mig or arc welder? need help

[tgreene92]

i finally realized that i need to invest in a welding machine. ive been reading alot about them but im still stuck between the two, from what ive read arc welds seem to be stronger and the machines cheaper, but the mig makes cleaner welds and are easier to use as well are easier to use to weld aluminum. ive read that the arc can weld aluminum but is tricky and requires certain electrodes. i would like to not have a big bottle of gas laying around which makes me like the arc but the mig sounds like a better machine. i also read about mig welders that do not use gas, how good are these and how do they work. i need help making a decision and need any general info i can get. any info at all is greatly appreciated thx. and sorry for posting in the 95 to 01 thread didnt know where to put it.

 

[plcrew]

How much aluminum welding do you think you will honestly need? Mig is nice and clean with the gas shielding and arc is a little dirty(nothing a little grinding won't take care of). If you are trying to weld in the driveway and there is any wind, this can make it a head ache with MIG because you lose your gas shielding. Just some idea's to consider, I'm not a welder by trade.

 

[jhclance]

I have a lincoln mig welder no gas i use flux-core wire and I weld any thing up to and including 3/8 thick steel, requires more patience cleaning before and during welding to achieve the needed strength for the really thick pieces. But mostly I weld 1/4" and I have no problem with my stuff breaking. I used my lincoln to build my car trailer that will haul my fullsize bronco with no fear or worry of any thing breaking.

 

[PARTSGURUT]

mig welders are great for sheet metal and up to 1/4 inch or so with single pass. You can do thicker with multiple passes. Clean welds when using gas and they often look pretty, but a pretty weld can fool you into thinking you have good penetration when you don't. You can weld aluminum with mig, usually a spool gun is best because you don't want contaminates from steel wire to embed in the wire.

Arc welders can weld sheet metal but it is more tricky to do then with mig. They are great with thicker material and can weld aluminum with the right electrode. Again you can make excellent welds with arc welders.

It is really a matter of what material you are going to be welding.

 

[techieman33]

Please only start one thread per question

 

[Explorer Junky]

Anytime you use flux core, you basically have a STICK/ARC welder with a gun and wire vs. an electrode with a stick on the end. The flux helps protect the weld better and get better penetration. I did a lot of structural welding, and I primarily used 5/64th flux. This stuff would gouge deep even on low settings. Granted, I had a high power machine(hooked up to a 480 I believe). But, if you go with a regular gas shielded MIG I would use .045 wire to weld up the thick stuff, and .035 for lighter stuff. As far as using an ARC welder, they have better penetration than a MIG also. We had to use stick/arc welders only on pipe that carried hazardous chemicals. It is trickier to use. You have to be able to keep a good steady hand while moving the stick in and out of the heat while moving your hand in as the stick gets shorter. Depending on your skill level, I would say the easier way would be MIG, then flux, then stick. Good luck!

 

[King of So Cal]

MIG MIG MIG MIG MIG MIG!!!!!!!! You cant go wrong, mig is so much more fun. I'de take mig over arc any day....unless your talking tig!

 

[little x]

I recently bought my first welder. After going through all the same thoughts I decided to get an arc welder. It was much cheaper, it's simpler to operate (less settings to mess with), it's easier to burn a deeper weld. And I can always get a nicer mig once I'm more used to playing with molten metal and want to upgrade. Plus, if you can learn to make pretty welds with an arc when you do move to a mig they will be perfect.

 

[spabula]

FWIW, you dont need to have a "big bottle of gas" for MIG. You can get a little tiny bottle if you want. Actually I would suggest 2 different mixes if your gonna be welding steel and aluminum. Argon/Co2 for steel and Argon or Argon/Helium for Aluminum.
Id say it really depends what you plan on welding most often. If its going to be mostly thin stuff I'd go with MIG (GMAW) if its gonna be alot of thick plate and tube (1/4" or thicker) then go for Stick (SMAW).
Either way.....practice practice practice..... you'll only get better. Northern Tools has some cheap decent welders.

 

[KPSquared]

In my personal opinion, buy a mig. On that note, don't buy a little no gas buzz box. They really do limit what you can do. We have a 250 Amp Miller Mig and LOVE it. We haven't fired up the arc welder since we bought it.

It's a serious investment, but in the end, it is SO worth it to buy a good size mig. All depends on your money situation though.

 

[damarble]

I've been using a Lincoln 135 MIG for everything and it works well if you respect it's limitations and don't try to go too thick. But anything up to 1/4" thick it will burn nice and hot. It will take gas or flux core, I haven't gotten any gas yet but flux core seems fine and clean enough.

 

[Maniak]

I'm no welding expert, but I do have a Miller 135 (110v). I'm using flux core wire since I weld outside and people "in the know" say outside, in the wind with Gas is hard to keep clean.

I can say for "most" work, the 110V welder is enough BUT I have hit the limit a few times. I hit the duty cycle a few times AND I have to call my neighbor when I need thick stuff welded. 1/4" is the limit of what I can do, and that is pushing it. 3/16 isn't a problem, other than I hit the duty cycle pretty fast.

Now that I have 220V where I need it, I'm "thinking" of grabbing a 220v gmaw welder but the 110V welder is nice when I need to take it somewhere since everywhere I go has at least 110V (or a 110v generator).

~Mark

 

[v897xlt]

MIG, mig,MIG!!!!! arc is for heavyier stuff, are Lincoln mig does up to 1/4 and ive welded stuff even thicker then that, use mig on everything , tractor implements, all sorts of stuff, very useful!!!

 

[Curtis]

I vote MIG too...

Watch your local Home Depot they seem to always have welders on clearance here. I picked up this one last year, display model.
I was able to ask for a manager and get the price down to $135 for missing parts. All that was missing was a roll of wire and the hand held welding mask!

I had the tab break off a cylinder head exhaust manifold bolt. I thought I could temporarily fix it with this welder and I was wrong... If fixed it permanently! I could not beat the tab off with a hammer! Not the ideal fix but it worked for me for as long as I needed.

Does a great job on sheet metal.
I have no problems not using gas with the flux core wire.

Picked up an automatic darkening helmet at Harbor freight for $32 too! The have welding gloves that go up to your elbow for $5 while your there. And don't forget a roll of wire too.
Every Car and Driver or Motor Trend has a page for harbor Freight in the back that has coupons including 20% off... I tear them all out at the dr's office LOL