Arc to Mig welding

[johnfranklyn]

Hello,
I am a retired craft teacher that has used arc welding for many year. Its now rather old, like yours truly and am wondering should I advance to mig welding as a replacement?

Johnfranklyn

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome John

Your question has too many unknowns to be answered with any accuracy, members will need to know a lot more about your present and future welding, frequency, preferred budget etc etc.

As much info as you can will result in some proper advice.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Hi John, good to see you made it over.

Be prepared to answer about what your needs are - just don't blame me for getting you 'hooked'........

 

[daleyd]

Will it offer you any benefits in moving to Mig welding? Is there anything you can't currently weld that you would like to, and would MIG be suitable for that?

It's a faster process, works better on thinner metal, but (And I know it's a generalisation, but is pretty much true for hobby type/smaller industrial machines that tend to be used at home) for a given amps arc tends to be more suited to welding thicker metal. Mig also requires gas (can be a bit pricey, depending on rental or rent free options.), and doesn't like to be used in windy conditions.


Welcome to the forum by the way!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Be gentle with him lads, it's my fault he's here.....

I've suggested he tells you about his lathe, milling machine etc etc

 

[NickyEng]

We're all here to help those in need lol..welcome John

 

[Kent]

Need to know what your thinking of doing with it
One thing I can say is welding forwards rather than back on the flat and the speed of deposition will likely be the biggest shock

 

[johnfranklyn]

Hello and thank you, Gentlemen!
I now realise I did not give enough information, possibly as I am new to this forum. Never-the-less some of the answers were helpful to me as to what I now require in my new welder.
I am long past the age of sticking together one and a half inch angle iron for boat trailers or car trailers and suppose my old welder will still do the business there, if needed. I need to weld up to one eighth
max and below and now presume it will be a mig equipped with gas needed for the thinner materials. Any advice as to a suitable machine for my purpose that you can personally recommend would be most helpful.
When I began teaching I was the first craft teacher in Leeds to have Acetylene-oxygen welding equipment in a craft room, thanks mainly to my past industrial experience, Would love to have two cylinders in my workshop
again, but live in the highlands, my nearest suppliers would be on the East coast and I am on the west coast, opposite the Hebrides. Delivery costs would be frightening I presume?

Thanks again,

johnfranklyn

 

[Kent]

Well your going to need gas for the mig anyhow
Sounds well suited hardly anyone uses Ofw now
Yes a great choice up to 1/8 thick and you don't need a big set just one with plenty of fine adjustment range
Cheap mig's often lack fine tune ability