SPtoolLover
Well-known member
Trying to select a welder (not sure if it should be TIG/STICK or just a MIG. What are some solid, relatively cheap welders?
Has to be AUSTRALIAN
Cheers
Has to be AUSTRALIAN
Cheers
Good base welder
- Thread starter SPtoolLover
- Start date
sberry
Banned
A MIG is the3 workhorse for general fab and maintenance for small garages and hobby types. 200A class.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Not familiar with Australian only machines. Sorry. I would have a TIG stick if I could only choose 1
jimgood
Well-known member
What do you want to do with it? What's your experience level?
Assuming "has to be AUSTRALIAN" refers to the wall outlet requirements down under.
sberry
Banned
If I could have only one it would be a mig and is really the starter machine,,, and in the end if a guy doesn't have one he eventually needs it anyway and when he does get it the rest pretty much become dust collectors.
A brand name machine at any rate, most of them are pretty good anymore, this market is very competitive for quality as well as price.
If a guy has a steady diet of sheet like auto body resto then 023 wire is in order, for general work and a little sheet 030 solid running C25 gas and get the best bottle you can find.
A brand name machine at any rate, most of them are pretty good anymore, this market is very competitive for quality as well as price.
If a guy has a steady diet of sheet like auto body resto then 023 wire is in order, for general work and a little sheet 030 solid running C25 gas and get the best bottle you can find.
sberry
Banned
There is endless advice around this subject and so much of it while fairly accurate and well meaning isn't real good. I have seen salesman that doesn't really know squat about welding but are very good at getting the right machine for the customer. For 99% of the people asking this the right answer is a 200 compact mig.
There are other types of questions,, example,,, it should be relatively obvious what the experience level is but what the intent,,, age,,, etc is as valuable.
Most people buy something like this because they have something they want to do and are not interested in becoming career welders and while its great some old fart started with a 400A sae and its the best ever its not good for4 a 55 yr old just retired and wants to do some basic auto/lawn and to built yard art or projects for grand kids and,,, he doesn't need a tig for this.
I am a career welder, I have a welding shop and 10 miles of aluminum piping in a farm operation. Discounting the pipe which most don't have I can count on one hand the times I need a tig in last 35 yrs. Its a rare day I don't pick up a mig or do work I couldn't do with one.
The only reason for most to need it is for custom specialty work. We have been around this on other forums in regards to customer intent,,, its not strictly hobby but the guy bought it because he had something he wanted to build,,, something he wanted to do, wants results more than to become some kind of golden arm weldor.
There are other types of questions,, example,,, it should be relatively obvious what the experience level is but what the intent,,, age,,, etc is as valuable.
Most people buy something like this because they have something they want to do and are not interested in becoming career welders and while its great some old fart started with a 400A sae and its the best ever its not good for4 a 55 yr old just retired and wants to do some basic auto/lawn and to built yard art or projects for grand kids and,,, he doesn't need a tig for this.
I am a career welder, I have a welding shop and 10 miles of aluminum piping in a farm operation. Discounting the pipe which most don't have I can count on one hand the times I need a tig in last 35 yrs. Its a rare day I don't pick up a mig or do work I couldn't do with one.
The only reason for most to need it is for custom specialty work. We have been around this on other forums in regards to customer intent,,, its not strictly hobby but the guy bought it because he had something he wanted to build,,, something he wanted to do, wants results more than to become some kind of golden arm weldor.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
MIG welders are great if all you do is the occasional repair of steel, and steel only. As soon as you talk about spool guns and trimix gas, the hassle and cost goes way up. MIG was designed for repetitive production applications. As such, it sacrifices versatility. Sure, you can do a lot with a MIG. But not enough as much as a TIG/stick.
If you do any automotive or hot rod work at all, you will want to do things like weld stainless headers, thin exhaust tubes, aluminum radiators, fine detail work. TIG excels at this. Want to weld dirty, thick or structural metals? Weld in the outdoors in the wind, rain and on a lift? Stick all the way. TIG and stick in the same small box.
If you want to get a good recommendation, we need to know what you intend to do with the welder. I personally almost never need a mig. You may be different.
If you do any automotive or hot rod work at all, you will want to do things like weld stainless headers, thin exhaust tubes, aluminum radiators, fine detail work. TIG excels at this. Want to weld dirty, thick or structural metals? Weld in the outdoors in the wind, rain and on a lift? Stick all the way. TIG and stick in the same small box.
If you want to get a good recommendation, we need to know what you intend to do with the welder. I personally almost never need a mig. You may be different.
trackwelder
Well-known member
What is considered cheap? What do you plan to weld now and in the future?
sberry
Banned
The dr has a custom fab shop and has years of experience. I agree if there is exotic metals its a different story, for the beginner should concentrate on steel and getting some bang for buck. The spool gun has really replaced our tig, in maint work its really kind of a **** saver, I avoid all the alloys like the plague.
I would be lost without a mig and would borrow money to replace one, 1000's and 1000's of welds of all kinds but speed and ease make it a first option, nothing as good as this for a homeowner faced with a cracked mower deck etc. All the free material, all ideal for smaller wire feed with low cost use rates.
I would be lost without a mig and would borrow money to replace one, 1000's and 1000's of welds of all kinds but speed and ease make it a first option, nothing as good as this for a homeowner faced with a cracked mower deck etc. All the free material, all ideal for smaller wire feed with low cost use rates.
sberry
Banned
I got a Maxstar, S model, be fifferent if someone wanted to pay me 100 an hr to twirl a tig but to do what it takes I been able to do it all with a stick.
sberry
Banned
The 300 synch made a good cart for a couple other machines. Originally they had their own but dont move and one day it became obvious what the anchor is for.
I gottem all but this little red sucker is the one still really does the work and most what the others do could be done with it if it was the only machine I had. Its home is at the bench. Turn on switch, turn tank on, weld, turn tank off switch off.
I gottem all but this little red sucker is the one still really does the work and most what the others do could be done with it if it was the only machine I had. Its home is at the bench. Turn on switch, turn tank on, weld, turn tank off switch off.
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SPtoolLover
Well-known member
I plan on welding anything and everything, I'm looking to get into the fab trade and I think from what all of you've said it would be best to get a stick tig, mostly because stick does steel and tig does aluminium and both of them do their types of metal the best!
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dr_clyde
Well-known member
You're going to want to look at AC/DC square wave or inverter based power sources in the 250 amp range.
This allows you to weld any common known metal.
However, if you are looking to get into the trade for money you should look at a 250 class MIG unit as well. SBerry is right, for carbon steel general fab, a wire welder will make you money.
You cannot call yourself a fab shop without both MIG and TIG, IMO.
This allows you to weld any common known metal.
However, if you are looking to get into the trade for money you should look at a 250 class MIG unit as well. SBerry is right, for carbon steel general fab, a wire welder will make you money.
You cannot call yourself a fab shop without both MIG and TIG, IMO.
OP
SPtoolLover
Well-known member
I haven't tig welded before but I've used oxy-acetylene (welding and cutting) gas less and gas mig, and I own an old (think it was my grandfathers) stick welder.
I do a lot of steel fab but I haven't done any aluminium because my welder holds me back. I'm keen to get into aluminium (modification of bike frames and other things)
I do a lot of steel fab but I haven't done any aluminium because my welder holds me back. I'm keen to get into aluminium (modification of bike frames and other things)
sberry
Banned
If I was going to hang myself out and do alloy work wouldn't blink about a hi end inverter, makes a guy feel like a super hero.
sberry
Banned
Its why intent is such a valuable part of the info, custom fab is different than maintenance. A lot of the world is still steel, (computer cover and frame) but its lighter than it used to be. So much of the free and salvage is sheet material, the real iron has been scrapped.
Alloy is but a sliver for most people and without a specific need it is costly and not worth owning the equipment in many cases. Like a boat, a bud with a boat is even better and same for a tig unless you want to be on the other end which is fine too.
A skill I regret on not getting was oxy fuel on alum, would have been super convenient and low cost.
Alloy is but a sliver for most people and without a specific need it is costly and not worth owning the equipment in many cases. Like a boat, a bud with a boat is even better and same for a tig unless you want to be on the other end which is fine too.
A skill I regret on not getting was oxy fuel on alum, would have been super convenient and low cost.
A 300amp ac/dc high frequency, remote adjustable, constant current power source with a built in gas solenoid and a 50' of stick leads can weld anything the average person will come across. Will it be as convenient as a CV capable wire feed machine at times? No, but you will never NEED anything besides this unless you want to get paid by the hour.
Let all the mig lovers flame me. Where's that guy that says he can mig weld anything with multiple wires?
Let all the mig lovers flame me. Where's that guy that says he can mig weld anything with multiple wires?
trackwelder
Well-known member
Let all the mig lovers flame me. Where's that guy that says he can mig weld anything with multiple wires?
It's your time do what you want with it. I like to get things done fast and welding with wire is King!!
Tig has its place but so does a hacksaw.