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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    Adelaide
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    Default MIG welders - which one to buy

    Hi all:
    I have been looking around at MIG Welders and I am confused. I will be using it first up to build a shed - welding 12mm flat bar gussets to C200mm x 75mm x 2.4mm C section. After that just general use, repairs and small projects, thin material down to 1mm to 2mm. I have a stick welder but not convinced I can build my shed and produce a good enough weld using that. Everyone tells me that MIG is the way to go but the pros and cons confuse me, different makes and models - inverter type or transformer type, duty cycle, quality of wire feed system, warranty, made in China or somewhere else and so it goes on. To date I have focused on Lincoln 180, WIA Weldmatic 190, BOC Magmante 180P. I spoke with one supplier and was told only buy KEMPPI because all the rest will ultimately disappoint. The Kemppi is out of my price range, I have a budget up to a thousand dollars. I am happy to accept additional costs for a gas bottle even if only while I build the shed. So, am I wasting my money buying any of the above , does one stand out in favor of the other or are there other brands I should be looking at in that $1000 range. Any and all assistance accepted gratefully. Morrimate

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Canberra
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    Default

    But you could do arc welding. Pile of scrap, box of sticks, weld weld weld, by the 10th stick you'll be laying some nice fat welds. Same next day, burn 10 sticks. You too will have the power of Arc.
    Get an auto darkening helmet of course, a great help.

  3. #3
    welding is offline Engineers are qualified to make claims
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
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    Victoria
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    81

    Default

    Pop rivets with a pneumatic rivetter. A totally rivetting experience

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Adelaide
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    5

    Default

    a small amount of practice and you shouldn't have any trouble welding 2.4mm and the flat bar with the stick.

    my old mig was stuffing up and i nearly went out and bought a new one for the same job as you (200C and 150C 2.4mm down to 1.6mm and flat bar) but decided to pull out my old ultra cheap arc and give it a go, worked great! and as a side bonus saved me a few bucks.
    even my lad who had never welded before after a few goes managed to do decent welds that were fine, good enough that i let him weld most of it up


    cheers
    chippy

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    Default

    12mm flat bar to 2.4mm section is going to be a challenge no matter what you use - getting enough heat into the bar to get decent fusion while not blowing through the purlin will be hard and will require good technique regardless. The risk with MIG is that while you may lay a decent-looking bead, there's no guarantee you've got good fusion to the thicker section, whereas with stick, if the weld looks good, the chances are it's a good weld.

    I'd definitely do some practice first with the materials you're going to use - weld one side of a fillet then try and snap the bar off - if you've got it wrong, you'll find the side of the weld against the bar will break away revealing how shallow the fusion was.

    In answer to your actual question, a decent inverter MIG will do the job - if it's a combo machine you can also easily break out the stick if it seems a more appropriate tool for the particular weld. You'll probably do fine with the Lincoln 180, or perhaps the CIG Transmig 175i that's been discussed recently here.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    sunny adelaide
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    Default

    i have the lincon 180c and it's the best mig ive used in yrs. i too was confused on what to buy ive had small sip mig and cig 195 amp that blew up in a spectacler display of fireworks . i looked at ebay chineese ones and the hassles of returning them for warranty ect ect in the end after many hrs of research i decided on the lincon . bought it from gasweld just down the rd so local place to return if repairs needed good warranty ect ect

    so far ive built 2 roll cages for speedway and have almost finished building a tandem car trailer i like the fact its pretty easy to set up heck ive even turned the knobs while ive been welding to find good settings when practicing on scrap .

    i think if you stick to any of the more common brands you would be pretty right just depends who is going to cut ya the best deal at the time . i actually went in on a sat morning to buy mine and the bloke set there going out on special wensday and he saved me over a hundred bucks so i used that to buy a trolly to cart it around on .

    all in all im rapt with the lincon

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Liverpool, NSW
    Posts
    44

    Default

    I also have the Lincoln 180C and its OK for a US machine (little bit of typical American bubblegum style). Not as good as Kemppi or Fronius but you can probably get one for around $1000.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    sunny adelaide
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    Default

    picked mine up for around $ 850 .00 on special a kempie may well be better but would the average bloke welding at home really notice any differences . like i said i dont think a kempie would have made my roll cages or car trailer any different .

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Adelaide
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    Default Reply to all

    Thanks to all for your advice. I reckon I will give the stick a good go before making a decision - never know I might surprise myself. Failing that I'll have another look at MIGs. Thanks again and happy welding.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Canberra
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    Default

    Yeah, you'll do it. Look up Youtube for some vids that point out the finer details. Look it up again after your first session, you'll notice a few more points after you've had a go.

    Importantly, you will have a lot of bad strikes at first, resulting in the electrode being stuck to the work. Just push through. You will get the hang of it, for sure.

    Nice arc welds that you laid yourself will give you pride.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
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    sunny adelaide
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnaduit View Post
    Yeah, you'll do it. Look up Youtube for some vids that point out the finer details. Look it up again after your first session, you'll notice a few more points after you've had a go.

    Importantly, you will have a lot of bad strikes at first, resulting in the electrode being stuck to the work. Just push through. You will get the hang of it, for sure.

    Nice arc welds that you laid yourself will give you pride.
    thats true about laying a nice weld .. i consider my self a ok welder . my old man taught me when i was pretty young but no way i could weld like him . he used to weld upside down and the slag would just curl up behind the rod and he would just knock it off witht he handle .
    i try and weld upside down with the stick and all i do is set my overalls on fire lol funny thing was he wasent a welder by trade he was a maintence fitter and turner for james hardies . guess some things just come natural for some people .. not me tho lol

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    50

    Default

    Kemppi's are a good brand, A friend bought one second hand and it's the best welder I've used. I bought a Weldmaster 185c from Glenfords Tools and I think it is a really good machine. Don't bother with SIP, I had one of them.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
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    NINGI Qld Australia
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    Default

    MIG is handy for general welding but for your shed project I would be using the stick I think. I don't know whether you would get a good enough MIG in that budget.
    Assuming that your materials may have coatings, scale and such on them if using MIG you will need to clean the metal pretty well to get a reasonable weld plus if using the gas outside, wind may be a problem where the stick will be a bit more forgiving and should give better penetration, but yes definitly grab some offcuts and practice and test. Don't want your shed falling over.
    If your current stick machine is the older style AC transformer type, you may benefit from buying an inverter type stick welder and if buying second hand you should be able to pick up a decent quality one, even a Kemppi.
    I was using just my Everlast EX250 inverter with the stick last weekend, just compared to my old CIG Transarc is was such a pleasure to weld with and great welds straight up.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Rosebud
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    5

    Default Mishto mig 300

    I just bought a mishto 300 mig welder gas gasless sad no regulator or hose or wire so bought cig flux cored wire I haven't used a mig for aprox 18 years at a skill share course. after a play and tweek here and there I put a nice bead on an old enamel hot water service (scrap) the arc welder doesn't like it much I'm happy with my cheepy but looking forward to using co2. Weld a bit still playing 😉
    Attached Images Attached Images

  15. #15
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    Feb 2015
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    Default

    I second the inverters, threw away my old AC welder after I bought one. So light and small you can throw the strap over your shoulder, climb the ladder, plonk the welder anywhere you like and start welding.

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