Arc vs Mig

[bigegg]

aaaaarrrrggggghhhh!
Every time I look at http://www.weldequip.com,
my expected outlay increases!

better get welding up some stock
- and selling some!

 

[Ed.]

Hi, had a quick look at the 2 units you mentioned and just comparing these 2 units on specs alone, my pick would be the IFL 170.

Based on the fact that it's duty cycles are way higher than the Portamig 185 which are also even higher than the Portamig 215 as well, so more options of greater work possibilities should they present, it is an inverter style so infinite voltage variation instead of 12 steps for the Portamig, so you can tweak your welds better, 17kg weight as opposed to 48Kg, so makes it much more portable for mobile work. Difference is it means picking up the IFL with one hand or possibly doing your back in moving a Portamig out of a van if going mobile. Inverters have less power requirements for more welding grunt, I personally much prefer welding with inverter types.

The Portamigs' advantage is that it can take 15Kg and 5kg spools as against the 5Kg spools only of the IFL, and it has a inbuilt bottle support. You will need to build a trolley for the IFL which shouldn't be a big deal for you. The IFL has basic TIG functions (you will need to provide accessories and different gas). They both only use 1 drive wheel which is adequate but not great but common on all lower end welders.

I have absolutely no idea as to the quality of these 2 brands as to their longevity or accessories or their performance, just basing my opinion on your choice of these 2 machines specs.

The other options are to compare other brands and also used units, if you go used, then there are risks as in no warranty, but upside is you will get much more bang for your buck ($, or GBP in your case), so long as it doesn't go "bang". Also you will need to assess the dealers reputation for service and support ect. or alternatively if you go used, then locate a welder repair center near you and ask about the reliability or average general cost of repairs of whatever used welder you are interested in. Also discuss the reliability of Inverter vs Transformer based welders (both no name and brand name units that you are interested in) with them.

Do you have a registered business doing welding or is this a hobby type to earn extra income?

Cheers

Ed.

 

[bigegg]

I'm a registered business - wooden stuff mainly, but branching (ha-ha) out into metal - but only part-time (early retirement at 41 due to laziness )

 

[bigegg]

Ed. you have pretty much summed up my thinking on the two units.
I'm seriously tempted towards the IFL, mainly cos I would like to dabble in TIG.

The comparative mobility doesn't worry me - wheels and a tail lift on the van , but the reliability does - as a part timer, I don't want to be shelling out on a new unit in a couple of years.

 

[Ed.]

The reason I asked about the registered business is that, if you are making enough and are paying taxes. You could possibly justify the purchase of a much better or even brand name machine by offsetting the cost of the new welder by taking out a small business loan which you then could claim the loan interest and the annual depreciation of the welder off your taxable income. You should talk to your accountant to see if that is a viable option.

Cheers

Ed.

 

[Ed.]

Forgot to mention, regarding you dabbling in TIG, you will need another bottle of gas (Argon) plus it's associated rental costs, do not bother with disposable bottles as you will go through a heap of gas, much more than the MIG does. You cannot use your argon mix for TIG, also there are probably much better featured machines suited if you want to TIG welding. MIG and TIG operated in different ways (CV vs CC), so a MIG welder that does TIG and MMA is probably a compromise somewhere.

I have both, a big MIG and a 250A TIG 4 in 1 which gives me a choice of AC/DC TIG welding, MMA welding and a plasma cutter to boot.

Cheers

Ed.

 

[bigegg]

The reason I asked about the registered business is that, if you are making enough and are paying taxes. You could possibly justify the purchase of a much better or even brand name machine by offsetting the cost of the new welder by taking out a small business loan which you then could claim the loan interest and the annual depreciation of the welder off your taxable income. You should talk to your accountant to see if that is a viable option.

Cheers

Ed.

:thumbsup:
good thinking, but I don't do credit.

The savings aren't really worthwhile TBH, I pay very little tax

 

[bigegg]

oohhhh
Plasma cutter.
Want one of those as well

My budget is going through the roof.
Think I'd better rein myself in, severely

 

[Ed.]

Having owned the 4-1, I think I would have been better off with a separate Plasma cutter, but the price difference from a 3-1 to a 4-1 wasn't that great so effectively I have a 60A plasma cutter facility for about $200, but switching over the hoses to use the TIG from the plasma is a bit of a pain but not a deal breaker that's why I went for the 4-1.

Ahh! so many toys that one needs!(wants). What's that saying...?

"Champagne tastes but on a Beer income."

Cheers

Ed.

 

[PTvor]

aaaaarrrrggggghhhh!
Every time I look at http://www.weldequip.com,
my expected outlay increases!

better get welding up some stock
- and selling some!

It's all about money and the amount of use you are going to get out of it and the value of saved time and the cost of down time and unreliability. A lot of this depends on the volume you are doing. Well there's also the fascination of new and better tools.

You could always go back to Plan A. Stick with the buzz box for everything 3mm and more and get a Clarke for sub 3mm stuff and work on the Transit. Boring, but the cheapest option unless you cost the time savings by using MIG for the heavier stuff.

 

[bigegg]

It's the time itself I want to save - I only want to work part time

The welding itself isn't really the biggest issue tbh, it's the squaring up, and moving from corner to corner to tack up, then round again to weld up. I estimate less than an hour's actual welding, and 6 hours moving stuff round and faffing
After spending all day today on it, I've decided my time would be better spent making a rotisserie jig, rather than having to constantly move 50kgs+ of steel round on my bench.

The "infill" part of the ramp (25x25x3mm angle) that the car actually sits on is the only part where I am almost constantly welding. That could be done with a 135A MIG, possibly less, since I only use about 90-95A on the buzz box.

Think that might be a couple of new threads tho...

 

[bigegg]

Plan A it is.
Just been given my dad's SIP 130 welder (1986 vintage).
Since it'll be taking up shed space anyway, I might as well just do the mods to that, and save myself a couple of hundred quid

 

[PTvor]

The welding itself isn't really the biggest issue tbh, it's the squaring up, and moving from corner to corner to tack up, then round again to weld up. I estimate less than an hour's actual welding, and 6 hours moving stuff round and faffing

After spending all day today on it, I've decided my time would be better spent making a rotisserie jig, rather than having to constantly move 50kgs+ of steel round on my bench.

The "infill" part of the ramp (25x25x3mm angle) that the car actually sits on is the only part where I am almost constantly welding. That could be done with a 135A MIG, possibly less, since I only use about 90-95A on the buzz box.

It seems to me that you are doing the sensible thing in identifying and tackling the major time waster in the process and not being seduced by shiny new tools.

Of course, when you've built the jig and tried out the 135A SIP, you could still decide that a brand new MIG set is the way to go, and it would be nice...............