The Guns & Ammo Network

Small Shop Welder

by Reid Coffield • February 1, 2012 • 5 comments

Question: What type of welding outfit would you recommend for a small shop or hobbyist?

Answer: I use to be 100% convinced the way to go initially was with a traditional oxy-acetylene welding outfit. With this you could join metals, build up parts, and do some basic heat treating. However, I’m beginning to think it might be best just to go with a small TIG welding outfit. While you can’t do heat treating with the TIG outfit, it’s a lot more versatile and controllable when it comes to joining metals or building up surfaces of worn or damaged small parts.

The only problem with TIG is that it’s harder for a lot of folks to master than traditional oxy-acetylene. The solution to that is before you buy a welding outfit, take a welding course or two at your local community college or vocational training center. Getting some knowledgeable instruction from an experienced welder will get you up to speed faster and save a lot of time, mistakes, and wasted resources. You’ll gain more knowledge and experience in a few weeks working with a good instructor than you’ll pick up on your own in months or years.


Coffield has changed his mind and believes a small TIG outfit is the best initial welding setup for a gunsmith. It takes a bit more skill than an oxy-acetylene setup, but is more versatile.

In Ask the Gunsmith • Tagged ,
  • Don Mock

    Take it from a professional welder, mastering Tig is easier to master than Oxy-Acetylene if you've never welded. Heat control is much better. Filler metal control is essentially the same. Hand eye coordination is required. Don't practice on your guns or other stuff you think highly of.
    Whichever you choose, learning to weld is one of the best skills you can develope.

    • WSA

      I agree, I used to weld on Nuclear submarines both GTAW and SMAW. TIG was the easier to master

  • C.D. Stanley

    +1 for Don Mock's comment. My only addition to his comment would be to make sure that you buy a TIG welder that can also be used to weld aluminum. Some of the cheaper units cannot be used for aluminum. Spend the extra money, because you will quickly regret it if you don't.

  • Jeepers Creepers

    OXY-ACE on alloy metal. Are you nuts. Tig is for alloy's. Mig is for sheet metal. Arc welding is for mild and low carbon steel when you need strength. Oxy-Ace is for quick repairs that will be repaired later. Sorry for my reaction. Tig is far easier to learn than to be a good Oxy-Ace welder that would take over a year at college to learn. Take one tig class at your local college to learn about the gas useage.

  • brian

    you can oxy ace anything. how do you think airplanes were built before the tig machine was invented? The difference is back then, welders were lifetime craftsmen. now we crank them out at overnight votech schools. tig is much easier for the beginner to get good results with, but any metal, including exotics, can be welded with a torch.