thanks so much for this thread, this is exactly what I have been looking for, now if i could find a shop close by to go hang out for a little while.....I tend to learn better by hands on experience

When it comes time to join thin sheet metal you will likely want a small mig welder. For your work you can get away with a 110volt machine running .023 wire. If it is in the budget you can upgrade to a 220 volt welder and gang install a double 110 breaker to get the power you need.

Scott
welders360.com

If you are intending to make panels I would consider a little tig welder over a mig. I prefer to use gas welding for most of the welds I do. Mig welds are hard and very difficult to dress out.
Look into the various welding methods and consider very carefully before deciding, A lot depends on what use you are likely to put it to. There are several threads on here about this subject.

David

ESAB have a wire called "Easy grind" thats fairly soft.

Besides that, an Oxy Acetylene setup can be used for cutting, heating for bending thicker steel, heat shrinking, and more. Plus, I was able to buy my whole setup for $125 with half full tanks, and being able to gas weld is a perfect intro to TIG welding.

I prefer TIG because I have more experience with it, but cost is a big proficient and 110v TIGs arent worth the $ IMO. I would take a torch any day over MIG for metal shaping, but a MIG is still needed for plug welds.

This is a great thread. With so many tools out there it is hard to know were to start. I have some ideas as what to get, but thanks to Joe I now have a starting point. Thanks
Matt

This is a great starter thread. I've been doing a little stick welding as well as MIG over at a friends shop. He does some fabrication but not much in the way of curves.

But I have the shaping bug so practice has to start soon!

http://www.tuckpuck.com/ is one source, and pick up a TuckPuck while you're there. I'll be trying out the hammer pretty soon myself, just gotta wait till next week :)