Welder question: MIG or TIG?

[mdross1]

[quote=Bernica;1371595]I decided to take welding classes a few years ago and learned traditional stick, FCAW, Oxy/Acet gas, MIG welding and plasma cutting. Tried a little TIG, but not much. To me, TIG was like trying to play a drumset! But the welds were awesome. I use the MIG most of the time and agree about the splatter spray. It works great.

So that led to the disease...
And I now own a great Millermatic 180 AutoSet on a cart with a big bottle, a complete Oxy/Acet setup with big bottles and Victor Journeyman hose / torch setup, and a Powermax 45 plasma cutter (love it!). Then of course you have to get a cool auto-dimming Miller helmet and lots of accessories for all the stuff! Then you end up buying or building a rolling welding table.

Then you want to start making stuff all the time, so I pulled out my old broken-down circa 1980 Lincoln AC225 stick welder and completely rebuilt and restored it and made a very cool cart for it. Now I think I have it all covered!



Almost decided what my replacement welding machine will be to replace my Miller Mig and 1970's vintage Lincoln 225 it will more than likely be the Lincoln Power Mig 210MP.
Was going to sell the old machines but really like the idea of rebuilding the Lincoln 225 is was my first new welder. Thank you Bernica for the inspiration.

[Dwight]

I bought my Lincoln welder in 1969. I still have it and use it from time to time. I extended the welding leads a few years back so I could leave the machine in the front of my shop and weld on my lay out table in the back room. This summer I made an 40' extension cord so I could use the weld on the concrete in front of my shop. I had to repair a large trailer that I could not get into my shop.

I bought my gas rig in '69 or '70. About ten years ago I had the gauges rebuild. Still use them. Good tool can last for ever


Dwight

[A98Coupe]

Originally Posted by lippy

Thanks for all the good input.

I decided to go with the Eastwood DC 200 TIG. I know it's a Chinese machine, but at least it's backed by Eastwood. It was on pre-Black Friday special for $379 and includes a torch and foot pedal. The feature set is good for the price: dual-voltage, HF start, and DC TIG up to 200A.

Now I just need a helmet and the rest of the gear...

Jeff,
Make sure you've got a decent grinding wheel because you'll be frequently grinding a new point on your tungsten rod until you get the hange of keeping the required 2mm gap from the work piece. Get too close and your pull molten metal onto the rod, get too far away and you burn the end of the tip away. Also, I would get a light reactive helmet. You can see the job quite clearly with the visor down so helps your positioning before you start the arc. Good luck and enjoy the welding experience!

[Dwight]

great advice from A98Coupe

I have a dedicated bench grinder for tungsten.

in this pic you can see my little old Lincoln sitting by the door. I added a back room just for welding, grinding and storage. I did not move the Lincoln but my leads are long enough to reach my new welding table in the back room.


in this pic you can see my mig on the right hand side and the tig in behind the table next to the bathroom door.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by mdross1

Was going to sell the old machines but really like the idea of rebuilding the Lincoln 225 is was my first new welder. Thank you Bernica for the inspiration.

The 225 was my first welder too. We used to call them "buzz boxes" or "tombstones".

This one was dragged through many construction sites over the years, then sat in the rain and weeds for more years. I found parts still available from Lincoln (even a new faceplate), rebuilt the switch and wiring, and put in a new fan. Did some sandblasting and bodywork and had a friend spray it with good epoxy paint. New leads etc and it works as good as new! The old ones are way better than the new ones you get at Home Depot. I also added a small rod heater for 7018 rods to the back of the cart.

[lippy]

Sweet job on that old Lincoln.

So I got the TIG up and running yesterday. The cost of the welder was relatively low next to everything else I needed (good helmet, clamps, magnets, Tungsten, welding rod...). And the cost of Argon and a tank has gone up a ton. Airgas wanted $280 for an 80 CF tank plus $99 for a fill. I got it from a local guy for $220 with the fill. Still expensive, though.

[Bernica]

A yup! Cost of the welder is just the cost of entry! Like buying a boat!
Don't forget the proper grinder wheel for the tungsten.
Good luck with the new machine.