Upped my budget! Which mig?

[F.J.]

Right, this I the last time I promise. I have been postin for months getting people's opinions on MIG units specific for welding aluminium. I have had my eys on a Kemppi Minarc MIG 200 Evo for some time but with not enough info regarding ally weldin I have been on the look out for other Migs capable of ally work.

I've looked at all sorts of machines such as the Esab caddy 200, cebora Bravo Synergic range, and even Chinese machines although I was quickly put off these for obvious reasons. I have also looked into spool on guns and push pull guns to fit to my Lincoln compact 350 but there just isn't enough visual evidence for me to convince myself to buy any of the above.

I'm fully aware that a Pulse mig is the way to go but I just cannot afford one!

I originally had a budget of £1000 but have now decided to up to to around £16/1800 so I ask you good people to help me decide which to get. It doesn't have to brand new as that way I may be able to get a better machine.

Thanks
Dean

 

[steve.h]

I dont know a great deal about ali mig, but from what I do know you really wanta spool gun rather than running the wire from the machine. My understanding of it is any good mig will do ali it is just a case of thespool gun. I always rate my Portamig, I would like to get a spool gunfor ali, although at themoment I dont work with ali sonot much point I guess. I would of thought a nice ac/dc tig would be well within your budget, I would go for a tig if I was doing a lot with ali, but thats just my opinion and I dont know that much....

 

[gordon stephenson]

I have still not tried any mig on aluminium, But Wyn posted a while ago with pic's using his Kemppi minarc 180 to weld aluminium,Looked like very good results,http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=28831

 

[tomb]

I was looking for another mig a few months ago, so did some phoning around. Westermans and the Welding machine workshop both have secondhand 400ish amp, 3ph, water cooled, pulse migs available within your price range from known manufactures. I found a 12 month old twin pulse Lincoln for a steal after a lot of searching.

 

[Epicyclic]

Dean, isn't this any good "Tec arc 206i AC/DC Full package" in the for sale forum? It is TIG but well within your new budget.....

 

[wyn]

As Gordon says, i have used a 180 minarc on aluminium.

It worked very well and was easy to set up but i think the max settings were only for 3mm thick.

There could well be something better around if you've upped your budget.

 

[F.J.]

I was looking for another mig a few months ago, so did some phoning around. Westermans and the Welding machine workshop both have secondhand 400ish amp, 3ph, water cooled, pulse migs available within your price range from known manufactures. I found a 12 month old twin pulse Lincoln for a steal after a lot of searching.

Ive just had a look on their sites, i will be contacting both tomorrow as the prices arent shown. However, i am really after a smaller unit that i can put on the back of my flat bed and take to site with me. Ive used a Pulse mig before, a Thermadyne SP320 i think and it was a dream to use. If i could get the machines that i repair to my workshop then i would definatley go for a Pulse set.

Thanks for the heads up

 

[F.J.]

Dean, isn't this any good "Tec arc 206i AC/DC Full package" in the for sale forum? It is TIG but well within your new budget.....

Ive just seen it. I have been contemplating buying a Spool on gun or pull push torch for my Lincoln Compact 350 so if i did that i would have cash left in my budget to get an ACDC tig which is something ive always wanted. It just isnt needed for what i do just yet so i dont know if i could justify buying one.............decisions decisions