Converting a old mig to a stick welder?

[taumac]

I got a old CEM dual mig 140 220v welder. After many years its finally died, well its the plastic gears in reduction drive system which is shot. I plan on getting a Lincoln pro mig 140 in few months im wondering if it possible to turn this into a dc stick welder? I know that arc is trigger controlled how can I bypass it to work it like a stick?

 

[rsanter]

You may be better trying to convert it to a TIG
Negative lead stays the same
Connect TIG lead to the positive lug
Make a simple foot pedal,that will just do on and off

Bob

 

[zkling]

Completely different power supply. Mig is a constat voltage process, stick and tig is a constant current process. Hence you see most tig welders double as a stick welder. To save time typing, give this a read through. Used basic transformer stick welders are usually pretty cheap, easy to find and dang near impossible to kill.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...stant-current-vs-constant-coltage-output.aspx

 

[gmwelder86]

Exactly right. Comely different powering process until you get into inverter multiprocess machines.

Completely different power supply. Mig is a constat voltage process, stick and tig is a constant current process. Hence you see most tig welders double as a stick welder. To save time typing, give this a read through. Used basic transformer stick welders are usually pretty cheap, easy to find and dang near impossible to kill.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...stant-current-vs-constant-coltage-output.aspx

 

[taumac]

Read up.... So wonder what then I can use this for? I'm buying a new mig soon and new drive I see is $80 $100 and don't see dropping money into this one. Any suggestions?

 

[Rookie2]

IF you have the leads , easy to wire up and try.

Hell if I can mig weld with a couple of car batteries or stick weld with them , you can stick weld with your mig.

 

[sberry]

Scrap.

 

[John in OH]

Scrap.

Ditto.

 

[rsanter]

Very interesting, learn something new every day

As for,your machine, how about you give it to,someone whom wants to get a start with some hobby welding with the understanding of what they have to buy

Bob

 

[taumac]

Very interesting, learn something new every day

As for,your machine, how about you give it to,someone whom wants to get a start with some hobby welding with the understanding of what they have to buy

Bob

Thanks, After thinking about it I think I'm gonna do just that. I have a friend of friend who just loss everything due to a divorce and and think between them they can find parts here or there to get it up and working. I mean find they could find cheap 110 mig somewhere and use drive and gun off it and its working again. Its just not worth me putting money into it.

 

[gungatim]

can you add a spool gun to it? then you could use it for aluminum...

 

[zkling]

Is it just the gears that drive the rolls that are shot? Can you post a picture that shows what exactly the problem is? You may be able to find parts for it via another brand. Lots of the off brand small wirefeed units share common parts.

 

[Lhorn]

If you end up considering scrap, please let me know. I'll give you a few bucks for gun. I got an old MAC welder dirt cheap on CL but the gun is pretty beat and I don't want to put alot of money into getting a new gun.

can you add a spool gun to it? then you could use it for aluminum.../QUOTE]

Correct me if I"m wrong, but you would need a spool gun and a HF box. I'm not aware that anyone makes these inexpensively so those two items alone (used) would cost 2-3 times what that welder cost brand new.

 

[taumac]

Is it just the gears that drive the rolls that are shot? Can you post a picture that shows what exactly the problem is? You may be able to find parts for it via another brand. Lots of the off brand small wirefeed units share common parts.

I can post pics later when get home.

Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[taumac]

If you end up considering scrap, please let me know. I'll give you a few bucks for gun. I got an old MAC welder dirt cheap on CL but the gun is pretty beat and I don't want to put alot of money into getting a new gun.

can you add a spool gun to it? then you could use it for aluminum.../QUOTE]

Correct me if I"m wrong, but you would need a spool gun and a HF box. I'm not aware that anyone makes these inexpensively so those two items alone (used) would cost 2-3 times what that welder cost brand new.

The gun is pretty beat up too and can't find replacement nozzle but later will post pics of all the issues with it.

Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[taumac]

Ok got pictures
1 welder I have
2 drive system
3 square drive which drive roll goes..... Lots of play in it even through pic 1 triangle holds it in place
4 gears all plastic
5 teeth worn on smaller sprocket

This is old welder I had for about 7 yrs and its previous life I don't know to tell. I know its a HF welder or was offered at HF. I can't find parts but I do find them in the UK. Apparently, these are used a lot over there cause did search and eBay came up with parts and seems like all all in the UK. I looked up replacement guns as well as all parts I need and seems it would be easier to buy a 110v HF unit for $100 and steal gun, ground and drive system for this one. I modified the leads also from 4 to 10 ft and new liner and I removed gas line cause couldnt find a nozzle. All that said welder welds good and never gave a issue except driving wire.





Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[sberry]

I am all for salvage and understand hobby but this isn't worth the effort, not just my opinion but from thousands of others that faced this, give away for parts to an enemy, let him suffer the frustration and easily replaced new for less than the repair.

 

[taumac]

I had planned to but a new Lincoln soon once income tax check comes in



Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[mark viii mark]

You may be better trying to convert it to a TIG
Negative lead stays the same
Connect TIG lead to the positive lug
Make a simple foot pedal,that will just do on and off

Bob

Tig welding is electrode negative, straight polarity.