Debate: Spending $400 on a spot welder for aluminum vs paying a shop to do it

I dropped $400 on a used spot welder to do aluminum panels myself after a shop quoted me $1200 for a small repair. On one hand, it let me do the job same day and I've used it twice since. On the other hand, the learning curve was rough, I burned through three tips, and the welds look okay but not pro-level. If I sent it to a shop, it'd be perfect but cost way more and take a week. What's your take, is buying your own gear worth it for one-off jobs or better to just pay the pros?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_baker17d ago

Yeah that "learning curve was rough" part is the thing people don't talk about enough with DIY gear. Even if you save money upfront, the time and frustration of messing up welds on aluminum especially can make that $400 feel real expensive real fast. It's definitely worth it if you plan to keep using it, but for just one job paying the shop is usually the smarter move unless you want a new hobby lol.

knight.oscar17d ago

Watched a 3-hour YouTube tutorial on aluminum welding once, thought I had it down. First pass on my project looked like a bird had a seizure on the metal. Ended up calling a shop anyway and now their invoice is framed on my wall as a reminder of my hubris. You ever have a tool that just made you feel dumber the more you used it?