What features would you like to see on a MIG/GMAW gun?

[rlizotte]

Hey everybody,

Just doing a bit of research - what features do you like about your typical hand-held semi automatic MIG/GMAW gun? What features do you wish you could get on a gun?

Any ideas/suggestions/wish lists welcome! Green Light thinking here, no suggestions are bad ones!

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Hitch]

I gather your researching to develop a new product then? Any chance you could tell us a bit about yourself please?

 

[knoba]

A clip on gun welding shield like what Vasquez uses in Aliens - only an auto darkening one - and with Carol Vorderman to mop my brow ...perhaps!

Welcome chap!

 

[Hitch]

I like big triggers, such as the tough gun torches, easy to use with big gloves on.
They do then become a pain when you put them down though, accidently depressing the trigger..... some sort of trigger latch for off perhaps, something very rugged and ver quick to operate.

 

[Archie]

I'd love to see one with a more flexible ball joint. Even better would be if the torch could actually turn 360 about the flex to prevent you from having to flick it round when the flex gets twisted but I really can't see how this could practically be implemented.

 

[Hitch]

Know what you mean Archie... ive often though it was time someone made a cordless welder

 

[Archie]

Haha! I've wondered about a cordless one myself in those childish 'what if' moments. Untwisting the flex is especially tedious with a 4m MB36!

 

[knoba]

What would be nice is a remote (alternatively separate?) to trim the wire speed, until it's optimum, whilst welding. Having to stop & re-adjust the feed speed is a nuisance sometimes, and leaves me wondering if it is spot on.

Carol Vorderville could still help ...I suppose!

 

[TechnicAl]

Know what you mean Archie... ive often though it was time someone made a cordless welder

Have you never seen Escape from Alcatraz where Clint Eastwood welds a knife and spoon together (or whatever it is) with a fag packet and a box of matches. (Thermit Process)

 

[English Steve]

Have you never seen Escape from Alcatraz where Clint Eastwood welds a knife and spoon together (or whatever it is) with a fag packet and a box of matches. (Thermit Process)

Yeah, but Clint Eastwood can shoot 9 baddies with 6 bullets

 

[Archie]

So could I if you gave me a big enough bullet!

"Less of those negative vibes"

 

[English Steve]

So could I if you gave me a big enough bullet!

"Less of those negative vibes"

 

[rlizotte]

Thanks for the excellent feedback thus far!

We're looking at making some improvments to our current offering and I figured this would be an excellent place to gather some input and feedback regarding current features you guys enjoy and things you'd like to see that would make your lives/jobs easier.

Hitch - I am an engineer for a welding component manufacturer in Canada. I'd rather not get into the specifics of the company, etc. but I will tell you that any and all suggestions posted on this thread will be considered by our engineering and product management departments.

Thanks again for all the great suggestions, and keep 'em coming!!

Ryan

 

[knoba]

• Bendable swan necks?
• Ceramic shrouds?
• Gas jets / lenses?
• A serviceable stainless steel liner?
• Carol..?

 

[Hitch]

What would be nice is a remote (alternatively separate?) to trim the wire speed, until it's optimum, whilst welding. Having to stop & re-adjust the feed speed is a nuisance sometimes, and leaves me wondering if it is spot on.

Carol Vorderville could still help ...I suppose!

Been done Knoba.
Only seen it on a Migatronic, you could adjust a dial on the torch with your thumb as you welded. Alternativly, some units have a small control panel which detaches from the feeder for adjusting.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Have you never seen Escape from Alcatraz where Clint Eastwood welds a knife and spoon together (or whatever it is) with a fag packet and a box of matches. (Thermit Process)

Would that be called a spife or a knoon?
Well, we've already got the 'spork'

 

[engybenjy]

How about a " gas burst " button?? As in a small button on the top of the gun, sort of opposite the trigger but a bit more for'd so you could push it with your thumb to get a release of gas pre/post weld.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Someone came up with that idea a few years back, it was intended for puffing out small fires I believe.

 

[rlizotte]

@engybenjy -

I know we already offer an option like that on our robotic guns, but it's a burst of compressed air, not shielding gas. Do you want is as a means of pugrging the gas line, or more as a cleaning mechanism? To blow crud out of the nozzle/diffuser, and to put out small fires as Wozzaaah suggested?

@knoba -
I know we already offer bendable swannecks, We haven't looked into ceramic shrouds yet. What exactly are you looking for in the gas jets/ lenses? We don't offer a stainless liner, but we do offer a patented liner that loads from the front to dramatically reduce downtime. You just remove the shroud / diffuser and tip, pull the liner out and feed a new one in, cut to length and put your shroud / diffuser and tip back on.

Keep the suggestions rolling in guys..

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[engybenjy]

rlizette: From my point of view as a hobby welder, it would be useful as a pre/post burst of shielding gas. Ive noticed if ive been doing some high amps stuff the weld pool takes a while to solidify. I thought it might be useful to provide a bit of shielding gas........but I could just be being pedantic.......
Cheers, Ben