Backwards revelation

[JayRS4]

Guys (and girls) i`m having a bit of a dilema. As some of you may have recently read, my old faithful migatronic went bang. Since then i`ve had no real choice but to use an old buzz box that belongs to my grandfather and is without doubt probably twice as old as myself.

I`ve absolutely loved every minute of it and i`m wondering if i really need to replace the mig. Most of my work is over 2mm thick, and nearly all plain steel. I`ve banned myself from having anoything to do with cars and odd jobs like that, so thin stuff is very rare. I`d actually say at this point that my mma welds are actually better than anything i`ve done with mig (photos on request) despite the fact that i`ve probably only ever done a few hours with mma, and have spent the last 9 years using mig.

Now I should point out, this isn`t a hobby thing these days, i`ve made the jump to doing it for a living.

Am I talking crazy? Have the fumes gotten to me? Is it too early to have a drink?

Your input on this please folks, and I know this is a diy based forum, but it`s the professionals i`m looking for the real inout from.

And I know it`s almost what i`m asking, but if this turns into an arc vs mig argument, then i`ll have to ask a mod to remove the thread. We`re talking a light fabrication environment, not someone sticking rusty bits of tin together.
Sorry if i sound like an ****, but there have been too many threads turn that way, and thats also why i`ve put it here, and not in the arc section.

Thanks folks

 

[pedrobedro]

If what you are doing is working for you why are you even asking ? Only thing I would say is get your own machine and give your grandad his toys back.
It sounds like you are saying that you weren't very good at mig welding by the way

 

[shenion]

MMA is fine. I use it most of the time as it is much faster to set up.

Only if I am doing thin stuff or a large job do I use the MIG. I lived without it for 8 months as I was out of gas. Did not miss it much. My positional is not that good on arc; use MIG on stuff i cant do on the bench.

MIG is more productive and easier but has more fiddling with settings.

If you get a need for thin stuff, pick up s real small MIG.

 

[the snooper]

i use mma / mig depending on what im welding i like both, both have their advantages
i think you should decide using running costs of both machines and time taken cleaning welds up
replacement cost of mig i wouldnt include
easiest, cheapest, quickest

 

[JayRS4]

I`ve got a 200 amp tig sitting here too, but it`s currently 3 phase, not for long though. I think i`ve answered my own question really. And yes, it does sound like i`m saying i`m not very good at mig, but i`m not going to go saying i`m gods gift, because there are many people far better.

 

[Richm]

Nothing wrong with arc!

 

[English Steve]

Only comment I can make is that for the production environment, the MIG is more time efficient. Horses for courses - if it suits you, do it!

Oh, and good luck with the enterprise.

 

[Weldingartisan]

I run a small fabrication business, my first discipline is MMA which I still prefere. However my business would not survive without MIG and TIG also. Although I am quite capable of laying down a MMA bead (been doing it for 40 years) MIG is so much quicker for general fabrication and TIG for aluminium and fine/alloy work. You would struggle to run a 'weld what comes in the door' business without all three and of course O/A for general heating and brazing. W/A

 

[Hitch]

If you would say that keeping times down on jobs is important, MIG is the way forward.
If you don't need to make lots of money, your MMA will be fine.
MMA is quite time consuming (in most cases) as i am sure you know. Keeping time down and so keeping costs down is very important at the moment to stay competitive.

When you say you are doing it for a living, is it still part time? Or 60 hrs a week?

 

[JayRS4]

I think i`m coming to the conclusion I may just have been having a mad moment.

Hitch, it`s been a part time thing for a long time, but i`m trying to make a go of it full time now. Medical issues are getting in the way at the moment as I can`t stand for too long at a time, and can`t lift a great deal. Luckily the new hip is now booked for 5 months time. I will b replacing my mig now, but I think i`ll just be using MMA a bit more often than before, it`s what got me into welding in the first place, and I get more of a buzz from it. Ok, it might not be the way a succesful business is run, but i`ve always said it should be about doing what you enjoy most, than just a daily grind to earn money