mig welder preferences

[CCWKen]

I have seven welders but the one I use the most is probably the old Century 130 TIG. For the big stuff, I just break out the old 230A buzz box. For pretty stuff, I use the Esab 140 MIG. There's preheat methods that will make a small welder do big jobs but you still can't get away from the poor duty cycle on smaller units. It takes longer to weld with a smaller unit and if you're welding for income, duty cycle pays the bills.

You'll need to sit down and think about the types of welding you intend to do. Steel and Aluminum require different setups. If you might do aluminum trailers, then get an inverter welder that is switchable between AC/DC. Aluminum welding takes lots of power too so 240v should be a starting point.

 

[LetsRoll]

Letsroll, I am just guessing here but your Lincoln 100 is not your first welder nor the welder you learned on???? Right??

No, my Lincoln Pro 100 was not the welder that I learned on. But it was my first welder many years ago. For many years, I had means or resources that I could get in contact with to use there welder if I needed to. After getting tired of using other peoples, my employers welder(s). I finally decided to buy my own welder. So, I purchased a Lincoln Pro 100 for my needs (auto restoration and drag racing). I've worked many years dealing with metal, so I knew what it took to bond two pieces of metal together. For welding, I learned how to weld with not a welder but a torch. I know your going to laugh at me, but I learned how to weld with a torch and a coat hanger. Most people laugh when I tell them that I can weld with a torch. They always call me a cheap skate (and of course a back yard hillbilly) thinking I don't own a mig welder. And of course, I tell them I have a mig welder and they ask how I learned how to weld with a torch. I learned the old school ways. Back in the days when hard working folks could not afford a mig welder. So, they used what they had on hand, a torch and coat hangers (ok, you can stop laughing now).

Many years ago, I used to work at AFCO: Drag Racing making parts for dragsters, circle track, dirt track and sprint cars. Now, I'm in the machining industry (engine components).

OK, who's turn is it now. Tag, your it.

 

[4shorts]

For welding, I learned how to weld with not a welder but a torch. I know your going to laugh at me, but I learned how to weld with a torch and a coat hanger. Most people laugh when I tell them that I can weld with a torch. OK, who's turn is it now. Tag, your it.

Well you won't get me to laugh at ya. I used to do the same thing. I would sand the coating off the hanger and start in gas welding with it and did some fine welds with it If I must say so myself.

I do basically all types of welding here. Not a real fan of the small cheap Mig welders due to problems they have with the wire feed systems but if you can afford a good quality Miller Mig I'm sure you won't be disappointed. All my shop is Miller and it's never let me down. I just sold a Miller Mig that was built in 1972. It still worked perfectly. I just wanted to upgrade to a newer model. Actually my older brother bought the unit so that will tell you how good it was. I've owned it for 14 years and the only part I replace on it was a small trigger switch on the torch that cost $22. 00. Just my 2 cents worth speaking from experience.

 

[Scooby074]

I have a miller 135XP (mig) and a Thunderbolt 225 ACDC stick. Both my welders have been great, but if i was going to do it all over again id go for a Millermatic 252. The cost would have been about the same, plus i would have ended up with a mig that suits my welding style a little better. Now when i weld anything heavy, I tack with the mig, then finish up with the stick. YOu can never have too much power( within reason). When i bought mine, the salesman was leading me towards the 220V machines. I figured he was just trying to make a bigger sale, but no, he was right. We laughed about it when i was back a year later buying my stick Those little migs don't have the power to weld heavy steel and get good fusion even on properly prepared joints. If you do try, your going to be running it wide open, which will max out your duty cycle in a hurry.

I recommend a welding night course. You;ll learn the proper way to fit up joints, and get to try out some machines to see what you like.

When i learned in school, we started with the welding with the torch, then brazing, then stick, and finally mig. You can make a really pretty looking weld with a mig, but it has no strength. People think mig is easy, and it is to a certain extent, but skill is required to get a sound joint.

 

[4shorts]

I have a miller 135XP (mig) and a Thunderbolt 225 ACDC stick. Both my welders have been great, but if i was going to do it all over again id go for a Millermatic 252.
I recommend a welding night course. You;ll learn the proper way to fit up joints, and get to try out some machines to see what you like.

You can make a really pretty looking weld with a mig, but it has no strength. People think mig is easy, and it is to a certain extent, but skill is required to get a sound joint.

I agree with your recommendations on the Millermatic 252. I have the Millermatic 251 which is a year older than the 252 and it can weld up to a 1/2 inch thick in one pass. It's basically took over where the stick welding used to be in my shop. I don't agree with you when you say Mig isn't strong. As a matter of fact I've never heard of anyone stating that in my life. In fifteen years welding basically everything from heavy equipment to structural steel I've never had a weld facture with the Mig process.

Even now when I go mobile with my Miller Trailblazer 302 I use the Mig process with it on site because of it's speed, appearance and strength. Arc welding will never be replaced and there will always be a need for it but I think Mig is the best advancement in welding since welding has been around.

 

[RickB]

I agree with your recommendations on the Millermatic 252. I have the Millermatic 251 which is a year older than the 252 and it can weld up to a 1/2 inch thick in one pass. It's basically took over where the stick welding used to be in my shop. I don't agree with you when you say Mig isn't strong. As a matter of fact I've never heard of anyone stating that in my life. In fifteen years welding basically everything from heavy equipment to structural steel I've never had a weld facture with the Mig process.

Even now when I go mobile with my Miller Trailblazer 302 I use the Mig process with it on site because of it's speed, appearance and strength. Arc welding will never be replaced and there will always be a need for it but I think Mig is the best advancement in welding since welding has been around.

I, too thought that was a foolish statement. I've heard it before, but not from credible sources. But then welding threads tend to get like engine oil debates.

 

[bobodu]

I think the idea of MIG not being strong comes from the idea that pretty makes a good weld.
I see so many guys that go out and buy a purple welder,spend a few minutes playing with the knobs,and see welds fail. Properly prepped and executed,MIG will be as strong as arc,but most guys won't take the time to learn this....they wanna build things!! I personally believe that if you're gonna spend time learning,you might as well learn stick and save a bunch of money and time screwing around with feeds,liners,clogged tips,gas pressure......blah blah blah.

 

[4shorts]

I think the idea of MIG not being strong comes from the idea that pretty makes a good weld.
I see so many guys that go out and buy a purple welder,spend a few minutes playing with the knobs,and see welds fail. Properly prepped and executed,MIG will be as strong as arc,but most guys won't take the time to learn this....they wanna build things!! I personally believe that if you're gonna spend time learning,you might as well learn stick and save a bunch of money and time screwing around with feeds,liners,clogged tips,gas pressure......blah blah blah.

You might be right on that statement. I never looked at it that way. Arc might be the simplest way to go for some. I've never had a liner or feed problem with my Millers. Haven't had much trouble with the Wing either Nice looking bike you have there!

 

[Scooby074]

I think the idea of MIG not being strong comes from the idea that pretty makes a good weld.
I see so many guys that go out and buy a purple welder,spend a few minutes playing with the knobs,and see welds fail. Properly prepped and executed,MIG will be as strong as arc,but most guys won't take the time to learn this....they wanna build things!! I personally believe that if you're gonna spend time learning,you might as well learn stick and save a bunch of money and time screwing around with feeds,liners,clogged tips,gas pressure......blah blah blah.

Thats what i was getting at ( maybe i wasnt clear in my post). Of course mig can be strong. I was refering mostly to amateurs who use small migs at the high end of their rating and dont believe in or know about proper joint prepairation, but can leave the prettiest looking bead you'd ever see. Is it strong? Dont know, but i wouldnt chance it. Mig is the most common process for production welding.Do i think it has value and is a sound process when properly executed? You BET!!! . Ive welded things that take some of the worst vibrations possible (Rock Crushers) with mig. No problems.The fundamentals are equal or even more important with mig.Just cause its point and shoot, doesnt make it foolproof.

 

[4shorts]

Thats what i was getting at ( maybe i wasnt clear in my post). Of course mig can be strong. I was refering mostly to amateurs who use small migs at the high end of their rating and dont believe in or know about proper joint prepairation, but can leave the prettiest looking bead you'd ever see. Is it strong? Dont know, but i wouldnt chance it. Mig is the most common process for production welding.Do i think it has value and is a sound process when properly executed? You BET!!! . Ive welded things that take some of the worst vibrations possible (Rock Crushers) with mig. No problems.The fundamentals are equal or even more important with mig.Just cause its point and shoot, doesnt make it foolproof.

Ah now Jason we're on the same page Well put sir