Mini gantry crane

[Sodo]

I did a lot of welding in 1980 with a big blue Miller. We thought it was "new" 35 years ago. Everything was the same. I bet the consumables are the same. Funny how MIG is still thought of as the new kid on the block.

 

[Shield Arc]

Funny how MIG is still thought of as the new kid on the block.

Really? Never heard that before! Strange, Mig started coming about in 1920. Started using gas coverage in 1926. In 1948 they had all the kinks worked out. In 1953 is when they started using CO2. 1958 is when short arc came about. First time I ran Mig was 1970.

 

[Renze]

I have never seen mig used for anything structure in 14 years in field construction we have always use stick to weld the lugs on when we make a pick there is a reason why mig is not used. Sure it has its place but NOT IN STRUCTURE!.

Not on construction sites indeed. Portable welding is done with stick welders. In the shop, structures are welded MIG. It was 12 years ago when i helped throwing away pallets full of welding rods that had been exposed to humid air for 10 or 20 years, that had sat on an attic of a structural steel workshop waiting for the day they might be used. That day didnt come, 4 and 5mm rods were too heavy for construction site inverter welders, and havent been used in 30 years in the shop.

 

[Renze]

Funny how MIG is still thought of as the new kid on the block.

A man's thought tells his knowledge.

 

[4570Man]

How does a homeowner grade mig compare to a homeowner grade stick?

 

[Jim Timber]

What's home owner grade?

You can strike an arc with either that will get the job done (fusing two pieces of metal). How pleasant it is to use is another matter. Some folks couldn't tell a soft/hard arc from a nail in their foot.

 

[Shield Arc]

How does a homeowner grade mig compare to a homeowner grade stick?

I think my home owner grade Mig does real well.

 

[4570Man]

What's home owner grade? You can strike an arc with either that will get the job done (fusing two pieces of metal). How pleasant it is to use is another matter. Some folks couldn't tell a soft/hard arc from a nail in their foot.

Cost less than $1000 and most importantly can be ran from a 50 amp 220 volt circuit.

 

[Jim Timber]

You can get a pretty nice light industrial MIG for that. Lots of guys around here would think $269 Clark MIG when talking homeowner stuff.

 

[Renze]

Cost less than $1000 and most importantly can be ran from a 50 amp 220 volt circuit.

Not exactly sure what you mean by soft and hard arc, but i take 220V in the USA is three phase like 400V is in Europe ??

The thing with single phase AC welders is that the capacitators have a big task of flattening the amplitude to a DC welding arc. When using three phase, its like using a three cylinder engine over a one cylinder: It gives a much smoother power delivery. The capacitator (flywheel) is only a patch to overcome this basic drawback.