New to pulsed and synergic MIG - looking for tips

[R-mm]

After restoring an old car with my trusty eastwoods mig 135 I passed it on and upgraded to an Everlast 251Si which is a digital inverter mig/tig with synergic and pulsed modes. The machine is somewhat daunting in the amount of new processes it offers and I want to go about learning in a controlled manner. I will start with mig only as I have a lot of mig welding experience now.

I imagine the most basic way of doing this would be to use the Mig on standard first then synergetic then pulsed. I am curious to hear from others who have taught themselves more advanced mig techniques. Is it worth skipping standard and going straight to synergic?

 

[R-mm]

In purchasing this much larger welder I was not aware that I would not be able to use my old 2 pound spools. I am curious to know whether an adapter such as this provides reasonable service with the smaller spools. I only do hobby work in my garage the ratio of preparing panels to actually welding is way out of whack. Very slow usage here.

https://weldcotemetals.com/universal-spool-adapter/

 

[dr_clyde]

My experience is once you go synergic pulse, you'll not want to go back to short circuit.

There are a few instances where short circuit works better, but the best way to learn things is to experiment and practice.

You'll love having pulse.

 

[R-mm]

Glad to hear that. Pulse was a major deciding factor in me buying this machine which is frankly significantly larger than I anticipate ever needing but was the most economical way to get mig Tig and pulse

 

[bdbecker]

For me, reading about it is one thing, actually doing it really makes it click in for me. So if it were me, I'd get a new spool of wire, a bunch of test plates, and I'd head out to the shop to read through the manual right there at the weld table, trying out the different settings and adjustments to see exactly what they do. Burning up a bunch of wire and metal running a pile of test welds can seem like a waste, but there is no better way to figure out your new machine and it will make your life easier in the long run by establishing that confidence early on.

 

[sberry]

My experience is once you go synergic pulse, you'll not want to go back to short circuit.

There are a few instances where short circuit works better, but the best way to learn things is to experiment and practice.

You'll love having pulse.

I have some alum tube, about 065 or so I might want to semi production on, I gonna want it as fast and cheap as it can.

 

[Mr.N]

Glad to hear that. Pulse was a major deciding factor in me buying this machine which is frankly significantly larger than I anticipate ever needing but was the most economical way to get mig Tig and pulse

Make sure to post your findings and progress!

 

[C91x]

Wait, It does pulse in MIG mode? I'm 37 and feel way old school that I didn't know that was a thing.

 

[dr_clyde]

Wait, It does pulse in MIG mode? I'm 37 and feel way old school that I didn't know that was a thing.

Synergic pulsed spray is the technical term. But yes. Pulsed mig is SO much nicer than plain old short arc for most welding.

We've made leaps and bounds in industrial MIG tech in the last 20 years, but it's only just now starting to trickle into consumer tools. Even then, it's like pulling teeth to get a lot of legacy companies with huge budgets to adopt new technology. "Well, that's the way we've always done it..."

 

[bdbecker]

Synergic pulsed spray is the technical term. But yes. Pulsed mig is SO much nicer than plain old short arc for most welding.

We've made leaps and bounds in industrial MIG tech in the last 20 years, but it's only just now starting to trickle into consumer tools. Even then, it's like pulling teeth to get a lot of legacy companies with huge budgets to adopt new technology. "Well, that's the way we've always done it..."

I hear you, but I'm sure it just comes down to numbers. I'd bet that the bean counters at Red and Blue know that it doesn't make sense to chase this segment. Compared to the industrial market, how much money can be made developing and selling a (relatively) low amp, GMAW-P capable machine? I'm sure there is some, but resources are always limited and they know developing the next Continuum is probably a more worthwhile pursuit. Credit where its due to companies like Everlast and HTP for filling this void.

 

[dr_clyde]

I hear you, but I'm sure it just comes down to numbers. I'd bet that the bean counters at Red and Blue know that it doesn't make sense to chase this segment. Compared to the industrial market, how much money can be made developing and selling a (relatively) low amp, GMAW-P capable machine? I'm sure there is some, but resources are always limited and they know developing the next Continuum is probably a more worthwhile pursuit. Credit where its due to companies like Everlast and HTP for filling this void.

I mean, yeah. Hobby markets are a ********* hole of guys wanting Ferrari performance on a Chevy budget. No way a guy at home wants to spend 10k on a mig machine to buzz together their hot rod parts. But all these companies like AHP, Everlast, Primeweld and whatever else do fill a market segment. It makes really no sense for a guy who welds a handful of times a year to spend a lot of money on a nicer machine unless they really want it or have money to burn. NEED isn't really a factor. There's no ROI on a home shop, so the justification for expensive industrial machinery really is difficult.


Miller's new MM255 is the best news to a hobby welder in the last 20 years, IMO. Light industrial quality and capacity in an affordable box from the blue company you can get service for at your LWS. I bought one immediately as a back up machine for my shop. It's been outstanding. Having pulse on that machine was what sold it for me.

Me personally, I buy the best I can afford for my hobbies. I had a Dynasty as my first TIG machine long before I had my business. I'm just wired that way. But most guys aren't and I understand that. I go into hobbies HARD. I can't go halfway. I don't really dabble. It's why I can't do things like photography, cars, cycling, and stuff like that. I would be always broke. I went shooting with some friends and came home and immediately spent a few thousand dollars on guns, then went "WTF am I doing??" That's just not sustainable for more than one or two hobbies. Hahahaha. I'm just a bit touched in the head. I keep thinking I find a neat hobby that isn't too much money and before I know it I've gone down the rabbit hole and spent way too much cash on all the little bits and bobs that you can get for it. If I played guitar, I'd be the guy who's buying vintage Gibsons and Fenders because I HAVE to. An Epiphone just isn't going to cut it. Nevermind my abilities (or lack thereof).

It's why I bite my tongue on this site so much, most folks don't think like me.

 

[BukitCase]

Not so, Jake; I think TOO MUCH like you, that's why I have a complete cabinet level wood shop, 4 welders and pm45 plaz, 3 drill presses, mill, mag drill + nearly $1k in cutters, about $60k in instruments and recording gear, 2 tractors, a backhoe, 2 man lifts, 2 lawn mowers, couple chipper shredders, 6-7 chainsaws, various other "partial hobbies" - and the list is just gettin' started

I call it the "want = need" disease, I don't WANT a cure, just a couple winning powerball tickets (and a few more buildings) ...Steve