hello the world of migging again,

[derekm]

Hi,
Been welding off (all most exclusively off) and on for about 20 years... until recently with just my then new, now elderly Clarke Weld 160E MK2 Mig welder. Started off with space frame bits and pieces for racing cars, then stuff for around the house. Recently got a tig welder to make solar heating tanks. to give you an indication of the lack of thruput I'm finally getting to the end of my first 15Kg reel of 0.8mm. I originaly intended to mig ally but that first bottle of Argon lasted 15 years with the mig and about 2 days when the Tig arrived

 

[bill_gj]

Hello Derek - let me be the first to greet.
Sounds like divers projects you have / have had.

 

[Wriggler]

Hi.

You will find TIG addictive and more rewarding

 

[derekm]

Thanks for the welcome...
And no I have never welded car body panels nor do I intend to


The thinnest steel I have Migged was 18 gauge tube (space frame), the thickest plate 6mm (alternator mounting brackets) and the thickest bar 16mm ( window bars).
I tried migging Ally a long time ago and found it difficult but one or two really good runs persuaded me it was possible. Then a professional welder showed me how to do it recently and I managed to put a weld on 0.8mm sheet
All this using the old Clarke 165E with the original liner.

The big project, The tanks (2200 by 400 by 500) will probably be 1.5mm sheet migged on the long runs and tigged round the twiddley bits.
The first job for the tig will be to make its own coolant tank as a test for the bigger things.

As regards Tig being addictive, I'm not sure it is but it does require a lot more perseverance than Mig. I'm now starting my third bottle of Argon and that just practice before a project. Mig on steel just required an afternoon of experimentation before getting going.