Looking at new machine: MIG or TIG

[Furu]

I am looking at getting a new machine. As the title states I am bouncing back and forth about which way to go TIG or MIG. Wife says that it can be a B'day present.:cool2:

The reason I want a new/different machine is Aluminum. My current Stick machines will do great at whatever thickness I need. I have been doing scratch-start Tig (thanks to Shield Arc) so I can TIG steel and am good with that. I am looking for more flexibility and the ability to do Aluminum. (and I don't want to have to get a Helium bottle.) Thus the search for which to focus on.

I am not the type to be satisfied with getting a low powered MIG (of course low powered Mig's might have a bit of a problem with Aluminum anyway) because if I have it I will also want to use in on thicker steel and it just won't do it. If I get a Mig I would have to have a spool gun or a real short feed and even then that might have a problem. A higher amperage Mig will run into very serious money or so I believe (especially with the spool gun).

If I go TIG the simpler/less expensive ones won't work, as the DC only TIGs won't allow me what I want. I have an argon bottle so no new bottle if I get a dedicated AC/DC Tig where with MIG I would need a new bottle.

What other trade-offs does the collective have to bring up to "help" the decision?
What other issues have I not addressed that I should?

 

[Shield Arc]

You're correct, aluminum just sucks up the AMPS!
What kind of budget are we working with?

My V350-Pro with SG spool gun does pretty good on a wide range of thickness with aluminum. But she is spendy!

 

[Furu]

You're correct, aluminum just sucks up the AMPS!
What kind of budget are we working with?
My V350-Pro with SG spool gun does pretty good on a wide range of thickness with aluminum. But she is spendy!

Budget maybe a little bit of a shifting target. I don't want to spend one penny more than I have to but I definitely do not want to regret having gone on the cheap side/low end and not gotten the power and ability that I end up needing. I have concern, mostly from what I have read and what you have told me about the combination machines and thus am not sure that I want to go down that rabbit trail.

Your V350-Pro with a Spool gun would be the "cat's meow" but I think that is out of the budget at what you told me it ran you.

 

[Shield Arc]

The thing is, Tig welding aluminum has a big learning curve! Any welding with a wire feeder is going to be so much easier to learn. Welding thin aluminum, Tig is the way to go!
With my Miller Dynasty 300, if it's a very small piece of aluminum, I can weld 3/8-inch thick. But if there is any volume to the piece it will not do it! That's why I bought the bottle of helium.
I can see very easy where a guy needs a Mig machine, and a Tig machine! I'm really not up on these combination welders that will Tig weld aluminum, and has a Mig option too. If you only want to buy one machine, you'll have to look into the future, and try a guess which process you'll use the most.
I would PM Mark with Everlast, and ask him if he has a proven combination welder that can Tig weld aluminum, and a Mig / spool gun.

 

[LD1]

If you are serious about aluminum, especially if you plan to do work for hire, get a TIG and get good at it.

IF aluminum is just a once a blue moon thing and only for yourself, get a good mig and use it the rest of the time on steel when needed.

 

[LD1]

If you are serious about aluminum, especially if you plan to do work for hire, get a TIG and get good at it.

IF aluminum is just a once a blue moon thing and only for yourself, get a good mig and use it the rest of the time on steel when needed.

 

[NibbanaFarm]

Furu, see my last post under Best MIG Welder. I'm having some of the same questions. Other than that, I have an excellent Lincoln Square Wave TIG 175 that makes beautiful Al welds and was pretty darn cheap, $1500. The only thing is, it's only 175 amps and air cooled torch so you're limited on thickness. If you want to TIG heavy AL, you're going to pay big bucks.

There's more than one way to skin a cat. I design my projects knowing that I can't TIG heavy Al. You can stick weld it though. The rods are expensive too.

 

[Big Barn]

Furu, only you can decide what's best for you. Personally I would lean towards the mig with spool gun option but good used AC DC transformer tigs come up for sale when you least expect it.

I found a Miller 351 Syncrowave this summer for $850.

Here's a pic of it all 'cleaned up' and skidded.



Have fun shopping.

Terry

 

[CNC Dan]

I am looking at getting a new machine. As the title states I am bouncing back and forth about which way to go TIG or MIG. Wife says that it can be a B'day present......


If I go TIG the simpler/less expensive ones won't work, as the DC only TIGs won't allow me what I want. I have an argon bottle so no new bottle if I get a dedicated AC/DC Tig where with MIG I would need a new bottle.

You use argon with MIG on aluminum, so no need for a new bottle. Unless you need a little more heat, the helium will give you a little bit more power.

If the wife is paying, chose the more expensive one.

 

[Shield Arc]

Terry you should absolutely be ashamed of your self, you stole that welder!