LD1
Epic Contributor
I thin you have a good plan now
Mini gantry crane
- Thread starter robstaples
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LD1
Epic Contributor
Shielding gas at the puddle, not at the job site. SMAW is a simpler process with less ancillary equipment needed. A power supply, some leads, and a box of rods = good to go! It also performs better in outdoor environments - where you don't have wire liners, spools, guns, feeders, and a power supply exposed to rain and dust.
Keep grasping though.
Don't forget that it is also hard to keep the argon in place when welding outside.
Nothing g like laying a nice bead and a breeze kicks up.
Jim Timber
Veteran Member
That's what I meant by shielding gas at the puddle. MIG is a great process for welding efficiency, and with modern power supplies and shielded flux core electrodes, you can do some really impressive stuff; it's just not as good of fit standing on an I-beam out in the weather.
Someone PM'd me and said they were a UNION welder and they had all the gear they needed and still didn't use MIG and told me I should go learn about it. Same one with reading comprehension issues. What a coincidence.
Someone PM'd me and said they were a UNION welder and they had all the gear they needed and still didn't use MIG and told me I should go learn about it.
Same one with reading comprehension issues. What a coincidence.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Many many many structural things get welded everyday with mig.
Pretty much anything that can be built inside a factory. Heavy equipment, industrial lifts, truck and trailer frames, pressure vessels, etc. Many things that if they failed would be catastrophic and likely cost lives.
Mig is a good process. Get so tired of hearing all these "union ironworkers" think 7018 is the only way things can be welded. Or thinking that anytime someone mentions mig, that we are talking about a 110v 90amp machine. I think they need to get educated on more process than just stick before they open mouth insert foot
Pretty much anything that can be built inside a factory. Heavy equipment, industrial lifts, truck and trailer frames, pressure vessels, etc. Many things that if they failed would be catastrophic and likely cost lives.
Mig is a good process. Get so tired of hearing all these "union ironworkers" think 7018 is the only way things can be welded. Or thinking that anytime someone mentions mig, that we are talking about a 110v 90amp machine. I think they need to get educated on more process than just stick before they open mouth insert foot
jack707
Veteran Member
you guys have NO IDEA WHAT they have on a construction site! all you know is book theory no real world experience!.
LD1
Epic Contributor
They have stick welders on construction sites. No one is saying otherwise.
Just disputing your reason as to why. It has nothing to do with penetration. Lots of other thing make stick the better choice.
It seems YOU have no experience beyond stick except maybe a 110v mig. If you did, you would quit saying migs don't penetrate.
Go fire up a Miller 456mp feeding .052 wire in spray or pulse and then tell me mig don't penetrate.
If I were to weld 1" plate with 7018 1/16 rod at 40 amps on a little harbor freight inverter what do you think will happen? What if I used the 456mp/.052 spray mentioned above?
Just disputing your reason as to why. It has nothing to do with penetration. Lots of other thing make stick the better choice.
It seems YOU have no experience beyond stick except maybe a 110v mig. If you did, you would quit saying migs don't penetrate.
Go fire up a Miller 456mp feeding .052 wire in spray or pulse and then tell me mig don't penetrate.
If I were to weld 1" plate with 7018 1/16 rod at 40 amps on a little harbor freight inverter what do you think will happen? What if I used the 456mp/.052 spray mentioned above?
chim
Elite Member
One of the biggest drawbacks for using a MIG in the field that I haven't seen mentioned is the short leash that the MIG keeps the weldor on. With a stick machine, the work can be 100 feet or more away from the machine. MIG wire doesn't feed so far. We use MIG almost exclusively in the shop and stick in the field and the bulk of the work is pipe (4" - 30"). For pipe over 8" we use the subarc machine when we can. That's an impressive machine. We also fab various stands, hanger assemblies and equipment supports.
Jim Timber
Veteran Member
Oh, please, tell us more Jack...
You have no idea what's on our resumes. SMAW is used because it's cheap and it works.
A little book reading for you: Variables that Affect Weld Penetration
You have no idea what's on our resumes. SMAW is used because it's cheap and it works.
A little book reading for you: Variables that Affect Weld Penetration
Jim Timber
Veteran Member
I did mention it. Hauling a power supply, feeder, bottle, and still having to run a power cord up to the work area. SMAW is by far the most portable method of arc welding, it also uses the fewest moving parts.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Another few drawback when pushing the amps up there and wanting a pretty high duty cycle....
Liquid cool torches
Heavier and bulk guns compared to a stinger and rod
Getting into tight areas
I too am looking forward to learning more about stick being better penetrating and thus the reason for its use in construction. Because nothing I know about welding tells me this.
Liquid cool torches
Heavier and bulk guns compared to a stinger and rod
Getting into tight areas
I too am looking forward to learning more about stick being better penetrating and thus the reason for its use in construction. Because nothing I know about welding tells me this.