Buying a MIG welder - Advice needed!

[QABB]

Im looking at getting a mig welder shortly and i need some advice and/or pointers in buying the right one. So far ive cancelled out a gasless item just by talking to a few people. Is this a good assumption or are they capable of welding a few exhausts/panels/steampipe manifolds? I only really want it for those purposes and maybe have the capability to weld alluminium if that's possible?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Glenn

[demuire]

Apparenlty gasless ones run too hot to weld panels and thin stuff. Not sure about aluminium, I have heard from some sources that you need a dual polarity to weld aluminium, and some other people recon TIG is the way to go for aluminium.

I've got a gas one, SP150DP (150amp dual polarity), I'm happy with it so far but haven't really used it much. Was about $600ish

If you have the cash, try to get an auto darkening helmet, they are really good value :)

[Spammy]

Do a search...this topic has been covered (by me ) many many times.

[QABB]

Thanks Demuire, I'll keep that all in mind...

Spamgirl, i did do a search and could find what i wanted. Do you have a link to your thread/s?

[OPR072]

I have a gasless WireWasp cheapy, no good at all for thin stuff but can be made to work if you do it in small tacs. I have welded a few exhausts, engine mounts, crossmembers, tramp rods, good for stuff between 2mm and 6mm, but struggles with overheating, i have recently been placing an air contidioner behind the mig to stop it shutting itself down :)

I will be buying a proper mig eventually

[mopar lover]

basically you want a mig that has lots of adjustment, I would look at secondhand if possible. I bought a refurbished SIP 210 from a welding shop for $750, this unit has 12 power levels. Equivilently speaking a similar new welder would cost ~$1500.

Stay away from gasless, its a pain. Try and get as high power as you can afford, ally needs power. If these are your goals with the welder and you can't afford it now, then wait and save.

[Shifty]

If you have the cash, try to get an auto darkening helmet, they are really good value

Damn right.

[muttaburra]

yeap gassless migs suck for thin stuff, alright for heavy guage steel.

might pay to try any second hand machinery shops or if you know of any welding shops that do trade-ins. keep an eye out in the paper too you might find a workshop shutting down thats getting rid of all their stuff

[westside]

I done a search on "mig welder" and found these threads. HTH

http://board.performanceforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67129530&highlight=mig+welder

http://board.performanceforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67127847&highlight=mig+welder