Mig Welder : What Type?

[tte]

Hi guys,

I am thinking of buying a MIG welder to make my own aluminum parts for my engine.

What things should I look for when buying a MIG welder? Gas or Gasless?

Take a look at this welding helmet on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-Hoodlum...Z6582495364QQcategoryZ418QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers,
Roy

 

[IJ.]

Mig for aluminium will give you less than brilliant results Roy.

Tig is far superior.

Helmet is a gimmick I use a SpeedGlass 9000 it has a much larger view port.

 

[MDCmotorsports]

What IJ said...

Get a cheap miller or lincoln tig welder. You can weld any thing with it, and you'll be alot happyer.

Also, with mig, you need special equipment to run aluminum or any soft metal.

And SPEEDGLASSES KICK @$$! Unless you're going to be welding over head all the time, then they tend to blind you.

 

[Joel W.]

i agree. mig welding aluminum is very difficult, and setup is critical, and it looks like crap..
i have never done aluminum on a tig, but i would like to know more about it..
thats my next buy.. i saw harborfreight had one for 300$ on sale now for 200
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91811

but i was wondering if i should spend more and get the better one..

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Joel: You're better off getting a miller, lincoln, or esab basic tig machine. The cheap tig welders won't weld aluminum very well because of the poor high frequency technology.

 

[Ckanderson]

yes... save up.. your welds will be so much better with a high quality machine...

 

[jt2ma71]

I agree, if you are going to be dealing with mostly aluminum, go with TIG. You can't go wrong with a Miller, ESAB or Hobart. I have a Miller syncrowave 250 dx and it meets ALL my welding needs.
Welding hood, I have a 9000 Speedglas also, very nice and light.
Check out cyberweld.com for some welding equipments.
One other unit I'd like to get someday is the ThermalArc 300TSW, weighs about 50 lbs. and it's about the size of a computer mini tower, but just as powerful as the 500 lb. millers. HTH.

 

[Joel W.]

cool guys, good info. i figured that one may do what i needed, but i will hold off and get something heavier duty.. i use a hobart mig and i love it for light steel.. i look at theirs.. thanks..

 

[derK]

ok i know this is ancient technology, but what about oxy/acetalene??? i used that in class to weld steel and aluminum and my welds looked amazing. We also did arc welding and that was a bit harder and messier. Never got into MIG though..........but what if you NEVER plan on welding aluminum, and plan to weld only steel for like exhaust, IC pipes, brackets, around the house fixes, would a GASLESS MIG welder work fine??? can someone recommend a MIG welder that will is easy for beginners, yet also good for more advanced welders??

Derek

 

[T34418L3ONE]

welding flux core is a crutch. Having the gas is far nicer, i think i welder is something you dont wanna cheap out on. dont get a 110v, and for a tig your looking at about 800.

 

[derK]

yea i have NO need for an $800 welder. I'm never going to be showing off my pieces or planning on selling anything. Anything under $400?

 

[jt2ma71]

can someone recommend a MIG welder that will is easy for beginners, yet also good for more advanced welders??

Derek

Over 400 but close enough. Top two sound like will do it for you.


http://store.cyberweld.com/milmigwel.html

 

[tte]

Hmmm TIG welders are alot more expensive than MIG.

Cheers,
Roy

 

[Reign_Maker]

What are some opinions on this one? It comes with a free hellllmet

http://store.cyberweld.com/ari100stsdcs.html

 

[jt2ma71]

What are some opinions on this one? It comes with a free hellllmet

http://store.cyberweld.com/ari100stsdcs.html

DC tig only. Will not weld aluminum. I think it's just like that one at the harborfreight link. You also won't be able to control your heat via pedal. "I" wouldn't buy one. Ron

 

[MDCmotorsports]

Jake you really need one like this...

http://millerwelds.com/products/tig/econotig_ac_dc/

That thing is a champ when it comes to ruggedness and all around performance. Its not water cooled, but other than that its a great little machine! We had one on an off road race team that I worked with, and it performed just as well in the field as it did in the shop.

 

[IJ.]

The "Free" Helmets really aren't worth it Jake
(I value my eyesight much more than that)

You'll want a minimum of an AC/DC machine if you're thinking of welding Aluminium and a bonus is a HiFrequency unit that gives you spark ignition, this isn't 100% needed but is nice to have as it saves a little time.
(It might just piss the neighbours off a touch as it can trash TV )