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I am just a hobby welder (no training), and have so far only used Mig and mostly DC stick on mild and stainless steel, building a couple of trailers, etc.I am looking to buy a Mig wleder with spool gun to practice welding aluminum, so I can try building a small alumium boat this winter. Eventually I would like to build a large, alumium sailing catamaran, but that is at least 5 years (and alot of skill) away. At that time, there will be lots of aluminum to be welded, and I won't mind paying $5k or so for a great (high amp) mig setup, with spool gun or push pull gun.For now, I can't afford, nor justify a $5K Mig to practise or to weld a small alumium boat.How important is the pulse feature, for just practicing now, or for boatbuilding later?I can get a Hobart 210 with spool gun for around $900-1000 or I can pay $1500 - $2K and get an Everlast I-Mig 205P or maybe 250P with spool gun and have the pulse feature?Should I stay with a Miller / Lincoln brand and no pulse, or try the Everlast with Pulse?For now, I think the Miller/ Lincolns with Pulse are out of my price range.Anyone know what the cheapest Miller/ Lincoln models are that have Pulse, and take a spool gun?
Reply:I think if your focus is aluminum for boats you may want a TIG welder instead.
Reply:Do a search on Everlast or Chicom and you might change your thinking on them.To your other question Pulse is not required at all. Definitive statement. It is a nice add on.As to the comment from Freestyle if you are doing small short non production welding a tig would be nice. It will take several hundred hours to get proficient. wire feed spool gun aluminum can be learned in 1/4the time. Buy in costs are about the same. Expect to pay $1500-$4500. IMHO the Hobart is under powered for aluminum work except at the most rudimentary level.
Reply:Hey Fat - Thanks for the info. What would you consider the mimum Mig welder for something like this - hobby boatbuilding 1/8" - 1/4" mostly with some larger stuff later?There is a millermatic 252 with 30a spool gun for sale locally. I don't think they have pulse?? Anyway, guy wants $3000, but I could try and offer $2500 cash and see if he bites. Just can't afford any more than that right now - can't really even afford that!But want to get something soon, to start practising on alumimum.
Reply:Aluminum pulsed mig is a waste of time imo, the toe fusion line always looks cold, the heat input with argon makes for a cold looking weld and normally u have hydrogen entrapment. If it were up to me id look on ebay for a xr feeder with a 30 foot gun and try to find anything from a esab mig master 250 to a miller 250 or a decent miller welder, and yes you can hook the xr up to both of those style welders if u look at the schematic and figure it out.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:Originally Posted by NortheasterHey Fat - Thanks for the info. What would you consider the mimum Mig welder for something like this - hobby boatbuilding 1/8" - 1/4" mostly with some larger stuff later?There is a millermatic 252 with 30a spool gun for sale locally. I don't think they have pulse?? Anyway, guy wants $3000, but I could try and offer $2500 cash and see if he bites. Just can't afford any more than that right now - can't really even afford that!But want to get something soon, to start practising on alumimum.
Reply:There was a huge Miller 450 amp welder with the xr feeder and gun for about $3000, but I figured it was more than I needed, and not portable / movable at all.There is an Esab Migmaster 250, about 10 years old that I could go look at. Guy wants $900, but would likely take $800 or so.
Reply:careful with the 450, it could be three phase only. pulse is useful on thin aluminum, but unnecessary for thicker than 1/8th inch. keep a close eye on craigslist. I recently picked up a mid eighties miller power supply and a cobramatic push pull feeder for $550 locally, and have seen similar deals across the us.Last edited by turk; 09-19-2011 at 09:21 PM.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:The ESAB migmaster 250 is a nice machine, also Look for the L-Tec Migmaster 250. same machine, they do up to 280 amps. I used to have one till I switched over to all Inverter based equipment... you may want to look at getting a spot stitch timer...can be added to most 250 amp machines. Thermal Arc Fabricator 250 251 model are nice too. similar setup to a migmaster. As for Everlast. as you are a hobby user, it would be worth considering with the 5 yr warranty. as I noted before most of these that have problems are either due to a DOA issue or very early failure. take a read through the sponsor forums. lots of folks are happy with them. Hands down if you can afford a red, blue, or yellow machine that's the way to go. what is your power source? if you are looking to run off a 50 amp breaker, you should check the requirements of the 250 amp+ transformer based machines before buying. If you get an inverter based machine, you can pretty much run anything you need off a 50amp breaker. getting a multi function inverter power source and a separate feeder and/or spool gun is a great alternative to running a dedicated mig machine..Tiger Sales: AHP Distributor www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P, Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma. For Sale: Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun. Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Pulse is not necessary for welding Alum. over 1/8", but it is a big help for welding out-of-position, which you will be doing a lot of if you're building a boat However, if you're welding Alum. 1/4" or thicker, you will definitely need at least a 250A machine and the power to run it.I would highly recommend a good used Miller/Lincoln/ESAB over a new Chinese machine. You will have a better machine and it will have higher resale value if you upgrade to a pulse machine later. $3K for the MM252/30A sounds high unless it/s practically new, but good deals crop up often on C/L if you're patient.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
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发表于 2021-8-31 23:23:49