Fantasy MIG Welder

[malcolm]

What would you have if budget wasn't a problem? Features, manufacturer etc?

My Portamig has gone a bit funny recently. Still welds great but I'm getting older and more fussy so I'm thinking about an upgrade.

I only run a couple of kg of wire a year, but do find welding fun. And if there's something that's actually fun to use when welding really thin stuff upside-down (0.8mm and below) then it would be worth a lot.

Matt's double-pulse synergic sounds fun but also sounds expensive. What has anyone tried? What would be your fantasy MIG welder?

 

[Hitch]

If cash wasnt a problem, the last thing i would buy would be a mig welder

But seeing as it is...id quite like one of the kemppi miniarc 180
Just the job to chuck in the back of the van

 

[irondarren]

Had a good look at those kemppi miniarc's looks a nice little machine, does say you can use flux cored wire, which does make it a good chuck in the van welder. I do like the pulse mig units, spray transfer at dip transfer voltage, got to be brilliant for welding gates as it eliminates splatter (well almost). But at the moment i would settle for a good single phase 250amp + machine as im using a sad little sealey 180.

Whats wrong with the portamig malcolm? or are you using cheap wire

 

[daf45]

Yeah, whats wrong with the portamig

 

[Hitch]

One thing that would improve the kemppi though, is if they did a 110v version

 

[snowcat]

Fronius TransPuls Synergic 4000, lovely machine, ally no problem as you get a continual amp and voltage adjustment, mmmm

As hitch said If money was no object id be by a ski slope someware, with a bevy of beautys..

 

[irondarren]

110v on site is an ass, normally the biggest MMA unit you can get is 150amps. You dont see many 110volt migs over here, butters do that pulse synergic unit the 2050, which says 115v/230 auto switching which is 185amps, be suprised if it is 185amps on 110v

 

[ian of fev]

mine would be a Kemppi WeldForce KPS5500 Water Cooled mig we have two where i work and i have had to use it once or twice to do a couple of jobs if i had the money and 415v thats the one for me

 

[Drains]

Here's my fantasy welder.

Oooooh, twins!!!!!

 

[Unclefista]

Scottie Chapman from Mythbusters would be OK with me if she was in my stocking on Christmas morning

And here she is working on her (Hiroshima) tan

 

[snowcat]

Has she been in juilet?

 

[shenion]

I'd go for an inverter multiprocess machine AC/DC MIG/TIG/ARC, separate wire feeder.

"One box to rule them all"

A big generator/welder would be second choice. Would do CV/CC, and HF start.

Scottie can come help me anytime.

 

[malcolm]

I was thinking more along the lines of welding machines rather than welding females.

Whats wrong with the portamig malcolm? or are you using cheap wire

BOC Wire - used to be OK stuff and no it's not rusty.

Portamig has dirt in one of the connectors somewhere I assume - heats up and reduces the current while the wire speed stays the same so needs constant adjustment while welding. Just need to spend the time to be methodical and fix it. Also getting electric shocks through the torch swan neck insulation, but never liked the 4m torch so might try a new 3m.

The one box does them all sounds useful - the Syncrowave is a lovely welder but takes up a lot of space. While we're at it the synergic ones could be fun, though for a 2kg a year wire user could be a bit silly on price. I ought to take some very thin metal to a dealer and try one out.

 

[rusty69bus]

you mean you don't wear trousers?

 

[snowcat]

While we're at it the synergic ones could be fun, though for a 2kg a year wire user could be a bit silly on price. I ought to take some very thin metal to a dealer and try one out.

Wouldnt if I was you malc, your be drawling at the bit, and its only punishment touching things you cant afford.. and I am still talking welders

 

[malcolm]

Wouldnt if I was you malc, your be drawling at the bit, and its only punishment touching things you cant afford.. and I am still talking welders

Not a bad thought. Been working too much this year and it's bugging me. I like to go for short bursts of really heavy work then take a break. This year the short bursts have merged into eachother and I'm knackered and a bit down.

Figured I'd cheer myself up by spending the money buying shiny things. Doing quite well with that at the moment.

New welder would clearly be silly as Portamig would function perfectly well for what I need when I spend the hour cleaning the connection that would fix it. Ought to do that at the weekend really as it's handy to have a welder that works predictably.

But big success on this thread so far - hope it's broken the taboo we seem to have with complaining about Portamigs. Maybe it's only me that's broken the thing through underuse. Be keen for others not to hold back - once we're all out of warranty it would be useful if we can help eachother out.

But back to the point which was Fantasy Welders I've not specified a budget - what's the coolest feature you guys would fancy?

What would you have if (like me in fantasy mode) you could chose your toys?

And why? What do all these cool features do?

 

[Hitch]

If i had endless cash, I dont think id like a multi process plant, its a pain in the backside swapping a tig from DC to AC, let alone MIG to TIG!!

 

[Hitch]

Automatic gas and wire changer would be nice!!!
The machine could walk over to the store, pick up a new reel, pull the remainder out and install the new one.... out to the gas compound, lift the new bottle on the back and connect up the reg.


Or a cordless welder, no pipes, hoses, cables.... just a torch. That would be smart!!

 

[irondarren]

Did think changing around from MIG to TIG to arc would be a pain, on the multi purpose sets. Guess they would be ok if your called out to repair something then you can make a choice what to use, as you have to set it up on site anyway.
Definately a nice pulse machine, that allows you to mix your own shielding gas as you require it, bottle of O2, He, Ar and CO2, neatly sitting there dial in the gas mix and power settings and away you go

 

[snowcat]

I like the idea of an auto wire changer and gas, A silent fan and water cooler so i dont need the radio so loud, Oh and something on the torch to autoprep, I seem to spend too much of my life V preping inch plate and Im with you on the multi process plant Hitch I cant stand swaping the dinzies round from A/C to D/C.Oh every machine no bigger or heavier than an inverter that would be nice.