Topic: Mig Welder

[Huffy044]

If some of you want to increase your duty cycle, here's what i did. I cut a 4" hole over top of the main body on my Daytona Pocket mig and installed a fan out of a motor control center (most any fan will work). I went from a 10 minute duty cycle to now 45 minutes later the handle is so hot I have to put it down. Easy fix, I just wired the fan with a toggle switch to the 110 input.

[Tony Loveless]

I have a Clarke 110v.  Don't have any complaints out of it.  I use gas though as I did not like the fluxcore. Does great for everything I use it for and the team also uses it and let me tell you it gets a workout.

[racingjohndeere55]

My Millermatic 250 works just fine. Cource not everyone can shell out the $4000 for this fine piece of equipment. But if you can it is certainly the way to go 

[Burwell555]

Howie I agree totally. A big blue box is the only way to fly!

[pepper]

I am a professional welder and have had many brands thru the years.Don't worry about brand worry about duty cycle and amps of out put.I currently have a harbour freight that is 220 volt and 250amp out put.It will weld heads up with anthing.I use it all the time in my business and it gets a real work out and keeps up.I use gas even when i use flux wire.You need all the cleaning you can get when you are welding dirty ,painted,oil soaked,things together.Keep your tip clean and free of splatter.Use splatter spray in the nozzle.spray splater spray on areas around weld that you don't want splatter to stick to.I wrap electric tape around important things that you can't get splatter on.Like bearing journals.With mig your wire must touch both pieces of metal that you are putting together.You can not just drag it down the middle like you do stick.You have to use a back and forth motion.If you don't you welds will look good but will be weak and not pentrated.

[dicky43d]

Hobart 140 thumbs up ! 

go to www.NorthernTool.com Hobart 140 $499.99 free shipping

[wulfy01]

I agree with Howie. Ya can't beat the power of blue.  I got my 250x for under 2 grand when somebody traded up at my local welders supply.  In my professional opinion, if your worried about duty cycle being to low, the welder is probably to small.  If the Millers are to expensive, my next cheaper option would be the hobarts.  Pepper, you may have forgot to mention that the wire is called dual shield (type not brand) and that it is different from regular flux core wire.  I don't want an argument but I will also say that I do not agree with your welding technique advice.  But that is a subject that nobody ever agrees on so we will leave it at that.

[mowinmachine]

 I used Kevin's Welder ( our group organizer) and its I believe a 60's or 70's era Miller 220 Volt unit with gas. I am accustomed to my 110 flux core welder. After using Kevin's machine I am extremely tempted to get the gas attachment for my welder and go with non flux core wire because the welding was so much cleaner and easier. Not near the splatter.