mig welders?

[bobodu]

My MIG experience comes from a very expensive Lincoln,which I dearly loved.Right up untill the time the owner took it home after eight years just because he built a barn!!
Now,the company has an $1100 Hobart which I consider a moderate boat anchor at best.
So untill the day comes when I have a couple of extra grand to spend on a MIG worth a darn...I stick with the stick!
Funny how which board you post at,the ruling opinions change.At The Machine Builders Network,stick is the preferred method.MIGs are generally referred to as "squirt guns".
Still...I'd love to see one of those BIG MIGs... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Defective]

Where I work, there are 14 of those "BIG MIGs" and only 7 guys using them. Can't seem to talk the boss into loaning me one for my home shop tho...

 

[chim]

Bobodu, Here's an application where the MIG was apparently OVERSIZED for vehicle welding......................chim

 

[bobodu]

Ouch!!!
I think that guy would have done better with pop rivets...

 

[Mike_C]

Nice photoshop...

 

[tractorwheel]

Personally, I like my Lincoln Mig 255. It is great for small and large jobs. I have never learned to stick weld. Would someone tell me which is easier since I only have ever used a mig? Have a good day. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif


"any day above ground is a good one"

 

[Berniep]

I bought a hobart 185 mig. Have been pretty happy with it but I am still more comfortable with a stick. ( not that I am really any good with either process) I have welded thin metal with a stick welder and coat hanger as sort of a filler rod and heat sink.

 

[bobodu]

MIG is by far easier for sticking things together and making the welds look good.But I really prefer the stick whens things are meant to stay stuck.Given a GOOD MIG,you can get the penetration needed,but I don't have that kind of money.I really do miss the BIG Lincoln we used to have at work and hate the midsized Hobart it was replaced with.Someone once said "MIG is more science than art and stick is more art than science."
Here's a picture of the Lincoln engine welder that a fella down the road GAVE me to make a little room in his barn.Paid nothing for the welder except a coat of Rustoleum and $6 worth of plugs , the truck cost me a whole $50.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JustGary]

A year and a half ago I built a box trailer for the Boy Scout Troop. I started with my stick welder and got the four main frame pieces together with lots of grind, weld, grind, weld activity since I didn't practice welding again before I began.

One of the dads brought over a medium MIG unit (a Hobart I think) for me to try, and I ended up doing the rest of the trailer with it (and a smile on my face). Pretty welds in 1/8" steel for sure. I did use the stick welder to weld the spindles in the axles to get penetration, though.

MIG is like coloring with a crayon compared to stick, but when you want penetration, you need stick. I plan to keep the stick and eventually get a MIG for the easy stuff.

- Just Gary

 

[JustGary]

Oops, I had better correct my statement before someone uses it against me. What I meant about penetration was in a unit that most amateurs will choose to afford, which to me means the 240V stick or the 120V MIG.

I did not mean to compare to the 3 phase MIGS or other industrial stuff.

Oh, and I remembered that the MIG unit was a MillerMatic, not a Hobart. I liked it, but I did notice that it would not weld right on a 100 foot extension cord. Had to use 50' or less. On the other hand, I don't have 240V outlets all over the house, and I don't have a 240V cord long enough to get to the driveway (where I built the trailer).

- Just Gary

 

[TruChaos]

I own a MIG welder (actually two) and a AC/DC stick welder.

I think to answer your question correctly, we would need to know what you're going to weld.

I've found that that the MIG is good for light work. It's portable and easier to get to the job. But, they can be a little problematic. They aren't nearly as reliable as a stick welder. They typically need much more maintanance.

The stick welder is great for heavy deeper welds. It's very reliable but, it's heavy and not nearly as portable.

I've also used those small portable stick welders. They work but the duty cycle is so short, they're nearly worthless except for spot welds.

If you get a MIG welder buy a name brand. For units like Century and some others its very difficult if not impossible to find replacement parts. I inherited a Century MIG welder from my uncle and have never used it because I can't find parts for it. If anyone knows of a source of parts, please let me know.

Self darkening masks are great. If you get one, make sure it has a darkness control. I have a cheap $39 unit and I'll never go back to a regular mask.

 

[Louisiana_John]

I have a dc-400 cc/cv (mig/stick) welder and two ln-7 wire feeders. .023 on one and .035 on the other. I also have a push pull feeder for aluminum wire. If I am welding cast I will go to stick. With the.023 I can weld sheet metal on a car. The .035 will handle most all of the other. This past weekend I used up a 10-pound spool of .023 on my Uncles cow trailer. We replaced the lower 2" in his 5' x 16' trailer. It was thin stuff I would not have wanted to do this with a stick. I do have an engine driven welder with a cv tap I can use for mig or stick also. Mig is great if you can make the heat don’t try to build allot of heavy stuff with a 110 volt.
John