Im in the process of fixing up my first car, a 72 el camino and need to learn some welding skills but still need some explaining. I think i might take a welding class but im not even exactly sure what kind of welding do i need to do, oxy or mig? i would like too replace two small rusted body panels and redo the exhaust what kind of welding do you reccomend i learn? are they similar enough that if i become profficient in one i will be able to do the other?

Take the oxy class, but buy a Mig welder for body work. The class will teach you what you need to know in general and anyone can learn to mig weld in a few tries.

so using an oxy welder for bodywork and exhaust work would not work? or just be much more difficult? because this is my first car and i dont have that much money and mig weldering setups cost quite a bit more than oxy welding setups.

Oxy welding will work, but for the novice it warps too many panels and you spend three times the work trying to get the warpage out and trying to get straight panels. Mig does not heat the panels if you go slowly and you get much better results. You can get small migs very cheap, they are good enuf to learn on and do sheet metal work with.

alright thanks, could you reccommend me an inexepensive torch to learn with?

When you take the class they will provide the equipment. I took the MIG class since I didn't plan to gas weld?



Todd


Rat Rods Rule!