Mig vs stick welding?

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:23

Thanks very much, lots of useful information there. I'll persevere with the mig then. Have finished all the mig work at college so that leaves me the stick and tig modules to do now. I've got a full set of protective gear including flame retardant overalls and back-to-front baseball cap! I was kinda lucky with the mig that I bought 'cos it came with an auto-darkening helmet that's probably worth more than the welder!

Also came with un-used disposable bottles of argon/co2 mix.

I've been spending quite a bit of time on the mig welding forum recently . . . the tutorials and calculators are really useful.

Stainless wire though . . . hadn't heard about using that, so will go and check prices.

Its taken me several weeks of practice to do five of the test pieces with mig at college. I did three in one evening with the stick last night!

Really enjoying the course.

Tony

Post by **HarryMann** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:57

and back-to-front baseball cap!

hehe, I do that under my auto helmet... and I did the same, bought a cheap nasty MIG but with a Horner helmet (BOC branded), replaced them both now with better models...

Stick with the stick welding if you like it, two strings to your bow then..

PeteM (SyncroPete) is very good with stick welding, being a plant fitter, uses it a lot. Has also got a spot welder thingy.

Small reel of that stainless is about a tenner from Halfwits. Have been making a lot of bits in stainless lately...

The wire is 306L or similar...

Post by **Martin** » 04 Nov 2008, 22:58

wouldn't be using stainless wire on mild myself, not a good mix.

it's just practise, the gas thing is expensive.

i use co2 on mild coz its cheep i get a big bottle from a mate,
but i also use argon light were it matters and pure argon on ali.

but whilst your practising co2 and some cheep wire off ebay.
the co pub bottles do come on ebay every now and then.

Post by **HarryMann** » 04 Nov 2008, 23:19

wouldn't be using stainless wire on mild myself, not a good mix.

No, I'm sure it's not... but I get so fagged with constantly changing the wire and as said have been doing tons of stainless lately...

but better than mild with stainless that so many tend to do!!

and for cement mixers, seems more succesful so far than 2 others who welded it up with normal copper coated steel

Post by **Rozzo** » 05 Nov 2008, 07:57

i've just got some "gasless" 0.8 wire and other than loads of spatter it seems ok. not as fussy about clean metal and works in high wind so i'll be giving it a go

Post by **Martin** » 05 Nov 2008, 17:16

gasless wire is ok,
it's expensive tho.

Post by **Rozzo** » 05 Nov 2008, 17:56

not really m8,,, fiver a roll

Post by **HarryMann** » 05 Nov 2008, 18:31

IMHO and TBH, and in reality....

..it's this constant fag of changing systems that in practice, means you will maybe just want 'one system' that you can pick up and work with at short notice, hence despite a bit of extra cost, a std. wire (always 0.8mm) and nozzle in mine, and a hobby bottle or two even though I have a pub bottle of CO2 if I want to bother - is what I've settled on.
Currently stainless but can swop back to steel if lots of bodywork to do, but wouldn't for a quick and short run.

My gas welding bottles are 10 minutes away if I want them, but limited shed space (very) makes practicality of MIG and getting something (anything) quickly tagged together the real advantage of keeping the welder close to hand, and setup with lightweight bottles - all it needs is the helmet, a wire brush or two, the grinder and twist-knot brush and a 30M extension lead.

Oh and some long sleeved leather gloves and full-face-mask when I'm twist-knot brushing.. you really can get stuck in then.

PS. If the college is offering gas brazing or silver-soldering, give it a go... brazing is magic with bronze rods and a tub of flux. Stronger than many hobbyists welding and much less likely to crack!