110 MIG as wire feeder

admin

Can a 110v MIG unit be used as a wire feeder/ gas solenoid only?My 110v MIG has a terribly low duty cycle.  I was wondering what would happen if I clamped my stinger lead to the + input of the feeder an the ground clamp to the work, but not the ground from the MIG.  That way the little mig would only be supplying power for the solenoid and feed, and no amperage output.  I would, of course, keep the input amps below the max amps listed for the MIG.  The arc welding source would supply the power for the actual weld.  I don't want to buy a real MIG because of a lack of garage space.  My 110 MIG is a POS with almost no resale value that a friend and I bought to do some minor auto body work years ago.  If I blow up the MIG, it wouldn't be the end of the world.  Thanks.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:The short answer is no it won't work. What are you going to use as a power supply? Your syncrowave 250 is a CC power source and you need a CV power source to run a mig feeder if thats what you were thinking. If space is limited, Miller's MM180, MM211 or Passport Plus would all take up about the same amount of room, but be more powerful than what you have, with more duty cycle on the lower end. The Passport Plus is about the smallest size 110/220 volt mig on the market and produces the most output of any of the "smaller" machines. It not an inexpensive machine however. The MM211 has almost the same output, runs on both 110v/220v power ( output amps are limited on both machines to 140 amps on 110v power), but is heavier and slightly larger. Note on 110v power both machhines still will have a limited duty cycle. Thats simply a function of input power to output, though they will have a slightly better duty cycle than what you have currently. Thats not an issue if they are run on 220v power however. The MM180 is a 220v only machiine, and as such will have a better duty cycle compared to the small mig you have now..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:If the feeder is going to be fed off a completely different circuit, why can't I run 100 amps through the wire feeder with my synchrowave and adjust my wire speed?TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Forgive my ignorance on the subject.  I thought that the CV was needed to control the wire speed and not the actual arc.  So if the wire speed is controlled independently, would the jury rigged setup work in a pinch?TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Mig uses a Constant Voltage power supply. Your Syncrowave provides  Constant Current not Constant Voltage.  The type of power you want to supply is wrong for a mig application. If this would work, Miller would sell a wire feed attachment for the Syncro. Thats why they have multi process machines like the XMT's that can provide both CC and CV so you can do stick or tig with CC and do wire with CV.They do make specialized wire feeders  ( voltage sensing feeders) that can be used to run wire from a Constant Current machine, usually high amp stick machines like engine drives. There are some problems with this senario. VS feeders "trick" the machine into an aproximation of Constant Voltage by continuously adjusting the wire speed to attempt to maintain a constant voltage. However small solid wire requires greater and more frequent changes in wire speed than the feeders can produce. They do a very poor job of short circuit mig with small wire. If you run large wire FC ( usually .045 and larger)  in spray mode at high amps, these machines will do a good job and lay down a lot of metal. The down side is this isn't what most people think of when they think of mig. It's an industrial process used to make large welds usually on heavy structural members like for bridges, heavy equipment and so on. Also in spray, vertical and overhead is a PITA because the puddle is so fluid.Last edited by DSW; 08-02-2011 at 07:18 AM..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Can a 110v MIG unit be used as a wire feeder/ gas solenoid only?... I was wondering what would happen if I clamped my stinger lead to the + input of the feeder an the ground clamp to the work, but not the ground from the MIG.  That way the little mig would only be supplying power for the solenoid and feed, and no amperage output... The arc welding source would supply the power for the actual weld. ... If I blow up the MIG, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
Reply:It won't freaking work.DSW has explained WHY.All you're going to do is fry your toy mig.And Rick, your telling the OP to give it a try is bad advice.It seems that you have some sort of predisposition to try to make machines do tasks which they were not intended to do.  Would you not be better served learning to use welding machines for the purpose they were intended for.First you waste a lot of time and money experimenting with different aluminum rods trying to stick weld aluminum, finally getting exactly the results the experienced posters told you you would get.For a guy with a low end buzz box and not much experience with it, you sure are quick to jump into posts which you have no experience with.  There's a reason that the welding manufacturers make different machines to accomplish different processes.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:My first thought is that the gun on the 110 mig won't be happy at higher amperages. As in melt in your hand!Ranger 250 GXTSmith Gas Axe
Reply:try reading the warnings in the front of your welder's manual and then tell me you want to hook something up.I concur with sundown's post.  well said.