need info on welder

gray · Nov 9, 2004

I have been looking at buying a MIG welder. I hope to retire in a short time and will do many of the welding and fab things I long have not had time to do.

I have no experience with MIG welders. I have a stick welder and like it but it will not do aluminum and is messy. I plan to weld, steel, stainless steel, aluminum. I also will be doing some autobody welding.

I have been looking at Lincoln MIG 255, Miller 250X and Miller 210. I may even consider Hobart 251. Also, is a spool gun worth it or should I just get the much less exspensive aluminum feed rolls and liner?

Experienced input would be much appreciated.

boustany · Nov 10, 2004

I'd ask on http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/
great group, know a lot about amateur and professional welding.

Me I started with a 135AMP lincoln I bought at Home Depot. I'd buy a bigger/better one today, though. Last year I bought a TIG, which can be lots of fun for Aluminum, but mui $$$

Still I can do a lot of things with it.

MadReferee · Nov 10, 2004

I agree, you should go to the Hobart/Miller discussion boards and pose your question. The same comparisons come up there at least once a week. Plenty of info there on all brands.

gray · Nov 10, 2004

Thank you,

I did not know where to look and thought many on this board would have some knowlege of this issue.

I will look there and hope to get the info for a good decission.

Thanks.

B2400 · Nov 10, 2004

A friend I work with builds aluminum jon/plate boats on the side. He opted for a 250A Miller MIG with the spool gun. He claims the spool gun works better for the aluminum due to a more consistant feed.

wroughtn_harv · Nov 10, 2004

I've had the Hobart 251, great machine. I've also had Miller migs and they were great too. I now have a Panasonic 260 Gunslinger and love it to pieces.

For the aluminum go with the spoolgun. Aluminum wire is soft. And the only way to really get good consistant feed is with a push pull set up or a real short whip. The spoolgun isn't hard to get used to and you don't have near the problems with wire feed you do with conventional migs.

You might also consider a tig. They're the most fun for aluminum and stainless.

SPIKER · Nov 10, 2004

the millers are good units but if you get one the 250's are ok, and the 251s too. I like the older 200s better though as we have 5 I think in the shop 200 oldest works the best and is most consistant. the newest 251 is all digital and been back to the shop several times with one thing or other wrong... several boards and such gone wrong in the past with the 250/1s. just our experaince, spool guns are great for alum wire like said above and the TIG is way to go for high end use or when you plan on doing much alum or SS welding...

MarkM

Soundguy · Nov 11, 2004

I was under the impression that you could do some aluminum welding with a stick.. I think I've seen the electrodes at TSC? or am I mistaken?

Soundguy

mark777 · Nov 11, 2004

You can get E4043-190 electrodes but they run around $20. a pound. It takes a very skilled welder (better than me) a long time to master stick welding aluminum.

I have the Miller 215 with the optional spooler gas/feeder port, but I did not buy the spooler gun, as it was another $600. I am considering it if I have more aluminum projects in the near future.

hazmat · Nov 11, 2004

<font color="blue">It takes a very skilled welder (better than me) a long time to master stick welding aluminum.

</font>

As my welding instructor put it "In theory you can stick weld aluminun, but God bless you if you can actually do it". /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif