Originally posted by: Barn on 8/29/2006 5:28:52 AM

NateK,

When I took a MIG welding course, I found out there was a saying. . . "monkey's can MIG weld" and it's true ! I could Mig weld heavy stock, cut through the weld using a band saw and it looked like it was a solid piece of material and wasn't ever welded. . . Well ! Short story long ! I got one of these Chicago Welders, like you have from "horrible freight" and it frustrates me so badly, that I wind up gas welding/brazing thin metaland arc welding thicker material. . . . Anyone want to buy this unit cheap ?

There's another 'old saying' good work requires good tools. . . . One day I'll remeber this before I order anything from this catalog. . .

Barn

Originally posted by: NateK on 8/29/2006 6:00:33 AM

AMEN, I am beginning to believe what you are saying about the unit(and the place I purchased it). What type of welder did you end up going to, or are you simply using the torch and stick?

NateK

quote:

Originally posted by Barn:
NateK,

When I took a MIG welding course, I found out there was a saying. . . "monkey's can MIG weld" and it's true ! I could Mig weld heavy stock, cut through the weld using a band saw and it looked like it was a solid piece of material and wasn't ever welded. . . Well ! Short story long ! I got one of these Chicago Welders, like you have from "horrible freight" and it frustrates me so badly, that I wind up gas welding/brazing thin metaland arc welding thicker material. . . . Anyone want to buy this unit cheap ?

There's another 'old saying' good work requires good tools. . . . One day I'll remeber this before I order anything from this catalog. . .

Barn

Originally posted by: Bob from Necedah on 8/29/2006 11:40:25 AM

Hi Nate,

I figured that I'd get my .02 cents in before those who know answer your post!!

I, too, do hobby welding.....of sorts. I bought an old Lincoln AC stick welder at a garage sale and it works fine for me.
It goes from around 30 amp up to 220 amps and that seems to work fine. With the welder I had a bunch of #6011 rods and they have done all that I need! The folks on this site who are great welders will have more input I'm sure.

If you don't get the info....there is a fellow "Weldman 6" who welds for a living. He knows his stuff and perhaps he'll answer his post. If not, try e-mailing him. His info is in the members section.

Good Luck,

Bob

Originally posted by: Barn on 8/30/2006 5:47:14 AM

Nate,

I still try to use this unit from time to time on different 'farm repairs' but I usually go back to gas welding as I get better looking results. . . If it is heavy duty welding or a critical weld, I take the part/s to a professional welder friend. . . When I try to use this "mig ?" unit, I can make stuff stick together, but it ain't no work of art !

I am going to get a 'real' MIG unit one of these days. . . But most of my welding is hobby stuff too and car body work related. . . Gas is good ! Barn

Originally posted by: UraniumSteel on 9/18/2006 10:24:03 AM

After burning through three Hardcore Fright Heavy duty tools (saws) in 2 weeks I decided to end my relationship with the Fright people (except for gloves - stilla good deal). I went all out and got a Miller-Matic MIG welder. I bought their small one - 110V (mainly because it was all I could afford) but I tell friends and family its so I can use it anywhere around the property <!--graemlin:;)-->
Great unit - I did splurge a little and bought one of the auto darkening electronic helmets - great thing to do ! You can SEE until you start to weld. Love the thing!
-Uranium

Originally posted by: weldman6 on 9/20/2006 5:06:59 PM

Nate and any other hobby welder,

DO NOT buy a mig welder that only has switches for voltage control.....High and Low. These are cheap machines and are more headache than they are worth. Even a good welder may have trouble with these. If you can find one with pots for voltage control like the wire feed control it is a better machine.

Originally posted by: dollar on 10/4/2006 7:39:25 PM

I am part of the small wire feed welder group. I picked one up at a tractor supply. I soon realized that the duty cycle of these units is merely for spot welds. I now go straight to my lincoln ac 240 v. for all my welding needs. Different rods for specific jobs was the ticket for me. 12 guage material to 3/4 stock. If you run the gas shield wire you get a better duty cycle than with flux shield. I was fortunate enough to work in the shadow of a welder in the petroleum field, he showed me how to weld different materials with the same machine just change the setting and the rods. So be fore you get another machine, go back to the stick and smaller 6011 rods on a lower setting then maybe consider swithing to gas shield wire.

Originally posted by: WileyCoyote on 12/24/2006 10:26:24 AM

Nate, It’s really hard to weld thin metal with flux core wire. I’ve had the best luck using solid core wire, a high setting (120 amp machine), 100% Argon gas and moving quickly. If you stay in one spot for very long it will blow through. If your machine is not capable of using gas I’d suggest just brazing it.

Originally posted by: Phili1 on 4/15/2007 10:31:19 AM

I bouight the same welder and it is not the welder but the wire. All I got was splatter and did some reviewing and found out that the wire is of great importance and there is different qualities. I bought Lincoln's NR-211-Mp and got some good welds. I put 2 pieces together and no matter how hard I hit it wih a hammer it stayed together.Its look was what is expected. Try it and you will change your mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Barn:
NateK,

When I took a MIG welding course, I found out there was a saying. . . "monkey's can MIG weld" and it's true ! I could Mig weld heavy stock, cut through the weld using a band saw and it looked like it was a solid piece of material and wasn't ever welded. . . Well ! Short story long ! I got one of these Chicago Welders, like you have from "horrible freight" and it frustrates me so badly, that I wind up gas welding/brazing thin metaland arc welding thicker material. . . . Anyone want to buy this unit cheap ?

There's another 'old saying' good work requires good tools. . . . One day I'll remeber this before I order anything from this catalog. . .

Barn

Originally posted by: Gunook on 4/15/2007 5:51:45 PM

quote:

Originally posted by weldman6:
Nate and any other hobby welder,

DO NOT buy a mig welder that only has switches for voltage control.....High and Low. These are cheap machines and are more headache than they are worth. Even a good welder may have trouble with these. If you can find one with pots for voltage control like the wire feed control it is a better machine.