First mig welder

[Bill Edwards]

I'm talking about the OP perhaps having an industrial machines on single phase, not three phase. I know it's available, but it certainly wouldn't be my choice for a bit of light MIG work as you're then tied to three phase power outlets.

It's just a thought that some industrial machines may be designed with thicker metal in mind, so it seems sensible to check they're good for low current.

 

[norlander]

I have used my GYS 162 for sheetmetal, a stainless steel exhaust fix, a safety bar for a tractor and many other projects. Inside the workshop and outside. Had it a year and used it a lot.
You will have to budget for many other tools/items than just the welder itself, 1000 euros on the welder itself is a big outlay for a DIY guy.
From memory, GYS do a 182 smartmig which has MMA, around 550 euros I think, but if you find you need MMA for tractor work, you can easily hire them, or buy a basic set later.
I have had no problems with the range of settings on my 162.

 

[Kent]

I have used my GYS 162 for sheetmetal, a stainless steel exhaust fix, a safety bar for a tractor and many other projects. Inside the workshop and outside. Had it a year and used it a lot.
You will have to budget for many other tools/items than just the welder itself, 1000 euros on the welder itself is a big outlay for a DIY guy.
From memory, GYS do a 182 smartmig which has MMA, around 550 euros I think, but if you find you need MMA for tractor work, you can easily hire them, or buy a basic set later.
I have had no problems with the range of settings on my 162.

do you think a GYS 162 can really handle say 10mm ? I must admit I have thoughts that any mig 200 or less should stick to 6 or perhaps 8mm if you don't need full strength as a maximum. Of course some bits of a tractor are thin and have low strength requirements, other bits are heavy duty and get abused no end

 

[norlander]

do you think a GYS 162 can really handle say 10mm ? I must admit I have thoughts that any mig 200 or less should stick to 6 or perhaps 8mm if you don't need full strength as a maximum. Of course some bits of a tractor are thin and have low strength requirements, other bits are heavy duty and get abused no end

I thought I wrote : but if you find you need MMA for tractor work, you can easily hire them, or buy a basic set later. So no, I would not use my 162 for 10mm, I would use my stick set, which is what I did for the cage mounts in 8mm, I used the 162 to weld the 40mm/2mm wall tube for the cage, and the repairs in the mudguards and weld to on the exhaust extension.
The 162 will do 3mm ezy, 5mm I'm happy about, it will stick 8mm together, but like yourself as mentioned in another thread, 5mm and above I like to MMA it,- I often use stick on 3mm stuff as well.
I would want MMA and MIG for tractors, trailers etc which is why I mentioned the 182 which has both.

 

[TurtleDude]

I thought I wrote : but if you find you need MMA for tractor work, you can easily hire them, or buy a basic set later. So no, I would not use my 162 for 10mm, I would use my stick set, which is what I did for the cage mounts in 8mm, I used the 162 to weld the 40mm/2mm wall tube for the cage, and the repairs in the mudguards and weld to on the exhaust extension.
The 162 will do 3mm ezy, 5mm I'm happy about, it will stick 8mm together, but like yourself as mentioned in another thread, 5mm and above I like to MMA it,- I often use stick on 3mm stuff as well.
I would want MMA and MIG for tractors, trailers etc which is why I mentioned the 182 which has both.

Are you sure the GYS Smartmig 182 has the ability to do MMA/ Stick? I can't find reference to it being anything other than MIG/MAG & Gasless anywhere?

Not trying to be picky it's just I'm considering a 162 in my shortlist and the 182 is a bucketload more money but doesn't appear to have any more features, just more grunt.

 

[Kent]

wasn't disagreeing just asking, it did read a bit ambiguous with mention of hiring in etc.

 

[norlander]

Sorry, my mistake, its the 3P http://www.gys.fr/pdf/datasheet/uk/033177.pdf

wasn't disagreeing just asking, it did read a bit ambiguous with mention of hiring in etc.

I'm same school as you I think, lower juice MIGs have their "confidence" limits for old school welders , MMA just packs that extra punch, it might be physcolokul, but I like to have my MMA kit to turn to for some jobs.
I just think that some folks will push a 160amp or less MIG beyond it limits, the bead will look ok, but watching it burning in against burning in a 2.5/3.2 on the same materiel just makes me feel happier.
Its relative of course, you might be laying down an inch or so with the MIG on some jobs, so the heat sink effect does not suck the juice out of the process, but then thats getting above my skill level/experience zone.
Turtledude, I like seperates, I was lucky and dropped onto an inverter MMA which is featherweight and easy to lug about, its a "handbag" set, my GYS 162 is a hefty bit of kit, so I like to leave it set up for gas in my shop, but, I did grunt it about on site using fluxcore, and it impressed me.
kitch-I would think you have a wide choice in Germany, but I am well happy with my GYS 162, and I would get an MMA set later if you need it for the tractor work,
That mini is not worth welding, just drive it over the border to me and I will give you a couple of bottles of decent red wine for it

 

[TurtleDude]

Ok, well I deflected a bit which I'll go into on 'my' thread. Thanks for all the advice. I too am now a handbag wearer!

 

[kitch]

Thanks for all the advise! Was pretty set on getting the Jäckle machine but the birth of our first daughter delayed me purchasing it.

One of the guys at work recommended another local shop dealing in Kemppi and Lorch. I had a quick go with a Kemppi Minarcmig Evo 200 yesterday and I am once again confused

As I have budgeted around 1000 Euros for the machine the price is still ok...ish. The advantages which I saw yesterday are that it runs off a 230V supply. Is nice and small and portable and for a beginner the display and the settings seem really simple to set up.

One of the main reasons I am not so keen on the GYS unit is that I am worried about support afterwards being a beginner. The guy yesterday let me have a go with the unit and explained its ins and outs.

If I order a unit online then I am worried that I will have problems setting it up and then have no support. Am I worring about nothing?

 

[KemppiFrog]

Kitch
I am a bit with Norlander on this. You need a welder to fix up your Mini. A cheepy 100 amp unit will do that. Beyond this you might need a more powerful unit to weld tractors, a completly different game. Start gently with a small unit, learn the art and then re-assess your needs. You can always sell the smaller unit, as long as it is a known one like a GYS. As others said, an MMA unit will do a good job on farm stuff with it's thick sections. A mig to do the same will be quite expensive. Save your money until you have more experience. I know it sounds a good idea to buy one to do all your requirements, but there is a big difference in the scale of the jobs.