Do I need a MIG Welder?

rsallen · Jan 7, 2014

Way cool; have fun.

Mark @ Everlast · Jan 7, 2014

.030 is good with that machine. I keep the .035 for my larger ESAB, but .035 would work in the smaller one just fine as well. I like the economy and versatility though that the .030 offers in the 10-12 lb rolls.

mikehaugen · Jan 7, 2014

GPintheMitten said:
I'll probably have my cab ready by Easter.

Just in time for the warm weather!

sixdogs · Jan 7, 2014

GPintheMitten said:
Back to reality. The I 200 is on its way. Due here in frozen Michigan on the 10th. I'm going to rent a cylinder of C25 and pick up a roll of .030 to get started with.

I'll probably have my cab ready by Easter.

Remember, we'll need pictures.

GPintheMitten · Jan 13, 2014

My new welder should be delivered today. Thanks for all the advice guys.

I started a cab build thread here.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/300825-diy-cab-kubota-b2620.html

GPintheMitten · Jan 14, 2014

Delivery was delayed due to the extreme weather throughout the mid-west, but I was informed by UPS tracking. I received it yesterday afternoon and unpacked it today.
I ended up buying a small cylinder of C25 from the local supplier for $180 filled. Later fills will run $35. Picked up a roll of 0.030 (I think it was about 11 pounds).

I'll upload some pics shortly but I was pleased that it came with the plug end already installed and included a 110 to pig tail adapter. I was expecting to have to put that together. No sample wire though. I thought that would have been included but that's ok. I'm just glad I bought wire.

Any way I hooked everything up, pressure tested the gas and found a couple of leaks and corrected those. Then I tried to weld and no spark!

I came in the house and looked at some vids on Youtube. I had plugged the work clamp into the negative and plugged the mig gun into the right port but I did not connect the other plug to the positive ! Oh well I'm heading back out to the shop to plug that in and try again.

I think the instructions could use some work. The usual Chinese English translation. Also, it should describe how to set it up for MIG and Stick and show exactly where to plug each thing in with actual color photos, not diagrams. But these things are easily overcome.

Pics will come later tonight or tomorrow as I have only a few minutes to try it again and then I have to go out of town for a few hours. I'm really happy with it so far!

Edit to add: That was it. I didn't have what they call the "Output Cable" plugged into the positive. Mark called me just as I was trying it and confirmed that was my problem. I put down and ugly weld and then realized I forgot to turn the gas on. Then I put down a less ugly weld. That was kinda stupid, but you gotta laugh at yourself sometimes.

Mark @ Everlast · Jan 14, 2014

The manual for that unit is online:
www.everlastgenerators.com/downloads/mig.pdf

This covers our smaller units. It uses the Power iMIG 205 as the base for instruction, but features, knobs and functions are essentially the same. One error correction: The arc force control DOES affect the arc (Contrary to the early manual that says it does not). My suggestion is to set it to around 7 and fine tune from there, unless you are a die hard Miller lover, then that case you may want to set your inductance (arc force control) to a wimply 2 or 3. lol.

sixdogs · Jan 14, 2014

Next thing you could do is take a welding class at a local tech school. Many of us, especially me, were failing until the guys here convinced me to take the class. I improved more the first night than in years and my progress really took off. Best welding thing I ever did.

GPintheMitten · Jan 14, 2014

Thanks Mark. That is a better manual.

I forgot to call you but I was able to weld. More practice tomorrow.

Mark @ Everlast said:
The manual for that unit is online:
www.everlastgenerators.com/downloads/mig.pdf

This covers our smaller units. It uses the Power iMIG 205 as the base for instruction, but features, knobs and functions are essentially the same. One error correction: The arc force control DOES affect the arc (Contrary to the early manual that says it does not). My suggestion is to set it to around 7 and fine tune from there, unless you are a die hard Miller lover, then that case you may want to set your inductance (arc force control) to a wimply 2 or 3. lol.

GPintheMitten · Jan 14, 2014

I think your right. I took a welding class about 30 years ago but I need some learning. I'm sure I forgot more than they taught me.

sixdogs said:
Next thing you could do is take a welding class at a local tech school. Many of us, especially me, were failing until the guys here convinced me to take the class. I improved more the first night than in years and my progress really took off. Best welding thing I ever did.