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Instead of farming out my welding, I would like to do it myself. We have a 135amp "buzzbox" but it's awfully hard for me to strike an arc with and I don't weld that pretty either. Now stainless steel is a different story. Welds much nicer and easier for some reason. Anyway, would a mig welder be easier to use than an arc welder? Gas or flux core? What about tig? Thanks
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Wayne, MIG welding is about the easiest method of welding, its like using a squirt gun to weld with. However there are different purposes for each type of welding method. for the typical weld up of thin wall tubing I find that MIG welding is about the simplest method, but once you go thicker than about 1/4" then its time to consider stick welding (of course we are talking carbon steel here). when it comes to Aluminum welding I prefer TIG welding as there is more control of how fast you feed the filler rod and also the heat. Stainless steel is also best welded using the TIG method unless your into production welding then you can use a different process.
Some points regarding MIG welding. I highly recommend the gas method for MIG welding, Gas welding gives a very clean weld once you have mastered the process and gotten all your setting correct. However if your going to be doing any welding outdoors or where there is alot of wind or draft then I highly recommend the flux core. downside to flux core is the slag you have to chip off and is prevalent in stick type welding.
I personally have used all of these methods at one time or another but will not say that I am an expert in any of them, but I'm sure if I had to do it to save my life I'm confident enough in my work. I own one of those inexpensive machines that Home Depot sells for flux cored welding and was very impressed with the quality of welds I got from it. I also own a Miller Synchrowave 250 which is my favorite toy. Great for stick and TIG welding. At work I have a MIG machine setup to run both steel and Aluminum wire which is OK but the poor machine seems to have been abused and I am stuck with it for now. So Aluminum MIG welding is not my forte at this point
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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I'm no expert either, but I have an observation on Aluminum MIG welding. If you are planning to weld Aluminum, buy a welder that can use a hand gun where the wire spool is in the gun. Aluminum wire has a bad habit of kinking and breaking when fed several feet through a tube from the welder itself. It will cost a few hundred extra to buy the heavier duty welder but you will never regret it.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5107 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Mig welding (with gas) is relatively easy and the results are fabulous.
I have three mig welders. Two are two part units, with the power source being separate from the 'suitcase' which holds the wire spool. THis is what we take up the scaffold to do our high work leaving the poser unit and the bottled gas on the floor. We can go 50' or more from our heavy equipment.
I have 15' stingers on al1 our equipment which is about the maximum that you can push wire without undo trouble.
With welding equipment you get what you pay for. Try to save money and you will pay for it in grief. My Lincoln equipment is my favorite and doing well after 12 years of hard use. I also have a miller welder which I would rate a close second choice.
Buy the best equipment you can afford.
I also have those handy self darkening helmets, which are like wearing a lightly shaded sunglasses until the instant you strike the ark. They darken instantly and then undarken when you finish welding. I would never use the old fashioned kind again.
And have fun welding!!!!
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8764 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I agree with Dan on buying the best you can afford but I have to tell you I own a Pow'r Mate 100 Dual Purpose welder (MIG)It cost me abut $400.00 and does everything normally needed in the sign shop.
I lease the bottles (Argon and co2 25%/75%) for steel and (straight argon for aluminum).They cost about $40. each time I refill one ...which is usually twice a year for the amount of welding done around here (and thats quite abit).
The hose and stinger is around 8' long and I keep the entire unit (including bottles on a rolling steel table about 3' x 6'.
The wire is in the machine itself and feeds hassle free as long as you change out the "Liner" from steel (for steel welding )to Teflon for (aluminum)a process that takes all of 2 minutes.
It's not the "Ideal" unit for heavy duty 8 hour a day work but you'd be amazed at how much it will do.
If you read the book before you start in you'll be welding like a journeyman in an hour or so.
You can usually find this unit at a Sams or an Ace Hard ware, Sears has a similar model.
All the parts are readily available and they have a great service department.(I only needed them once to buy my teflon liner) and the steered me to a local source for that. Stinger parts are interchangeable with Miller Welder equip..
I've had mine for over 10 years and would recommend it to anyone...I've had absolutely no problems with it and consider it one of my best investments. There is a service center for the U.S.and Canada Which means of course you can reach them anytime because our holidays seldom match (neat huh?)
Good luck which ever way you go.
[ August 30, 2003, 09:05 AM: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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I just bought a Hobart 135 mig welder and I bought a Argon/CO2 mix bottle it costs too much to lease the bottles up here. Hobart is made by Miller and this welder is built real nice and works great so far. It is a little cheaper in price than the Miller, I also took a short welding coarse at the college and it really helped answer a lot of questions as to what I was looking for. Right machine for the right job kind of thing.
-------------------- Steve Eisenreich Dezine Signs PO BOX 6052 Stn Forces Cold Lake, Alberta T9M 2C5 Posts: 774 | From: Cold Lake | Registered: Mar 2000
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Thanks Steve, I was also looking at a Hobart. So is a 135 amp enough for most sign related work? Would 175 amps or more be overkill? Thanks for the excellent info everyone.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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I wouldn't consider a Hobart. Although they are made by Miller there's a reason they are cheaper...
I have the 185 Miller and it is a FINE machine for light duty welding. I have two heavier duty Lincolns for the heavier stuff.
Remeber you get what you pay for, and with tools it pays to buy quality cause you only buy once.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8764 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Such a fortunate guy I am to have a large space with two friends who have all Lincoln and Miller equipment including my favorite plasma cutter. My two friends build suspension systems for off road machines and in all the years, I've never seen a breakdown from any of the equipment. Snap-On tools, including a great hydralic lift....
I have a Lincoln SP-135T MIG welder and it's definitely my favorite tool. I've done mild steel from 20 gauge to 1/4", havent tried aluminum yet cause I havent needed to, but the conversion kit for this welder is only $50 so it can't hurt to at least try it. My Lincoln Rep recommends a different machine that's compatible with the drive spool at the trigger, but says if you keep the 135T's "hose" as straight as possible you can fenagle it to work OK with aluminum.
I second the auto-dimming helmets. When I bought my setup it was my first experience ever with welding, but I dont cheap out on tools, including welding helmets. I went straight for the auto-dimmer and it's so handy I can't imagine anyone sseriously wanting to hold a helmet by hand or whipping their neck to drop their helmet over their face.
My first welding project was a wheeled cart to hold the welder, CO2/Argon bottle, some tools and helmet and protective gear all in one convenient space.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Dan is right if you can find the money buy the Miller it must be better but I did compare the Hobart 135 to a friends Miller 130 model and like I said I am happy with how well built the Hobart is made. The Hobart comes with a 5/3/1 warranty and it has a thermal shutoff switch built in to protect it from going over the duty cycle. Also for me the price difference was $749.00 compared to $1100.00 for the Miller maybe you can find better prices. Now you asked if the 135 model will do everything you need for the sign industry well it probably will not but I figured it was a very good place to start. I just finished an introductory welding course to helped me get familiar with welding and the types of processes this course helped answer a lot of questions I had. Now I have a welder and a bunch of little projects, so I can develop my skills. Up here in Alberta, Canada Welding is a journeyman trade so welding commercially can be frowned upon. I will leave critical type of welds to the professionals, that is why I bought the machine I did it will only be for light duty welding.
-------------------- Steve Eisenreich Dezine Signs PO BOX 6052 Stn Forces Cold Lake, Alberta T9M 2C5 Posts: 774 | From: Cold Lake | Registered: Mar 2000
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I have the Miller 185 as well with their spool gun and have never had a problem. Easy to use, insightful handbook too which you can download in PDF format for free. Original list was 2200 with the spool gun and two tanks and there are dealers who will work the numbers. I use the stick for 1/2" and above.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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