Originally Posted by
spathfinder3408
those welds look like they were done by a DC welder that had no idea what they were doing. I have done a little welding and could have done better then those on a DC. Better to use a tig welder where the heat can be controled and not burning holes thru the tubes.
You've missed the point. People who own steel bikes,
especially touring bicyclists who own steel bikes, say that they can get them repaired anywhere...even in Outer Mongolia. That bike was repaired...badly...very close to Outer Mongolia. My machinist friend
did have access to a TIG and has highly developed welding skills and even he was surprised at how difficult it was to weld thin steel tubes.
Additionally, if the welder in China had had access to a TIG, he could also repair aluminum which makes the argument for steel and against aluminum moot.