Can I Mig weld? . . .

[OneMpg]

Within the next month or so I will probably be getting a mig welder of some sort. Right now I am leaning towards the MM175. I will be doing many different types of projects but I will not be working with enough heavy material to warrent a need for the 210. I am also 17 so I really don't want to spend the extra money on the 210. A mig welder is a great and very important shop tool that my garage is missing. However it is also one of many tools and right now I still need misc things like a drill press and a band saw in orderd to be able to fab the stuff that I'd like to. I need to reserve some $ for them.

Anyway, my question is will I actually be able to weld with it? I have done some oxy/acy welding and it is very difficult. I am still far from good at that, but I hear mig welding is much simpler. Is it basically a point and shoot tool or am I going to need to take a class in order to use it? I will probably take a class anyway but I will not be able to do that until next summer.

Also, is there a chart that someone can point me to that lists what wire speed, wire size, shielding gas mix, what gas pressure, and what type of filler should be used when welding certain materials? I will be using mostly steel. From what I gather people usually use either a 75% Ar 25% CO2 mix or just pure CO2. Is this correct? Sorry there are so many questions Thanks very much for any info.

-Dave-

[Moe]

If I can mig weld, then I can pretty much guarantee that you can too. Point and shoot? Not quite, but close. All it takes is a little practice to get the hang of it, and of course asking questions on this forum. You'll be fine. Go for it!!!

[JWD]

im 2 months shy of 17 and im setting up shop too! im getting a TIG welder instead of the mm175 or 210! anyhow MIG is rather easy to learn! i got MIG welding down in about half an hour! no dissing to the real pros, i mean i just got something that would hold but looked like schie8e! the regular old mig mix is 75% co2 and 25% argon its what my school uses for all mild steel! or flux cored wire for now gas? if you have the luxury of a shop teacher in your school maybe you can get some tips?(thats if your still in school!)i dont know if this shows the motions but here

http://www.millerwelds.com/education/basicMIG/index.htm

send an email to me if you have any questions about anything? oh and what kind of stuff do you want to do with this welder?

[OneMpg]

Yea I wish we had a shop class at my school. No auto shop no metal shop . . . nothing. I'm not a big fan of my school. I've got one more year there, then I'm going to socal for some college. The closest welding program is a really good one, but seeing as I still have to go to school I'd have to take it as an evening class. I did that for summer semester and it just wasn't worth spending an hour in traffic one way for a two hour class. If I could take it during the day I could get there in 20 mins and I would do that in a sec. Anyway I'm working at a machine shop right now and I'll bet one of the machinists there will be willing to help me out.

What is the capacity of the mm175? I heard 3/8's on a single pass. That's pretty good if it is. Other wise I guess I will have to bevel the edges to get better penetration or is that a bad idea? I'll be shootin to do a minor resto and major mods to a 67-72 Chevy 2wd Pickup. My current truck is attached (hopefully) Aside from the frame I don't think there is anything (or not much) that's over 1/4". The only thing I'm not too happy about is the 30% work cycle. That's ok though, I'll have other stuff to do. Are there any other welders I should consider in the 700ish price range? Thanks much-

-Dave-

[JWD]

i was wanting to take a welding class but now i personally feel if you were me or if i were you i wouldnt take a welding class! i just think the mig basics are easy to get by yourself with practice or just word of mouth tips and and again practice! thats what i did and im satisfied with my MIG welding!

the 210 does 3/8 inch! the mm175 does 1/4 inch maxed out!

theres more that i can say, but i have to go right now!

[houk47]

Dave,
I learned to Mig weld a summer ago. It does not take too much coordination but to get the skills takes a lot of practice. I was in a class but the instructors did not give me much help besides what I asked of them. On the Hobart web site they talked about a set of videos that are very good. The web site is weldingvideos.com. It is worth the money. I have the MM175 and it is great for what I do. I need to learn how to do aluminum. Good luck on the welding and setting up your shop. The purchasing of shop equipment will go on forever so have fun shopping. Happy welds, Tony

[weldteacher]

It sure is great to see new talent entering the trade.

Onempg,
Your choice of machines is perfect for your application. The 175 has plenty of power to handle auto work and light trailer frames with ease. The 30% duty cycle isn't a worry, because, you'd have to run it WFO on heavy material to melt down the transformer. Remember the duty cycle of any machine is rated in the percentage of ten minutes. (3 minutes welding, 7 minutes idle at rated output) Using 100% Co2 helps to keep the gun cooler, but, 75-25 will give a better weld appearance. Also use ER70S-6 wire for the wetting action of the bead. Just keep in mind the steel must be CLEAN. No paint, rust, plating or grease. The better the prep the better weld.

Good luck, study and do your best! "Coach"

P.S. That fact that your school does not have shop classes is a sad condition of the American school administrations and insurance regulations (sorry, I mean gread). I have a great deal of disgust for the way the vocations are being shoved out of high schools. My view of this is the school admins' think all of the work magically gets done at the factory with no human help. Or, they want all students to be a clean finger nails "Bill Gates", to late he's the last one. I'd love to rant on about this, but, nothing I say will change anything 'till we have no jobs here because all the work was sent overseas.

[OneMpg]

Thanks much for all the help and advice. I might be getting a mig welder and an arc welder for free from a family friend. He is moving and needs to unload the equipment. I don't know what it is yet but I will find out. =) hopefully it will pan out. Free is of course, the best price. Thanks again for the help

-Dave-

[ROCK]

onempg.................... Yes free is the best price available.....I think if you take some classes it will speed up the learning curve to mig weld........From there you can progress into anything you like. It will evolve..........Good luck and enjoy the site.........../Rock
[email protected]

[HAWK]

onempg,

Good luck acquiring the mig and stick arc welders. This may sound as crazy to you as it did to me some years back. Mig is by far the easier of the welding processes to learn and tig is the hardest. When I was learning to weld I was told to master stick welding before mig or tig. It gives you all the basics: position, angle, travel, dealing with flux, puddle control, heat input, etc. Sure mig is easier, but If you will learn to stick weld, then mig will follow quickly and tig will come eventually (no easy way to learn TIG).
I FOLLOWED THIS ADVICE AND MASTERED ALL POSITION STICK WELDING WITH A THE BASIC RODS: 6010, 7018, 7014, 6013, 309SS AND LOOKING BACK WOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT ANY OTHER WAY. JUST MY OPINION.

[PISTOL8]

STICK-MIG-TIG

I AGREE WITH HAWK I CAN'T IMAGINE TIG WELDING WITHOUT THE BASICS, GAS WELDING AND STICK WELDING. THE PRINCIPALS ARE NESSASARY TO LEARN HOW THE PUDDLES FORM AND POSITIONS FOR THE RODS AND SPEEDS TO PUSH OR PULL. I KNOW I SURE WOULD NOT HAVE LEARNED WITHOUT THIS PRIOR INFORMATION. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN ITS A GREAT JOB. PISTOL8

[ASKANDY]

You go weldteacher!!

I agree with you 200% Our profession is dying fast with the market demanding more of us.

Also, I applaud the the younger generation here at this forum and anywhere else who choose to get involved with a "hobby/career" that not only is self rewarding but can easily feed the family.
You never stop learning. Next year I go back to the Hobart institute for CWI. Keep up your search for knowledge and ask questions. Keep up the good work boys!
I struck my first arc when I was 12 on a Dialarc 250 in my Pa's shop. Started buying my own stuff when I was 15.
Now, I can do anything with metal. I'm still a hazzard with wood though

A-

PS
nice truck.

[Faburdream]

Sure you can!!!!

If you look under the door on a 175 it will give you the settings for different thickness metals, these are right on the money so start there. Use 75/25 gas and clean your metal. @ 17 I guess you are working on cars,if you get into bodywork you might go to Metalmeet.com there are craftsmen from all over that will answer your questions @ this site. I didn't check your location but there is probably someone close that will be glad to help you. I started in the garage with Dad @ 14 or so and took an adult ed. class in 1976 on Sat. morn.to learn the basics, and learned from there. Get the 175 as sooner or later you will need the extra amps. Protect your EYES, a blind man can't weld,so keep your safety glasses on @ all times!!!!!! Good luck, if I can help in any way get in touch, the ol boys that taught my a lot of tricks said all I owed them was to pass it on!! B.C.

[storts]

Couple Years Late

It sure is great to see new talent entering the trade.

Onempg,
Your choice of machines is perfect for your application. The 175 has plenty of power to handle auto work and light trailer frames with ease. The 30% duty cycle isn't a worry, because, you'd have to run it WFO on heavy material to melt down the transformer. Remember the duty cycle of any machine is rated in the percentage of ten minutes. (3 minutes welding, 7 minutes idle at rated output) Using 100% Co2 helps to keep the gun cooler, but, 75-25 will give a better weld appearance. Also use ER70S-6 wire for the wetting action of the bead. Just keep in mind the steel must be CLEAN. No paint, rust, plating or grease. The better the prep the better weld.

Good luck, study and do your best! "Coach"

P.S. That fact that your school does not have shop classes is a sad condition of the American school administrations and insurance regulations (sorry, I mean gread). I have a great deal of disgust for the way the vocations are being shoved out of high schools. My view of this is the school admins' think all of the work magically gets done at the factory with no human help. Or, they want all students to be a clean finger nails "Bill Gates", to late he's the last one. I'd love to rant on about this, but, nothing I say will change anything 'till we have no jobs here because all the work was sent overseas.

Being a welding and fab shop owner for 28 years,and i just hit the big 50, the jobs are allready there, Belive me ,i do work for fortune 100 co.,s only,,The land that we LOVE, is not helping us, and Its a shame, we cant do any thing about it,So we do what ever we can do, if only the 80's would come back, everythought that Ronald Reagan with his trickle down economics,were crazy, well everybody was making money, and spending money,which made more jobs,No Im not Rush Limbah,, But what he harped on, He was correct, In 10 years from now , whos going to build our homes,?Do the welding and fab buisness?I went to the school of hard knocks, and some old timers, that took me under there wing, Thank God for them,The welding schools in Ct. are teaching these kids that they go to work for pratt, at $28.00 per hr, plus full bennies,dont sweep floors,or wash windows, the students have been in my shop as field trips,Job shops are tough, you do what ever you are asked, and Im the easyest guy do work for, I treat people the way I want to be treated, and I would never send one of my guys to do a job that I would not do myself,But,,,,,,Its not pratt, at 28+bennies a hour,,needless to say, there wernt alot of field trips to my shop any more, All I did was tell the truth,,,Hope this helps, Jack

[hankj]

1Mpg,

If you're anywhere near me, e-mail me and I'll give you directions to the Gadget Garage. You can come by and play wth the machines and the O/A setup if you like.

Hank