Nothing really to add on the pro's and con's of different types but if you go down the arc or mig welding route do give some thought to the design of the joints - especially if it is going to be under a lot of stress. The aforementioned angle grinder is invaluable in chamfering edges before welding and if you have a situation where you can weld from both sides, then you can weld thicker material successfully with a smaller welder.
Actually welding two bits of steel together is fairly easy but making up a jig that has to be within certain tolerances might be harder than you think. One final thought: on a welding design course I attended when I was an apprentice, the person started by saying "always try and find a way to make a joint without welding - only use welding as a last resort" This is perhaps an exaggeration but when most structures fail it is around the welds - not through the weld unless it was done badly - but along the edge as the properties of the steel are changed during the welding process.
Oh and one final final thought :wink: don't try and do continuous welds unless you really know what you are doing or unless you want a banana shaped lump of steel.
Steve
(once upon a time an engineering design draughtsman for a specialist vehicle manufacturer)
Actually welding two bits of steel together is fairly easy but making up a jig that has to be within certain tolerances might be harder than you think. One final thought: on a welding design course I attended when I was an apprentice, the person started by saying "always try and find a way to make a joint without welding - only use welding as a last resort" This is perhaps an exaggeration but when most structures fail it is around the welds - not through the weld unless it was done badly - but along the edge as the properties of the steel are changed during the welding process.
Oh and one final final thought :wink: don't try and do continuous welds unless you really know what you are doing or unless you want a banana shaped lump of steel.
Steve
(once upon a time an engineering design draughtsman for a specialist vehicle manufacturer)
