is very vague about his needs. Going off my experience as an auto tech, outside of exhaust, there is very little welding doing general auto repair which in that case, a 211 is more then enough machine. If this was a shop that did a lot of welding, I'm guessing the boss wouldn't be looking at a cheap 3 in 1.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

If you haven't had to use a tig yet, I doubt you will NEED to in the future. What size welder was the snappy your going to be replacing? For a general repair shop you don't need much. Your not going to be welding much over 3/16 steel. Even a 220v lincoln from HD would probably work. A 3 in 1 wouldn't be MY first choice. If your not doing alot of welding, look into a hobart that most welding supply houses sell and service. A hobart 180 or bigger would probably more then enough. Millers tend to be expensive for just an occasional weld.

How much welding was done prior... Types of repairs?

 

[wiartonwillie]

It is not a body shop. I can't remember the last time I welded anything at work that wasn't exhaust. Maybe put a small patch on a fender or something like that. Weld a nut on a broken stud to remove it. The boss is the type that will buy something that has the most options with it, even if we don't use half of it. The shop that is selling the unit does deal in Miller welders. It is a display model, that is why it is a little cheaper that normal.

 

[IndyGarage]

You'll never use the TIG if nobody is trained on it. For a general shop, just go with a good quality MIG.

If I were buying one today, I'd go for a Hobart 190. Its reliable, lays down great welds. It's cheaper than the Miller 211 and will do almost every thing it can.