Help me pick a mig welder

[Cord]

Cord,,,I want you to take this the right way,,,its the welder,,not the rod,,if somebody else can do it....

A 7010 rod is about same as 6010 maybe a few more snaps/sparkes,,,,,it is an all postion rod,,I have welded over head with it,[alot],like 6010 better,like 6010 plus a lot better[6010+],,but ,,,,,what kinda rods have you run??Why have you been using 7010 rods,,they are called hipy rods,,[high yield point],,hippy rods ///high yield point rods,,,get it???,well,,they are pipeline rods,,why are you using 7010 rods???

You need to get you some 6010 + rods,lincoln,,good rods,,

You turn your machine up,not down to make arc more stable[if you are having trouble sticking or maintaining arc],,,wish I could show you,but I can't.

I'm using quality rods from a welding store. Can't tell you the brand. Tried the local farm store crap and returned them immediately. I like the 7010 rods because I tend to rush (always fearing a burn through) and they're more forgiving than the 6010 (which I also have). The 7010's are a semi drag which I love. Wish I could find some 7040's. Used some 1/4"x16" 7040 rods in high school and they were incredible. The problem is that I'm welding at the very bottom of the welders scale. If I recall correctly, around 130 amps. Yes, it's a hot machine. The issue is that turned down all the way, I'm still throwing too much heat into the rod so my puddle tries to drop out. Turning the welder up does help, but I run the risk of burn through and have turned the rods red hot. I've compensated by switching from 1/8" to 5/32" rods, but the machine really wants a 1/4" rod.

This is not my welder, but it's a very similar model. Mine doesn't have the reverse polarity switch. Welder I scored mine 10 years ago for $35.

 

[gauthier]

Well,sounds like that machine just can't be turned down below a certain point? for some reason,, You should be able to burn 1/16 inch rods as well as 3/16 on a 200 amp machine,just by turning a knob up or down,,don't know what it is?

Maybe you just got a problem machine,,you need to try out another machine,,bet its just that machine you got,,you should be able to weld 1/8 inch thick stuff with 3/32 rods and 1 inch stuff with 5/32,[need a few passes with the inch stuff]...

Instead of a mig,,you should buy you a new stick machine,miller makes all kinds,,dc output,,transformer like you got or gas/desil powered,,,sounds like you burn big rods,so 200 amp or more one..but if you had the right welder,you could stop burning them big rods unless you really needed them.

 

[Cord]

Yea, I've used a tombstone welder in the past and had really good welds with it. Almost didn't want to give it back. As for turning it down... yea, I'm not surprised it can't go any lower. After all, it's rated for 500 amps at 50% duty cycle! I can't imagine what kind of rods you'd need to weld with that kind of power.

 

[bw_wis]

Both Lincoln and Miller are good welders. I've used migs made by both. I own a Miller.

Buy from a dealer. Not a big box.

Lincoln is supposed to be an amazing company. Based in Ohio. They a very American product. Lincoln has a life time employment policy. If you make it through probation and follow the rules you will always get a paycheck. They also have a very generous profit sharing with there employees.

 

[gauthier]

500 amps at 50 percent,,,well there you problem..and you knowed that,,but now we all do...no wonder your burning them giant rods..

This is my thought,,you have experience stick welding,right,,get you a ac/dc around 200-250 amp transformer machine[stick machine],lincoln or miller,,you should be able to use 1/16th to 3/16[or so],,that should do you....than if you want a mig,get you one.

Mig to me is handy but unless your wanting to weld sheet metal or aluminum,,they ain't much use to me.

 

[MJPetersen]

Cord, you got the welder that I wanted but could not afford--I got a Esab C-170 and have had it for about 2 years now. I really like it. It is the first wire feed that I have had and I find myself doing things with it that I would never have even contemplated with stick. I have welded quite a bit of 2 mm thick material and have found it to be very stable and consistent. I use CO2 for a shield gas.

Mike

 

[Cord]

Cord, you got the welder that I wanted but could not afford--I got a Esab C-170 and have had it for about 2 years now. I really like it. It is the first wire feed that I have had and I find myself doing things with it that I would never have even contemplated with stick. I have welded quite a bit of 2 mm thick material and have found it to be very stable and consistent. I use CO2 for a shield gas.

Mike

Yea, people are not familiar with the Linde/L-tec/ESAB products so they default to the Lincoln/Miller lines. Those that have tried the ESAB and own Miller have repeatedly said that ESAB is better. That's not a bash on Miller, it's just that ESAB is that good. But for the price it should be!

Yea, I'll be shopping for gas on Monday. I'd rather not rent the cylinders, so we'll have to see if they're even willing to sell them. Years ago when I got into my torch set, nobody wanted to sell cylinders to me. The pain is having to recertify the cylinders every few years.

 

[Transit]

If you wish, try flux core wire too, it is very similar to stick. Lots of wire to choose from, gas and gasless, find your favorite. :thumbsup:

 

[Chilly807]

It shouldn't be hard to find a cylinder, the problem may be the size they're willing to sell. All I could get was the small "hobby" cylinder, the larger ones are lease only, at least they are here. Having said that, unless you're doing a lot of welding the small bottle is fine.

I've got a Miller 180, had a Miller 135 before that. I actually think I liked the 135 better, the only advantage the 180 has is more power. You'll be pretty happy with the Esab, I think. Any major name is going to be a decent welder, the only ones I'd be leery of are the Harbor Freight/Princess Auto cheapies. The box store models aren't much better, generally speaking.

Sean

 

[TWD]

Lincoln Powermig 255 & 225 Tig here.

My next will be a Lincoln 140c, I think you can get this in your price range, and IMHO is a kickass welder for the price. :thumbsup: I`ll get it when I start doing more sheet metal work, and don't want to keep switching wire/consumables on the bigger machine. This one also sits nicely on my TIG :laughing:

 

[Renze]

I went from a 35% duty cycle 180 amp mig, to a 60% duty cycle 350amp MIG.
When welding 6mm or more, it makes all the difference. With the 350A i can make a fully penetrating weld on I beams without V notching it first. I dont have to make the material as clean (rust, paint, zinc) because the more powerful welder burns the trash away before it gets embedded in the weld. It welds dirty material as good as a stick welder. Because it is a 3 phase machine, i get a much more stable DC arc. (MIGs convert AC to DC, with more phases feeding it, there is less fluctuation in the combined current to straighten, resulting in a much more stable arc)

You already have a welder, so i assume the amount of welding you do, justifies to invest in another. In that case i wouldnt go lower than 300A 35% duty cycle, or 210A 60% duty cycle, if you buy a 180A and then step up to a 350A like i did, you'll realise these extra amps were what you were missing all the time...

 

[joes_427_vette]

Lincoln or Miller 250 amp machine. Cost about 1800. Last machine you will need to buy. When your done with it a hundred people will want to buy it. Great quality, service, operating machine. Don't buy the inferior junk for the low price. They are on the computer everyday for resale. Owners don't admit their junk... just want to upgrade to larger machine.... like I believe that line.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Cord, depending on who you deal with on the cylinder purchase, you may be able to buy the tank and avoid the testing expenses. If you're just exchanging the cylinder, you should get a tested cylinder in exchange. If you exchange the cylinder often enough, it should also be in test at that time. Good questions to ask when you're shopping.
You'll like the Esab; good equipment, just not as well known as the red and blue guys. Sometimes, it's a regional thing. What part of the country do you live in?

 

[Cord]

I'm SE Wisconsin. Heart of Blue country.

 

[Cord]

I just read that ESAB is now sponsoring Orange County Choppers and they will be building a bike for ESAB. Anybody recall who used to sponsor OCC?

 

[mjncad]

I just read that ESAB is now sponsoring Orange County Choppers and they will be building a bike for ESAB. Anybody recall who used to sponsor OCC?

Miller because they built a Miller bike and trailer for 'Blue.' Don't let the people in Appleton see you went to the dark side.

 

[Wooddust]

One answer MIller. You cannot go wrong, they stand behind them, they work when you need them to. Save up till you can afford a Miller.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Cord, OCC used Miller welders and had Airgas cylinders in their shop.

 

[bx24]

HTP welders

Company Information - Welding Equipment - Welding Supplies – HTP America, Inc.

As mentioned, Miller and Lincoln make great products (they are the Snap-On and Mac tools of the welding world).

When I went to formal classes for welding, most of the machines were one of the two. I did not read the whole post, but I am sure someone mentioned that Miller actually owns (or did own) Hobart

I was fortunate to always be able to use someone else's equipment. When it came time that I needed to buy a unit for myself, someone gave me a reference for HTP welders. I had never heard from them so I asked around a bit. Like me, a lot of people in the biz had never heard of them, but the ones who did only had good things to say about them.

I just looked on their website and I cannot find any prices, but as I recall they are about 20% less than similar Lincoln or Miller units. From their literature (and I would agree based on what I have seen with mine), their units are beefier for drive controls and some other parts.

I believe the units are made in Italy, but their operation is in IL outside of Chicago. They have been a pleasure to deal with for consumables (tips, wire etc) and have always delivered things quickly. If I had to do it again, I would go the same route (I purchased their 2400 mig unit as well as their 625 plasma cutter)

I used to live near their office so when I was in town for the holidays a couple of years ago, I stopped in to talk to them. They had a nice operation (complete with dog running around the office) and they took the time to talk with me about my needs. Give them a call, their folks have a lot of good information to at least give you some things to think about.

Good luck