Uses for a stick welder

[Evil]

We've been given a stick welder and a load of welding rods..

Are they quite versatile or more for a specific type of welding?

[shug]

I wouldn't try bodywork with a tig or arc welder. more suited to chassis work, and thicker metals.

[Evil]

So stick welder would be an arc welder?

Not interested in bodywork at all so that's cool..

I take it things like bumpers and a roof rack for the Trooper would be a good use for it?

Welding 8mm metal bar together to make a 'basket' kinda thing??

[LSI]

I wouldn't try bodywork with a tig or arc welder. more suited to chassis work, and thicker metals.

What?! You must be kidding, Tig welding is perfect for bodywork because you can get very intricate work out of it.

Arc/SMAW though (stick) I agree with, practically useless for bodywork. Handy for things like welding chassis patches and other work that doesn't really require neatness and precision, just a weld on thick metal.

[shug]

I know some classic restorers use tig without rods as first choice, but its generally considered a pain in the arse, whereas mig is point n shoot.
I've seen someones work with an arc on bodywork and it was actually quite reasonable.
The reason I wouldn't use tig on bodywork is because its quite a skill and mig is so much easier for the non pro.

[LSI]

Aye, it's slower, but brilliant on thin metals and precision work. A Mig with a decent power range can do *most* bodywork jobs, and loads else, but Tig is the dog's bollocks for thin panels like body panels as far as I'm concerned.

Just a shame the equipment is so damn expensive, or I'd have one.

[Graham M]

Stick (or arc or mma) is hard work on body work, best on thick stuff and can be used on most metals depending on the type of rod (electrode) you have -mild, cast, dissimiliar etc.
Never tried mig but would love to but dont have much use for one at home, i imagine its also a pain to set up the wire feed rate but only guessing.
I love tig and use it all the while at work, mostly on stainless steel. Have got a tig set but spends most of its time round a friends as i have use of one at work for home jobs. very easy to set up also.

[Evil]

Sounds prefect for what I want then

[LSI]

Wire speed on a mig is a doddle when you've worked out the calculation, or even personal preference to speedower.

[solorider]

you can easily do bodywork with a arc welder,i used to all the time before i got a mig welder,you can get some good results with a arc welder depending on good you are

[GMad]

Arc (stick) and TIG are for the purist! MIG for the unskilled chavs of the welding world..
Don't listen to this lot, arc (stick) welding is probably the most adaptable and can be used on thick and thin materials, with relative ease! Although a little skill/ability is always a bonus..

[Evil]

Well I have plenty of time to learn and I really want bumpers and a roof rack for me Troop' . .

And I need to make a longnet basket out of steel rod. And some end-pins.

[erroneusbogz]

im sure you can get a tig converter for it depending on the modle of welder?

[spookyman60]

im sure you can get a tig converter for it depending on the modle of welder?

yup you can depending on model and what not

i like stick whilst im still learning to weld, just doing random things you can weld thin steeel with arc it just takes time to get the amperage right and feed the stick at a steady rate tbh i weld alot with stick even though i have a tig setup i just dont use it

ive done tig and mig, mig being the easiest to pick up and tig being a skill, an art form if you will but tbh depend what im doing if im leaving the welds il use tig if its bodywork mig mainly or arc same as chassis depends on condition really

but in relation to the question stick are really versatile

[stuboy]

im tempted to get on and use thin sticks to try and make an exhaust