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TimV
03-03-2006 06:25:14
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Re: Mig Welder ????????? in reply to Mark , 03-02-2006 17:51:59
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Mark: If you're looking for a general use welder, TIG isn't your best choice--it's more expensive to purchase the equipment, harder to learn, and slower. TIG shines when you're welding exotic metals, thin cross sections, dissimilar metals, and other specialized jobs. If you're welding up to 3/4", you're going beyond the reach (or at the very edge of the reach) of most common welders, either MIG or stick. You'll need to V-notch and fill with multiple passes in order to get full penetration on this thickness if you're using a common welder, putting out somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 amps. With regard to the differences between MIG and stick, you could write a book (and several people have, plus as T_bone mentioned there's enough material in the archives of this site to get a pretty fair start on another one) but as an executive summary MIG is a bit easier to learn (you don't have a shrinking electrode to contend with), faster (you don't have to stop to change electrodes) and cleaner (if you use shielding gas, you usually don't have to go back and chip the slag from your weld when you're done). Stick is a bit more powerful (stick machines are commonly availible up to around 600 amps, whereas most MIGs stop at about half that) more versatile (you can pick an electrode that matches the characteristics you want in your finished weld such as high penetration, high strength, or high hardness) and a bit more forgiving on weld preparation (dirty or painted metal, for instance). In general, if you're looking for an all-around welder, you'll want one that runs on 220, as the majority of the 110 welders can't go much thicker than around 1/8". In stick machines, the Lincoln AC225 is the gold standard--it's not the best nor the cheapest, but it is the most popular, with well over a million sold and many of them still working 20 or more years later. In MIGs, the Miller 210 is well known, though I don't have personal experience with the machine. Whatever you do, you're wise to spend another 10% or so and get a name-brand machine. Lincoln, Miller, and Hobart (now owned by Miller) are the "big 3", and all have good product support. When you're dealing with enough power to melt a half inch of solid steel, things are going to wear out, and saving 50 bucks on your initial purchase won't mean much when you can't get parts 5 years down the road.
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