How to transition to MIG?

[BigBlue1]

Did you ever mention what auto dark helmet you bought?

An inexpensive import from Amazon. It has a large screen and the features I was looking for. It has pretty good reviews though and a large number of them. I'd have to spend over $250 for a name brand one that is comparable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RS5Q55K

Rob

 

[Big Barn]

Looks good. At least one of my helmets has a large view and truthfully I should pay more attention to it’s benefits.

Common sense would dictate that a bigger view is better but I always figured one should be focusing on the puddle and not anything peripheral.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I should get one with a bigger viewing area, sometimes I can't get my head into that perfect spot so kinda weld by braille which works as expected most of the time

 

[MF243RedTop]

Only ever stick welded... But the one time I did pick up a mig... My exhaust hanger broke on my old 90 Silverado... Being it was those thin sheet metal types, l pulled up to my brother's house and went to getting his new mig setup.. had only watched him a few times .
After a few practice passes on a piece of scrap...
I welded that exhaust hanger back together.

From that experience alone...

"If you can stick weld, you'll have no problems with MIG"

 

[coxhaus]

BigBlue1 you are looking good. Now that you know what it looks like with no gas keep an eye out in case the wind blows too hard or you develop a gas leak. If you see holes develop it is probably something related to your gas. You are going to like MIG. MiG makes pretty welds with C25 gas.

When I bought my Hobart 210 they had a 1/2 price sale on helmets so I bought my first auto darkening helmet. It was a Lincoln 3350 with C4 technology. I think it was $115 or 120 I don't remember. But it sure made me a better welder.

 

[ArlyA]

I'd say .035 wire and an auto darkening helmets, are your friends :thumbsup:

 

[Big Barn]

I'd say .035 wire and an auto darkening helmets, are your friends :thumbsup:

BEAUTY!

 

[searcyfarms]

FWIW, - if you check my big brother post here, you can see some pix of my first impressions/welds with mig personally just today - here is what i will say as i transition, I absolutely AM NOT liking the big tip of the mig, its difficult to see around and you cant just move like you would with a stick as it blocks the ability to see your puddle and keep things moving/lit etc......

My other observation is I got a new helmet, well used but new to me, its a miller digital elite stars/stripes - my biggest complaint so far is it allows light up under teh helmet and reflects and makes it hard to see also. I put my old flip down on and it doesnt do it like the miller. Thoughts on that?

 

[dragoneggs]

Maybe a stupid question, but did you adjust the head gear in the helmet best you can? I think the wire shield you will get used to pretty quickly.

 

[yomax4]

Many variables on window size. You really don't need a huge viewing window to weld if you can get into position. Glasses or sunglasses don't have a very big viewing area. A couple pluses for large viewing area are just that the farther apart the sensors are the more chance of them doing their job. Sometimes if I can't get my big head in a repair area I'll have to look out the ear hole so to speak. Most pipe welders still use 2x4 lenses only. Clarity and optics are more important than viewing size in my opinion but I use the largest lens just the same.