"The best process is TIG,"

Not outdoors, in the wind, on rusty/greasy metal, etc. Every process has its uses.

"but the equipment costs will give you a heart attack. Not to mention the years of training to properly use that process."

Say what?
Some of the folks in the Pipe class are producing pipe test-passing TIG welds after a couple of months training. I'm glad the instructors are both pipe welders who teach the very basics with basic gear.

The welders they TIG with are brand-new Lincoln Idealarc 250 (with the capacitor option) so we can use one machine for both stick and TIG. They retail online in the mid 'teens for the welder, plus a few bills for the TIG torch, flowmeter, etc. Nice solid machines.

Example:
http://www.weldingmart.com/Qstore/p000015.htm

Foot pedals and computer controls are nice, but I see excellent TIG welds turned out with old school gear, so I'm gonna learn it that way first. From what I hear about the expense of fixing the fancy stuff when it dies, learning old-school looks like the way to go from that aspect too.

By the way, old Lincoln SA200 gas engined welders are really horrid, so if you end up with one the best way to save yourself pain is to give it to me. I'll even pay scrap weight!

 

Very true, TIG is the absolute best. And I am finding that while TIG USED to be very expensive, the price is down to what a serious hobbyist can afford. I'm getting ready to find one. If you are learning, without any experience, go the Vo-Tech school way, they'll keep you from any bad habits. You can also learn TIG there, and then you can do anything, much better. I don't agree with the "years of training to properly use that process". You can get proficient with TIG relatively quickly, if you have no welding experience, and don't expect it to be like MIG. It's more like oxy-acetilyne welding and brazing, if you've ever done that.
I agree, stay away from stick - and stay away from flux-core only. Get gas, you can't weld sheet metal without gas, and not have it warp a LOT!! I'm sure others will say "sure, you can", but gas mig is definitely better!!

And, practice, practice practice!! A GOOD welder is worth his weight in gold! Although I have done a lot of welding, I still find someone better than I, when I have something VERY critical, or VERY difficult. There's no harm to the pride, when asking someone better than you, for help and instruction.

Both my ex-partners at the restoration shop, were nuclear-certified. It would bring tears to your eyes, to see what they were capable of. And pretty soon, virtually ALL of our welding was TIG...

R

 

That is the truth - it doesn't matter what the equipment is, if the operator can't drive it.

In our shop we have a gentleman who used to weld the exhausts for Jordan and Toyota F1 teams. I swear, he could weld an invisible bead, while he was turned inside out with no heat at all.
As a self confessed "bird-crapper" I am in awe of his handy-work.

 

If you want to learn to weld, try a quality welding supply place. Some of them have classes or demonstrations to atend. The best bet is to go to a community/technical college and take an introductory course and learn the right way to weld.