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Comment by Blackthorn | Hacker News Reader

Horizonal bandsaws. I'm sorry but nothing compares to the American built ones. If only they could make one even smaller than the smallest Ellis saw.

Welders. It's hard to beat the convenience and ease of a MIG machine. This does not apply to flux core wires that don't use shielding gas though. I've never found one as good and easy to use as plain old gas shielding.

DAWs. Reaper is basically the perfect program as far as I'm concerned.

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Welders: How does MIG compare to plain old Arc Welding? With 6013 arc welding electrodes, its possible to do sheet metal work too. Plus, no need to maintain a gas cylinder at hand.

I'm not gonna say stick is inferior, it's not. Just everyone's got a preference and for me it's tough to beat the convenience and ease of a MIG machine.

I am way too worried about gas cylinder accidents. Otherwise, I agree with you that MIG really is the most versatile.

Thanks a lot for sharing the immaturity of flux coated gasless MIG wires.

It might be possible to do sheet metal with 6013 (and I've tried it) but it's so miserable I wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy. The thick slag that forms makes it impossible to see the puddle. MIG is significantly faster, easier, and requires less cleanup with a grinder for thin metal.

For thicker stuff, I've always liked 6011, but MIG is still a little faster and easier. I know for large scale industrial use (IE ship building) flux core wire feed with a shielding gas is faster that stick, simply because the welder doesn't have to stop and get a fresh electrode.

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