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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Bredbo NSW
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    Default Seeking user/operator manual for an old 3 phase CIG Transmig welder

    Hello,

    Several years ago I purchased an old MIG at auction for the hefty sum of $73. Had a dodgy worn out castor wheel, but everything else looked OK. Sat in my shed for a couple years before I finally got around to fixing the wheel and firing it up with some 0.8mm gasless flux core wire. Somewhat to my surprise it actually seems to work, but I have very little idea about what I am doing . Details I know about it are as follows.

    Make/Model: CIG Transmig 240
    Voltage: 415v 3 phase
    Output ampage: upto 240A (I think?)
    Age: 20+ years (has 7 digit phone numbers on the stickers so I assume pre 1996)

    If anyone has a manual for this model, or even for a similar model, I would be grateful. Below are some pickies of the unit.

    Thanks in advance.




    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
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    Default

    A manual should be easy to come by, just ring Cigweld customer service and they will sort you out. That's what I did when I needed a manual for my Transpulse 350, (similar era machine but nothing like yours as far as manual compatibility).
    I can probably help you out as far as the controls and settings go as they are very simple. What wire feed rollers did it come with? If you are running flux core wire then you really need knurled rollers and I'd nearly bet my life that it only came with V groove rollers for solid wire. Can you take a photo of the wire feed motor and rollers for me? You will need to have the wire feed lead on the negative terminal and the ground lead on positive for self shielded flux core if you haven't already. Given yours is an internal wire feeder, I'm not sure how easy that may be, but machines of that era were generally simple but effective.
    For $73 you cannot go wrong. The 3 phase plug alone is worth way more than that.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Bredbo NSW
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    Quote Originally Posted by Karl Robbers View Post
    A manual should be easy to come by, just ring Cigweld customer service and they will sort you out. That's what I did when I needed a manual for my Transpulse 350, (similar era machine but nothing like yours as far as manual compatibility).
    I can probably help you out as far as the controls and settings go as they are very simple. What wire feed rollers did it come with? If you are running flux core wire then you really need knurled rollers and I'd nearly bet my life that it only came with V groove rollers for solid wire. Can you take a photo of the wire feed motor and rollers for me? You will need to have the wire feed lead on the negative terminal and the ground lead on positive for self shielded flux core if you haven't already. Given yours is an internal wire feeder, I'm not sure how easy that may be, but machines of that era were generally simple but effective.
    For $73 you cannot go wrong. The 3 phase plug alone is worth way more than that.
    Hi Carl,

    Thanks for the reply. I'll try calling Cigweld instead of emailing them. Not sure about setting the earth lead to positive. The only options appear to be CO2 or ARGOSHIELD?

    Far as the feed rollers and motor go here are some pics.


    Thanks again.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Armidale NSW
    Age
    52
    Posts
    915

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rodeoclown666 View Post
    The only options appear to be CO2 or ARGOSHIELD?
    What other options did you want? Straight argon? ... just use the Argoshield.
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
    __________________________________________________
    Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Bredbo NSW
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    6

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Vernonv View Post
    What other options did you want? Straight argon? ... just use the Argoshield.
    Hi Vernonv,

    I was asking in respect of which earth post the lead should be connected to when running gasless flux core and how to go about reversing the polarity of the earth and the gun for the same purpose. Just not sure what the actual difference is in the two different earth posts/connectors (co2 & argoshield)?

    Thanks

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rodeoclown666 View Post
    Hi Carl,

    Thanks for the reply. I'll try calling Cigweld instead of emailing them. Not sure about setting the earth lead to positive. The only options appear to be CO2 or ARGOSHIELD?

    Far as the feed rollers and motor go here are some pics.


    Thanks again.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    Glad to be of assistance.
    The pictures of the wire feed unit tell me a couple of things. Firstly, your machine is not one of the offspring produced by the relationship between National Panasonic and CIG during the era your machine came from. Secondly, different wire feed rollers could be a less than common item and potentially expensive to purchase new. In case you didn't already know, your mig gun appears to be a Tweco Number 4 and it is connected to your wire feeder by a standard Tweco connector. Parts and consumables are readily available.
    Polarity change for self shielded wires will be possible, but a bit messy by the sound of it as it will be a covers off and swap leads around job. You could easily modify your machine so as to make external polarity change possible, however parts cost would match or exceed the purchase price of the welder. Still very worthwhile doing if a mixed diet of self shielded and gas shielded wires is on the cards.
    What is your intended usage of this machine? In my opinion .8 self shielded wire won't even begin to reach the full potential of the machine, but is a viable option if your usage is infrequent and primarily on lighter type work. 1.2mm self shielded wire would be several steps up as far as reaching your machine's potential, remembering of course that self shielded wires run electrode negative, thus requiring a bit of doctoring of your welder to suit. Feed rollers should be of the knurled variety for flux core, but I have used standard V groove successfully when no other options were available. You need to keep your gun lead straight and not use a massively long gun lead while not over tensioning the wire feed idler in order to give good reliable wire feed. I reckon if you look at your wire feed roller, it will have 2 different V grooves in it, quite possibly 1.2 and .9mm.
    To get the best from your welder, gas shielded solid wire would be my choice using either straight CO2 or an argon mix. CO2 is by far the cheaper gas and I like the stuff, while Argon mix will allow you to use spray transfer on heavy work in the downhand position. Of course the down side of gas shielded wire is cylinder rental or purchase and the need to provide a wind free area in which to weld.
    The CO2 and Argoshield terminals on the front of the machine are to set different inductance levels, which serves to fine tune the arc characteristics for different shielding gasses. The main benefit of fine tuning your inductance will be a smoother arc and better spatter control.
    Have you done much Mig welding before and are you comfortable with setting up the process?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Bredbo NSW
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    Thanks again for taking the time to give me such a detailed response.

    So far as my MIG experience goes it's pretty much zip. Did a night course about 10 years ago, but nothing since. Have run one 0.45kg roll of 0.8mm gasless flux core from Bunnings through this unit welding up some old tractor implements and that's it. I now have a 4.5kg roll of 0.9mm on it, for no better reason than it was $25 cheaper than the equivalent roll of 0.8mm.

    Far as my plans for this welder goes I am looking to repair and construct some new tractor implement as well as repairing and building a couple trailers and any small jobs that come up around the house or farm.

    Far as setup goes, while I have not much of an idea what I'm doing, I'm more than happy to give it a crack and learn as I go along. With using 1.2mm wire would that still work with welding lighter stuff (like 2mm rhs).

    Will using the argoshield or co2 earth connector make any difference when using gasless flux core?

    Might give it a try with gas when I am a bit more confident and skilled with the unit in general.

    Thanks again.

    Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
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    If you're getting on OK with flux core, even though the welder's polarity is wrong, I don't see any reason not to continue with it, provided the welds are OK - you might want to post some pics?

    These days gas is a bit easier - probably the most convenient is Bunnings who do a D size of MIG mix for $9 deposit plus $200 for each swap (i.e. $299 for the first bottle, then $200 after that) and if you decide gas is not for you, you can return the bottle and get your $99 back. That said, your nearest Bunnings is probably a bit more of a drive, but kind on the way if you're heading to Costco/Ikea.

  9. #9
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    No worries at all.
    The CO2 and Argoshield inductance taps will make very little difference to your welders performance with self shielded wires. They don't make massive differences to solid wire either, they are very much a fine tuning tool rather than a mechanism for large changes.
    1.2mm will handle 2mm material and even a bit thinner without too many dramas.
    There is a whole world of difference between the performance of solid wire and self shielded flux core, so I see them more as two different processes rather than variations of the one process. Choice of wire will make much difference to the success or otherwise of self shielded flux core. Some wires are designed for only single pass welding (a problem for you if you are building farm implements from anything thicker than 4mm) and there are great differences in the performance of name brand versus ebay special wires.
    If you intend running self shielded flux core as a regular diet, then I would make the effort to pop the covers off (not a bad idea anyway so as to give the machine a good blow out) and swap the necessary wires around to set the proper polarity. I would be less concerned if you were making garden art or similar, but given that you intend repairing items that will be subjected to reasonable stresses (trailers and implements) you need to be looking to achieve full weld properties. Have a look at the wires made by Lincoln such as Innershield NR211MP or NR212, both of these run and perform very well. Hobart Fabshield 21B gets a really good rap from many professional welders too.
    Be aware, Bunnings and their ilk are hands down the most expensive way to buy welding gear and consumables.
    Gas shielded will always be my first preference, but self shielded flux core has come a long way, however it does have some idiosyncrasies that can be frustrating until overcome.
    Whatever you choose practice, have fun and learn.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Wimmera
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by RustyArc View Post

    These days gas is a bit easier - probably the most convenient is Bunnings who do a D size of MIG mix for $9 deposit plus $200 for each swap (i.e. $299 for the first bottle, then $200 after that) and if you decide gas is not for you, you can return the bottle and get your $99 back. That said, your nearest Bunnings is probably a bit more of a drive, but kind on the way if you're heading to Costco/Ikea.
    I think this is a bit out of whack.

    Deposit is $200 and $99 at change over.

    Was advised by the bloke at the counter to copy the receipt as the original will fade. I scanned mine and have it on the computer. No receipt, no refund. So be careful.

    Hooroo,

    John.

  11. #11
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    The Bunnings gas scheme is indeed an interesting option. On one hand, the gas is extortionately overpriced, but on the other, the lack of monthly rent bills evens this out a bit and places gas shielded mig within the reach of the low volume user. You would probably get a bit less than 2 hours arc time from a D size cylinder, but you can do a lot in 2 hours solid welding.
    At worst it would be a cheap way to trial the process.

  12. #12
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    Jun 2010
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    Canberra
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    Oops, mixed up the figures -thanks for the correction Wimmera Jack .Bunnings is cheaper than Gasweld, where you pay @242 for the bottle and $97 for the refills, and I'm not sure you can return the bottle, so you may be stuck with them long term. E size is a bit cheaper, for twice the volume of gas you pay $320 for the bottle and then $155 for the refills. However you would need to get through a few bottles before it started being overall cheaper than Bunnings.

    Also, there's a lot to be said for being able to swap a bottle on a Sunday - not something you can do with anyone else but Bunnings.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Bredbo NSW
    Posts
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    OK so I spoke with CIG and got put onto their online archive of manuals. Wasn't able to find one for my welder specifically, but did find a manual for a similar model with similar controls and specs. For anyone else who is chasing an old CIG manual this is the place you want try in the first instance. They have set up a public document repository using Google Drive so it's pretty easy to navigate around and find manuals. Hope this helps someone else looking for doco. Cheers

    https://sites.google.com/site/cwesupp/home

  14. #14
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    That's really good information to have. Thanks for posting the web address.

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