Small MIGs Really any difference?

[Jim_in_Omaha]

Another thing you could consider if money right now is real tight. Get the 110v that you like then get a stick welder later if you find you need to weld thick material. I picked up a Miller Thunderbolt XL 300 ac/dc dirt cheap because it had been dropped. Took it apart and straightened it out and reassembled and it works great. Has more than enough poop to weld anything I'll ever do. Also you can do a few more things with stick that are kind of unique. Like hard surfacing, cutting, etc. Theres several posts regarding all these things here on TBN available via search.

Jim

 

[hitekcountry]

g42guy
A few months back I went through the same decision making process the you'er going through. At first I thought I could get by with a 110 mig and borrow a neighbors stick machine if I needed to weld on the big stuff. I read up everything I could find on welding and poked around on TBN(man is this a great place to learn things or what) and finally decided on the Linclon sp 175 plus. I can tell you I couldn't be happier. It's the perfect machine for my needs. I don't see how you can go wrong with that choice.
Fred

 

[F100Panel]

Being somewhat of a dinosaur I still use the old stick welder for anything heavy. Humans are somewhat reluctant to change.. At one point in life I was welding only sheetmetal on my 55 F100 Ford panel truck... Went through several 110 volt machines with hard to start/ hard to keep going arcs... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Then the idea hit me to plug into a hotter power supply.... I have a #8 220 volt line to my air compresor. I made a #10 lead cord with 110 volt receptacle on the lead off of that #8 line. INSTANT UNDISPUTABLE DIFFERENCE IN 110 volt rig performance!! It's a Cheap Century but run off that hot supply she works great up to 3/16ths... Just my experience/I'm not making any purchase advice but if you do have a 110 volt mig make SURE your power supply is good & don't use any extension cord... Another trick for sheet metal- they make bronze mig wire. Uses the same gas. Less heat for that sheet metal body work.... Once done I run over the weld with my 4.5 inch hi speed grinder powered cup wire brush & it knocks the high spots off the weld & polishes the bead without knocking down the gauge of the surrounding steel..... Just some food for thought thrown out there... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

The bronze wire you're referring to is probably silicone bronze. When used with pure argon gas it's magic on galvanized material. It's almost like soldering with a mig. There's little burn through unless you run really hot and it flows, well, like solder. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And it really minimizes the fumes some find so disagreeable with the galvanized.

 

[F100Panel]

Fumes from galvanized? In this scenario with less heat if the fumes are not objectionable /the galvanized is not burning/theres no GREEN /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif to the arc area then likely everything is OK. ANY GREEN around galvanized is the galvanized burning & that generates Phosgene gas & thats toxic & with a heavy enough concentration, LETHAL. I'm going to have to try your suggestion. I would FAR prefer floor pan replacements & patch panels in general in galvanized. If there truly is no green arc/smoke I'll owe you a G I A N T THANK YOU!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Currently any galvanized welding I do I use a positive flow repirator mask that I use for painting & thats a pain in the ...! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Egon]

Mig's and F100's

Seems like a competion from years ago.


Egon

 

[slydog]

I'm a novice and have really never seriously welded, as some of you know from my posts on learning. But I finally broke down and bought me a Lincoln Pro Mig 135, 110v at Lowes here in Southaven last night. It works with gas or flux core. I was posting to let anyone know that might be considering buying a 110v mig, that Lowes is running a rebate for the next month. I didn't realize it till the register spit the coupon out when I was checking out. The welder listed on a sticker for $457, but I happened to find a placard with a price card lying on the shelf above the welder that showed it for $437. When I got up to the register, I asked the girl about the cheaper price and she rang it up at that. Then it spit out the rebate coupon for a free welding cart, which Lowes also sells at $77. I didn't think that was a bad deal at all. So if you are in the market for a 110 unit, you might want to check with your local Lowes to make sure they are running the same rebate as this one wasn't advertised anywhere. Now I'm chomping at the bit because it is Saturday, and I can't find a supplier in the phone book for gas bottles that is open today /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
It did come with a 4" spool of flux core, so I guess I'm about to head back to Lowes to get the flux core tip so I can go play for a while! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ken

 

[bobodu]

I spent the last four hours cutting steel and drilling holes for the rear blade for my homemade tractor.Drove all the way into town to weld it up only to find that someone had taken the arc welder home!! First the owner of the MIG decided that he was gonna take it home for his new shop.Then the neighbor's barn caught fire and burned up the nearby arc .Now the one at the shop is AWOL.That left me with the 110v MIG.....I went home....can't even tack it up with that toy. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Soundguy]

TSC sells small gas bottles for those gas/flux rigs..

Soundguy

 

[TonyC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'd ask HERE[/url] . Lots of members on this site who endorse either brand. Hobart has a really good BBS too, but you'll definitely get the Miller/Hobart slant there.

Dave )</font>

For the record, although it might be a natural assumption to make, it really isn't true. Although it is a Hobart run site they almost never get invloved unless you directly ask then a question. It is just a good group of guys, like here at TBN, who love to weld both professionally and as a hobby. Yes there are a lot of Hobart/Miller fans but it's only natural. They are very popular brands. There are many discussions on other brands as well. It is also a plus if you buy a Hobart. They take good care of their BBS'ers!

So if you are a new or novice welder or haven't even started yet you will be in good company. If you like TBN you'll like that BBS as well. Just click here.