Arc, Mig, Tig or gas?

[Heath]

If you had one choice of welder which would it be? Or what combo would you go with?

I've got a 180amp arc welder and a pile of oxy stuff (need bottles - anyone got some cheap), but am considering my options. I guess with gas you can cut as well, but as I am only thinking panel work and some light fab just want to bounce ideas around.

If I was to dump the oxy stuff I would like to pick up something for panel work (maybe around 160amp), but cant decide which is better, MIG or TIG (or should I just stick with oxy?). I have the Arc for heavy stuff

The unit will be a cheaper one, but not a combo unit (too many eggs in one basket). Basically when I look at the price of bottles for the oxy I can get a machine for that price and if I dump the gas gear then I could afford a bottle to go with it. I'll admit to being biased towards TIG at this stage (which is best: scratch start, HF start or lift start - cant afford one with foot controller ).

[nismo26]

I think a mig would be best all round, if you go tig HF start is best.

[tomsoffroad]

The tig is awesome but they scoff argon which is expensive. Personally I'd buy a LPG reg and the tips you need. Either way you are up for paying through the nose for gas. Boc is about $110+gst for a G bottle of Oxy as opposed to argon at about $180+gst for a D bottle. Lpg = cheap. Bottle rental is about $15-20 p/mth + gst.

[Tarmac]

mig wld be the best all rounder esp a unit you can put a handspool on just for ally, something with a bit of fine tuneing wld be ideal for panel wk and around 180amps enough for bar wk. If your set on tig - which in my mind is just like "electric oxy welding" (those who can gas weld are generally good tig welders) AC/DC for ally is worth it.

Scratch and lift are the same arnt they or am I missing something, once you get the hang of it you'll be away laughing.

[rangimotors]

I have a small 155 mig and recently bought a mitech 160p tig (still working it out). I love the tig, its great for stainless tube and brackets i make for work but if i had to choose one id prob keep the more multipurpose mig. That would prob change if i could stick weld as the tig can be a stick welder as well.

Sometimes i do think i should of bought a mig/tig ac/dc as it probably would of been cheaper than buying mulipile machines and sure would take up less room in the shed.

Im in rolly and your welcome to have a go with either or both just dont ask me any questions because im a very very novice welder.

[Heath]

I have a small 155 mig and recently bought a mitech 160p tig (still working it out). I love the tig, its great for stainless tube and brackets i make for work but if i had to choose one id prob keep the more multipurpose mig. That would prob change if i could stick weld as the tig can be a stick welder as well.

Sometimes i do think i should of bought a mig/tig ac/dc as it probably would of been cheaper than buying mulipile machines and sure would take up less room in the shed.

Im in rolly and your welcome to have a go with either or both just dont ask me any questions because im a very very novice welder.

That Mitech one is what I am looking at.

[Tarmac]

you say you have a stick welder, are you any gd with it? I can admit I am a shit house stick welder but have used it to weld up cast (completly snapped exh manifolds).. unless your doing structral stuff they are old school and not gd for a lot. Also I have a soft spot for tig but a mig is what u want, also google henrob? torch.... oxy to weld ally... unsure if they will run right on lpg

[rangimotors]

I have a small 155 mig and recently bought a mitech 160p tig (still working it out). I love the tig, its great for stainless tube and brackets i make for work but if i had to choose one id prob keep the more multipurpose mig. That would prob change if i could stick weld as the tig can be a stick welder as well.

Sometimes i do think i should of bought a mig/tig ac/dc as it probably would of been cheaper than buying mulipile machines and sure would take up less room in the shed.

Im in rolly and your welcome to have a go with either or both just dont ask me any questions because im a very very novice welder.

That Mitech one is what I am looking at.

Cool its a good unit, your welcome to borrow it for a weekend and have a play so long as u cover the cost of any consumables/damage. The mitech machines are pretty good value for money and pbt motorsport who are the nz agent for them are really good to deal with.

[callum007]

Spend a bit more, get a quality MIG unit from Miller or something from BOC. Just find a CO2 bottle and run that, yes you get a bit more spatter and your welds are cooler but you can weld panel steel up to what ever and you dont have to pay bottle rental and cheap to fill.
Get one with alloy handpiece option, then buy the small disposable Argon bottles from the toolshed etc.

[Tarmac]

curious about the mitech160p what sort of warranty / backup is with this, they look ok but cldnt make out the dial details when googled it

[rangimotors]

These guys http://www.pmtmotorsport.co.nz/160amp-dc-pulse-tig-welder-mma-welder/ are the nz agent they keep all parts in stock and honour the warranties which i think are 12months. I tried to cut them out and buy direct from mitech in china but they wouldn't do it.

[nismo26]

There was some one on trademe selling 200amp Cigweld mig welders for $1200 new a few weeks ago, My dads work do Co2 bottles and filling if you want one.

[Heath]

you say you have a stick welder, are you any gd with it? I can admit I am a shit house stick welder but have used it to weld up cast (completly snapped exh manifolds).. unless your doing structral stuff they are old school and not gd for a lot. Also I have a soft spot for tig but a mig is what u want, also google henrob? torch.... oxy to weld ally... unsure if they will run right on lpg

My arc is passable (with some practice), my MIG is good, My gas is ... lets say its improving and my Tig is ... all theoretical at present.

The idea of using cheap CO2 over argoshield is a good one as long as its not too messy (grinder fixes most things).

[mylux]

There was some one on trademe selling 200amp Cigweld mig welders for $1200 new a few weeks ago, My dads work do Co2 bottles and filling if you want one.

These ones
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =521778912
I just bought the last one.
Seem to be very good

[nismo26]

The idea of using cheap CO2 over argoshield is a good one as long as its not too messy (grinder fixes most things).

I've used both, argoshield is better but for home use I find the Co2 fine I don't really get bugger all splatter.

There was some one on trademe selling 200amp Cigweld mig welders for $1200 new a few weeks ago, My dads work do Co2 bottles and filling if you want one.

These ones
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =521778912
I just bought the last one.
Seem to be very good

Yea thats them.

[loppee]

I have a mitech 250 amp mig it does everything that I want it to do at home, but I use argoshield gas it may cost more but ya welds look better.

[Heath]

There was some one on trademe selling 200amp Cigweld mig welders for $1200 new a few weeks ago, My dads work do Co2 bottles and filling if you want one.

What's his bottles worth? Whats a fill worth and roughly how long do they last?

[Sawdoc]

Not sure how long they last but i bought a G size bottle (from Tank Test nismo,s old man) with new valve 5 year cert newly painted full of gas for $484 including gst. Was told they are about $65 to fill, top deal

[rokhound]

These guys http://www.pmtmotorsport.co.nz/160amp-dc-pulse-tig-welder-mma-welder/ are the nz agent they keep all parts in stock and honour the warranties which i think are 12months. I tried to cut them out and buy direct from mitech in china but they wouldn't do it.

Paul and Matt at PMT are bloody good to deal with. As stated, the honour their obligations and the Mitech stuff is generally pretty good (well at the upper end of the chinese stuff anyway.) I have a 250 amp mig, 60 amp plasma and 200amp stick welder that are all mitech and any issues I have had were sorted straight away without arguement.

[Heath]

Well the gas set is up for sale and I think I will go for a 160a Tig unit. Should be plenty for what I want and if not I have the arc welder.

What thickness steel can I realistically use 160 up to? Can I use it for engine mounts and body mounts, brackets, etc?

Heath

[Tarmac]

My 2c, ditch the arc and the oxy. If I had 1 welder in the shed it wld still be a mig... If / when you go with the tig anyway remember you can lay down 2 weld runs on the heavy stuff (there is a tec term for it somwhere), 160-80 shld be fine for most stuff, around 6-8mm. A mig will be easier to do pannel wk with,

[rangimotors]

engine/body mounts etc id use my mig, tig would prob do it but the ease of holding something in place and tacking it with the mig is pretty hard to beat. If I didn't have to do all my work stuff in stainless I prob wouldnt own a tig..

[Tarmac]

We have an old school miller 3phase tig at wk which is the shit (10 mm ally parent material weld / no preheat with gas) foot pedal etc and a cigweld hf start tig / stick unit. 99% use is the mig still

[Heath]

engine/body mounts etc id use my mig, tig would prob do it but the ease of holding something in place and tacking it with the mig is pretty hard to beat. If I didn't have to do all my work stuff in stainless I prob wouldnt own a tig..

Interesting point. didnt think about needing three hands with tig and only two with Mig.

Built a bull bar with Mig and loved it. Maybe I am thinking too much about something cool (and if I am honest beyond my "current" skills - no pun intended) and I should be thinking more about something I can and have used in the past with good results. Might have to have a think about selling the Arc welder too.




I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.

[Tarmac]

How about... flick the arc, get somethin you are comfortable and capable welding with (a half decent mig) and keep your gas set to fiddle round with and improve your skills (looks like an almost new set your selling), look into an lpg reg to keep costs down? Then when you end up getting a tig down the track you will be well skilled up

[Heath]

I did consider that but I cant keep all the toys so have to move some on to provide for others.

The gas would just end up being wasted with me "playing about". I might find an lpg torch (I have a BBQ bottle that will provide fuel) just for heating panels so I can work them (stretch, shrink) but a full oxy set is too much.

[Andy Reeves]

If you dont do much welding the soda stream bottles are worth a thought. Exchange bottle is $12 and you get about 2 hours welding with one. No test or hire costs. Bottles are cheap on trade me too. Just thought I'd mention it. Works for me.

[wopass]

Bro, one word.

BOSTIK

glue that shit up, get it hot enough it does 10mm plate

make sure you get the 100% gluetycycle tho...

[1hamish1]

Bro, one word.

BOSTIK

glue that shit up, get it hot enough it does 10mm plate

make sure you get the 100% gluetycycle tho...

I agree but its critical to get a good full glue peno gloot run on 10mm plate

[loppee]

Hey Heath if you want you can come round to my place and try my Mitech mig.
I am not far from your place in Rolly.
Woody.