Quick question for the MIG guys

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 15:34:04 GMT

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I was looking to pick up a 110v mig welder for auto body / sheet metal fab / exhaust systems and basic garage stuff. I've been offered a Lincoln 135C for $300.I think I can get it for $250.My concern is the heat/voltage control is 4 levels. A,B,C,D... it's not variable like the 140.I'm concerned that it will be really hard to dial in my heat for MIG work. If this were a stick welder I wouldn't even bother... but I don't have much experience with the MIG.What do you guys think of the 4 level heat control?
Reply:"I'm concerned that it will be really hard to dial in my heat for MIG work."Your concern is justified. The small migs with infinitely adjustablewire feed and voltage allow much better fine tuning.The stepped setting machines can work okay, if you want to acceptwhat the setting gives you.Blackbird
Reply:Buy it for 250.00 if you can.You'll get good use out of it for that price for sure and you just have to learn to use the Taps.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:The wire speed is infinitely adjustable. (Thankfully)The voltage/heat is only four levels... pretty strange really.
Reply:Originally Posted by TaidenThe wire speed is infinitely adjustable. (Thankfully)The voltage/heat is only four levels... pretty strange really.
Reply:The taps will work.   Continuous voltage adjustment indeed very nice but not necessary.  Set the machine to the tap nearest what you need and adjust the wire speed up or down to fine tune.  Years ago, most mig machines were tapped.  The two staples of mig welding equipment in America in the early days were the MillerMatic 35 and the Millermatic 200.  Both are tapped machines and both weld very well.  I've welded with both, years ago.  Together, the two models represent about 2 decades of mig welder production and many, many millions of feet of wire have been burned with these two machines all over north America.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Hey guys,All my poor 'ol Miller & CE units are tapped units with 4 or 6 taps & have served me quite well. I simply learned the tap setting/wf for optimum results with little effort & residual(some say scrap) material. I know the "sweet" spot on each of them for any thickness material I do. Remember though, I've had 47yrs to practice.............DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Cool. Good to hear. I think i will pick it up for $250. Will flux core work for thin sheet or will I get slag inclusions?I'm trying to devise ways to make money with a 110v MIG so I can make that $250 back.Of course this will be after I have enough practice under my belt to feel comfortable selling my services.
Reply:Hey Taiden,I will offer some mental fodder for you to contemplate. You have to understand you are not going to master MIG welding, let alone any other process, in a few short weeks or months. MIG welding is a superb process once you learn the basics & fundamentals of welding & metal fusion. First, a vo-tech or evening adult class in welding would really enhance your understanding. Next, do yourself a favor & invest in some welding books. Miller has a superb Student Training Package for $25 that is outstanding & will allow you to get some understanding of welding & terminology. Lincoln has the "Bible".... "The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding" 14th Edition..... it is the best IMO. There are many others & can be acquired quite economically on Amazon.Next, do some searching here & any other forum & do your search with the header title: "Sheetmetal welding", or "Auto panels", or "Car restoration" & you can read some of the queries & techniques discussed to reduce/eliminate common issues. I know I have, & several others here have posted many techniques & tricks to help those doing thin auto sheetmetal get excellent results. The info is here..... just look for it.... probably under the "roject" or "Repair" category.You have to understand you will not have good results using f/c wire for thin panels....PERIOD!  You need to get thin wire(.023-.025), 70S-6, & C25 gas(75AR/25CO2). Then you set up some scrap material of the same thickness & practice with a backing to avoid burnthru. I use varying pieces of alum. angle & some flattened copper pipe that can be bent a bit for radiused seams. Lap joints are preferable over butt seams & will reduce/eliminate burnthru. You're not gonna be able to run continuous beads.... tacking to set in place, & then very short beads run randomly to keep the warping to a minimum. Also, a very wet towel to cool the weld & panel. Lastly.....CLEAN METAL!!! Don't hesitate to post your practice pics..... & be ready for some criticism. It's part of the of the learning process as is a mistake. They are the tools that will help you get better. If you don't get some thick skin, & heavy callouses like some of we "seasoned" gents, you're not gonna do well. Grin & bear it.....DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:thanks yorkiepap, I appreciate the post very much.I am currently taking my first welding course at my local CC. First class is mostly SMAW with some GMAW/FCAW thrown in... and oxy cutting. Second class is mostly GTAW with some GMAW/FCAW.I want to stress that I do not expect to be able to master any process in a few weeks... but there will be a point where I find myself able to perform a specific task enough to sell it... and I'm brainstorming what tasks those might be... I actually had some good results practice welding 6013 on mild steel exhaust pieces.. 3/32 rod on an AC 110v welder... but if I ran it cold I got slag inclusions, if I ran it hot, I had to go like a greyhound with a firecracker up it's wazoo in order to not blow through... I imagine flux core welding thin sheet to be similar.As for reading material, I might just add that Miller student book to my arsenal... but right now my textbook is very good and has more info than I can hope to glean in the next year.Thanks again, your post was very helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to type it up.
Reply:You can weld sheet metal effectively with fluxcore wire, provided it isn't tooo thin for the minimum settings to burn the wire.   18ga and up is no problem for .035 fluxcore and fluxcore is preferred for welding galvanized metal.  When you get to metals thinner than 20ga, it is much more difficult, even with .030 wire, which is the thinnest fluxcore wire available.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:A 135C does not have taps. the 135T does.The C models all have continuous control.The T models all have a tap switch. The older units have a large switch.The new models have a small switch soldered to the pc board.