Thread: Which mig?

Hello all

Looking at a buying a Mig with 2 main uses:
1) For rust repair on a future car restoration project (thin sheet metal mostly)
2) Anything around the shed home etc mostly RHS.

I want to spend less than $1000 if possible.

From bit of searching it seems its worth paying for a real brand in the end.

Contenders iv come up with include:
• Lincoln Power Mig 180C (30-180amp)
• WIA Weldmatic 190 (30-190amp)
• CIG Transmig 175i (10-175amp)

They are all similarly priced and featured generally

Which would you pick?

Would the 10amp low end of the CIG be more useful for sheet metal work than the versatility of having 190 at the top end?

The CIG also does stick/tig which could be useful (although i doubt i would use the tig function because i dont wanna buy a second cylinder)


thanks
Luke

I recently bought a Unimig 190. It also has gasless, arc and tig function (didn't come with a tig handpiece though).

Cost me $1095 (with a trolley and roll of wire thrown in).

I used it to built about 50 metres of pool fencing and a set of steps and I am very happy with how it performed. I had never used a mig previously, only arc, and I wasn't real good at welding arc. My welding improved 10 fold once I had had a little play on some scrap and then got into the fence.

Have only used gasless wire in it so far, can't justify a bottle of gas at the moment.

It is probably worth considering also.

Geoff

Ah yes that was another one for the list although not 100% sure if its in the same league quality wise?

I would consider gasless to start with but i dont believe its suitable for sheet metal work.
(also i guess you have to clean the weld after? another reason id like to go to mig vs arc because i hate cleaning welds :P)

Luke, it can certainly be used with gas, I just haven't got a bottle to use it in that fashion.

As to the quality compared to the other 3, I cannot comment, as I have not experienced them.

I have a mate who has a WIA, fairly hefty size one, he is a panel beater/spray painter and used it on panel steel through to building trailers. I imagine it would be a fair bit outside of a $1000 budget though. He is quite happy with it.

I have been looking at an Everlast. Seems OK.
Talked to Bob Guthrie and Ted Small and they are both great to talk to and not pushy.
Around the $900 for the small unit Imig 160. Welder,Welders,Arc Tig Welder,Welders For Sale,Welder Repair,Plasma Cutters,Plasma Welder,Aluminum welder

No connection with them but they are in Oz so warranty spares etc should be OK.

Hey Lyle,

Are you affiliated with them? last week you were asking about them and this week it's a reccomendation. I am a bit confused. I think the forumites would be quite dissapointed to find out Everlast are using thee tacticts in Australia like they do on other forums.


Has anyone in the Newcastle area bought an Everlast I-mig 160??? , would you comment on its performance, cost, how you use it, etc.
I am considering one and would like an owners/operators opinion.
I have spoken to Ted and Bob re their machine and have their opinion. Both gave me good info and are very helpful.
Now I'd like more.
Do you use gas and if so is it a disposable bottle (cost useage times etc). Do you use gasless, how does it perform.

Ted and Bob offered to let me go and try one out, but the travel to try is just a little too far.

Originally Posted by Lyle

I have been looking at an Everlast. Seems OK.
Talked to Bob Guthrie and Ted Small and they are both great to talk to and not pushy.
Around the $900 for the small unit Imig 160. Welder,Welders,Arc Tig Welder,Welders For Sale,Welder Repair,Plasma Cutters,Plasma Welder,Aluminum welder

No connection with them but they are in Oz so warranty spares etc should be OK.

They look just like another chinese welder, and dearer than most.

Hey luke

Things to consider

WIA is not made in australia anymore so prices have dropped...They are chinese but honestly have welded with these machines and they are pretty awesome...They assure me that the have "simply cloned there own machines in china" ...Not an inverter so heavy (30 odd kgs and sposed to be portable??? hahah not really) but will weld sweet low down... ie 0.6mm

Lincoln 180 has the worst duty cycle ever.... 130 amps at 25% i think...but its a 180 amp machine... So u ask what is the duty cycle at 180 amps?? Answer there isn't one was the formal answer from lincoln!!!... We worked out that it is roughly 6%... but machine is one of the best machines for welding with 0.6mm in my opinion... but not more than 0.8mm.

Cigweld is an inverter multi-process...what does this mean..well in my opinion its nice and light...and it does everything (mig, tig arc) ok. Not great...but ok. Welded with 3.2 low hydrogen rods and i was surprised that it did them at all (really needs at least 60V ocv to do at all) but not bad. Mig great up high and will produce more than 25 volts but runs out of wire speed.. wire speed control is pretty clumsy really. Not so great low down but as i say more than acceptable. For me turning a machines to its lowest voltage to weld (ie 0.6mm wire) is where u see the quality of it....not up high....

Unimig machines are pretty good too. Heaps of grunt but fall over a little when it comes to low volts same as all the chinese productions (note.. these are full chinese productions not re-produced existing machines that were made elsewhere by leading manufacturers) in my experience.... But really good bang for your buck and good back up too (ie spare parts/warranty).

My favourite is the kemppi minarc 170 or 180. The 170 is the Same machine the 180 just has a digital panel. They are a synergic machine so for beginners makes them look like a 30+ year boiley in no time. Fantastic low down and small portable and can easily run off a 5.5 kva generator (full noise too). Finland made and the arc is just sweet. Ive run em on stainless, ali, mild steel and excellent on gasless wires. Brilliant but fairly expensive. Maybe a bit more than your $1000 budget but worth every penny in my opinon...

Hope this helps

Rappy

Have a look here my next door neighbor has one and happy as Larry...(the Mig 200) and at $799 for what it offers you couldn't go wrong for what you want it for

thanks for the replys

I dont think duty cycle will really ever be a problem as its all going to be hobby work which wont be rushed etc. (and i doubt i would be using it at the high end much)

Are transformer machines generally more reliable?

Iv heard a few good things about token but still a little worrying if they will be around (look very similar to the everlast machines)

Anyone heard of Weldcorp? (sold by Bunnings, made in italy)

Originally Posted by Rappy77

My favourite is the kemppi minarc 170 or 180. The 170 is the Same machine the 180 just has a digital panel. They are a synergic machine so for beginners makes them look like a 30+ year boiley in no time. Fantastic low down and small portable and can easily run off a 5.5 kva generator (full noise too). Finland made and the arc is just sweet. Ive run em on stainless, ali, mild steel and excellent on gasless wires. Brilliant but fairly expensive. Maybe a bit more than your $1000 budget but worth every penny in my opinon...

y

Diitto the good things you said about the Kemmpi,except that the torch is the fall down -they were not fair dinkum there.

Its is crap and not much better than a SIP gun cable -weak and anaemic .When finances permit I'll pick up a Euro gun / cable / fitting kit and this little mig will be the machine it should have always been.You won't get much change out of $2000 nowdays if you buy one

Grahame

Grahame just a quick one mate you can get a genuine binzel MB15 of MB24 gun replacement for the minarc machines. Takes a minor bit of stuffing around but easy to fit...Trust me I actually designed them...lol.. Cant fit a euro to these machines as 1. its an inline gas/power fitting and 2. the machine falls over all the time because its front heavy. Can only get a 3 metre torch though as its a synergic machine going longer on the cable makes the machines go a bit funny (loses a bit of grunt)...found that out the hard way!! If you want one of these let me know i tell u where u can buy them and the part number.... But your right the kemppi torches are crap...especially on gasless...even kemppi knows it...

Cheers Rappy

A suggestion that I am connected with everlast is just plain wrong.

I merely mentioned the bvrand and model I am considering and added a link to the site.

I am considering other brands like those on fleabay. My question in another thread hasn't found a reply regarding any forumites that have owned one so am still looking for info.
But haven't made up my mind yet and am also still saving my $$ to be able to buy a machine.
The everlast seems OK as far as my searching and understanding of MIG welders goes. Other shops around the Newcastle area were not as informative as the Everlast mob.
So that is my 2 cents worth.

Well I think that is one of the best things about forums, that customers or potential customers can share their experiences positive or negative about suppliers.

I see lots of brands mentioned on here where members have good or bad things to say and that's great as it helps me to make hopefully good buying decisions.
It is not coincidence that I found this forum while I was in the market for a new TIG recently and in fact this forum was among some recommended to me by the Everlast Aust guys to help me research and ask questions.

So I hope that it is reasonable and unintimidating to state that any of us have a positive experience with any supplier without being accused of being affiliated with them.

No doubt some suppliers may use some self promotion through forums and I think one can usually see through this but bad service will be reported very quickly, and more quickly than good. Good suppliers do us no harm.

So please just assume unless you know for sure otherwise that a positive comment from a happy customer is just that.

Originally Posted by Lyle

A suggestion that I am connected with everlast is just plain wrong.

I merely mentioned the bvrand and model I am considering and added a link to the site.

I am considering other brands like those on fleabay. My question in another thread hasn't found a reply regarding any forumites that have owned one so am still looking for info.
But haven't made up my mind yet and am also still saving my $$ to be able to buy a machine.
The everlast seems OK as far as my searching and understanding of MIG welders goes. Other shops around the Newcastle area were not as informative as the Everlast mob.
So that is my 2 cents worth.

Originally Posted by johncar

Well I think that is one of the best things about forums, that customers or potential customers can share their experiences positive or negative about suppliers.

I see lots of brands mentioned on here where members have good or bad things to say and that's great as it helps me to make hopefully good buying decisions.
It is not coincidence that I found this forum while I was in the market for a new TIG recently and in fact this forum was among some recommended to me by the Everlast Aust guys to help me research and ask questions.

So I hope that it is reasonable and unintimidating to state that any of us have a positive experience with any supplier without being accused of being affiliated with them.

No doubt some suppliers may use some self promotion through forums and I think one can usually see through this but bad service will be reported very quickly, and more quickly than good. Good suppliers do us no harm.

So please just assume unless you know for sure otherwise that a positive comment from a happy customer is just that.

A difficult one, though, isn't it? It's the stealth aspect of the surreptitious self-promoters that is the problem. Positive and constructive input from contributers who openly declare their interests would be fine. But how do you weed out the genuine from the stealthy without asking?