Which mig guns are you guys using and any size comparisons?

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I just picked up a TA fabricator 210 and it comes with a Tweco weldskill 250 amp gun. Gun is rated for 60% at 250 amps. The machine is rated at 60% at 180 amps I believe, 100% at 140 amps. This gun is way to big for what I do. If it had a shorter neck I could possibly live with it but I stil don't like the way the nozzle works with the diffuser, too sloppy. My millermatic 211 gun is perfect size and the nozzle to diffuser connection is great. I know I could hook one of these up and it would work as I rarely need more than 220 amps but when it gets warm feeding becomes an issue. I have been looking at the bernard q150 and q200. I could get away with the q150 and swap back to tweco for long welds but if the q200 with short neck is about as small as the miller m10 then I would go that route. I also need a new gun for my little lincoln and Would like to put same gun on that so I have continuity which would make life easier when switching around. I work mostly with tubing so the gun gets lots of breaks but sometimes there are some long runs on plate. I am  currently using 90/10 gas so I know that creates a bit more heat. What guns are you guys using and do you have any pics of size comparisons?                                                    Thanks everyoneMillermatic 252Lincoln 175 plusTA 185tswTA 161stlhypertherm pmax 45Victor torchHenrob torchAn S10 for each day of the week
Reply:I have Q300 and Q400 Bernard guns and like them very much.  The Q200 appears to be bigger than the M10.  I think the Q150 would be sized more similar to an M10.   Another good gun to look at is the Tweco Fabricator 250.  It has a very flexible whip and the gun is reasonably small.  A friend runs one on his Passport in 12' length and likes it.  I welded with it and it is very easy to weld with, like playing with a toy compared to my heavy Bernards.  It's a nicer gun than the M10 so you won't go wrong that way.   He got it at Airgas for maybe $120, I think.   New Bernards cost about $300 at the local weld shop, unless you get one of the $100 Q300's off ebay.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:First off, Lincoln, Miller, and pretty much any other manufacturer have specific gun receiver bushings, and they are not usually interchangeable, so do not plan on being able to swith the same gun between Lincoln and Miller.I have a Lincoln Magnum 100 for my SP170-TA Lincoln Magnum 300 with a custom shorter and more curved neck running Tegaskiss Tough Gun Consumables,And a Tweco Compact Gold Eliminator that is set up for a Lincoln with the MaxTrac wire feed system (PowerMigs, LF-72, LF-74, but also have an adapter to use with the older Lincoln drive system (LN-7, LN-9, LN-25 etc etc)I have used Bernard guns in the past on Miller equipment and they do the job fine.I have used Kent guns on Miller and Lincoln equipment, and have issues with their reliability.Have a Good Day.Later,Jason
Reply:FYI: Gas cooled MIG guns are rated using CO2 at 100% duty cycle. If you run an Ar/CO2 mix, you need to de-rate your gun to 60% if you expect to run long welds. if you are running welds for less than six minutes out of ten, then, you need not be concerned.
Reply:You may want to check out the Profax line of guns and also these guys: http://www.htpweld.com/You can order a gun from them just about any length, style, or connection setup you may require.  Check their Mig Gun Parts page.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:All my mig guns are 15'.  I have no problems, but I treat them with respect.I have a Tweeco 200 amp I use most of the time for pulsed spray.  Sometimes it gets too hot to hang on to.I have Lincoln 200 and 300 amp guns, both are nice.  I have a 300 bernard knock off Q gun.  Its nice too.  I like how the bernard tips lock in so you can choose how deep the tip is in the gas cone.  The gas cones are heavy duty too.I use the lightest gun I can get away with.I bought a real 500 amp bernard.  I hope I never use it.  Its huge and heavy with a stiff short whip.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Partial to the Tweeco guns very familiar with them. I believe we were using the Tweeco 250 I found the Bernards were very stiff and heavy. That's my $.02 worth.Weldor/ Certified Inspector
Reply:I have three old Bernard 350's. They were made before the Q guns. They are smaller and lighter than the Tweco 200 amp guns. The oldest is nearly thirty years old and none have ever given me any trouble.
Reply:Thanks for the info guys. As far as hooking an m10 gun to both machines I was thinking the knockoff type guns that use same stuff and can hook to anything. I would like to go the bernard route as they are well liked and mny people even seem to switch there twecos to the bernard consumables. If anyone has some pics of there guns compared to something in size that is easily found like next to grinder or something that would be great. Thanks alot.Millermatic 252Lincoln 175 plusTA 185tswTA 161stlhypertherm pmax 45Victor torchHenrob torchAn S10 for each day of the week
Reply:If I am not mistaken the Weld Skill line uses the older style screw on insulator then the nozzle pushes over it.        Tweco & a host of aftermarket manufacturers make a nozzle with the insulator fixed in the rear.  They will not wobble.   Also you can buy contact tips for the weld skill for .30 cents each.  I run Tweco Traditional & guns & Lincolm Magnum guns exclusively.  They use identical very inexpensive consumables  & both will take severe use. If the Weld Skill gun is as1/2 as tough as the standard You'll overheat the welder even with 75/25 before you get the gun hot enough to damage it.    I run 15' #3 rated 300A traditional Tweco guns on a 400A 100% duty cycle machines.   Can't say how many minutes per hour but hammer down enough to burn over a 44# spool of 045 dual shield in a shift.  We wear the outer jacket off the main cable before the guns break down electrically.IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more