You welding types out there...

[ManDownUnder]

For alli you really need a proper hand peice, which has rollers that pull the wire

Cool ta.

I'm welding up Mild steel and possibly a little stainless later on... but just MS for the foreseeable

[Motu]

Did I mention my new MIG???

Oh,got a new MIG did ya? Well tell us what it is,what output etc...and a picture please.

Another plug for the auto helmet,shit they are good.In the dim and distant past learning to arc weld,after get the rod stuck on the job countless times and finally getting an arc going - I'd have to wander all over the place looking for what I was supposed to be welding,leaving a black spotty trail all over.So good being able to place the metal with one hand and then stick it with the other.

[ManDownUnder]

Oh,got a new MIG did ya? Well tell us what it is,what output etc...and a picture please.

Another plug for the auto helmet,shit they are good.In the dim and distant past learning to arc weld,after get the rod stuck on the job countless times and finally getting an arc going - I'd have to wander all over the place looking for what I was supposed to be welding,leaving a black spotty trail all over.So good being able to place the metal with one hand and then stick it with the other.

Cebora 180 - yet to be delivered but it MINE - ALL MINE.

ok ok - about the helmets... I'll take a look at one...

[Motu]

Good welder,good price - well done! You got a standard handpiece,so you can get another handpiece...like one you like better,or one set up for different metals...and change with a twist,no cheap Repco crap there.

[Colapop]

10kg soda stream bottle - or MIG bottle?

10kg Soda Stream bottle. Has the same reg fitting on top I think. It'd pay to check that first of course. I'd say compare the two bottles (large and small)in the shop if you can get ahold of a spare one - small prob easier to get ahold of.

[froggyfrenchman]

As an engineer... i say always use argoshield in a mig! co2 creats crap weak welds and pure argon is a waste for mig, only needed for tig.

Have heaps of fun with the new toy, and if you dont know much bout welding, get some lessons off a mate. With a mig, its realy easy to make something that looks like a weld but is really really weak. If you have any more qns, just pm me and ill do the best i can to answer.

Oh yeah, some here might disagree... but i would NEVER use gasless wire or weld stainless/alloy with anything but a tig.

Happy fizzing!

(you know you can weld when you can weld wood handles to crystal bowls : )

[Jeff da maori]

if your welding in your garage I would suggest using argoshield too. flux core is good if your welding outside in a wind but expect to get heaps of weld splater all over your work not to mention burns on your fore arms and neck. I maybe wrong but looking at your welder you dont have AC so you cant weld alloy even with a pull unit on the hand pice.
as for the helmet. the electronic ones are ok if your doing a little bit of back yard work but be awear that when you strick an arc the take a split second to react and if you do heaps of stop starts it is very hard on your eyes. tip, close your eyes when you start the weld.

[Teflon]

As an engineer... i say always use argoshield in a mig! co2 creats crap weak welds

We use CO2. We have no problem passing welding tickets, Xrays etc.

[Teflon]

AC so you cant weld alloy even with a pull unit on the hand pice.

Use AC for tigging

[Sensei]

If ya using Mig you use Agronsheild heavy . Co2 is for Flux cored wire / Dualsheild .09 wire will be your best beat . You need Highfreq to weld Alloy .

[TLDV8]

Its all been said...Most of the mixs are Co2/Argon,straight Argon will give a crap weld ( i tried it once on a weekend)..Co2 is fine,better with a heater maybe .... Flux core will spatter when the volts are high but there are adjustment limitations with small machines unlike something like a LN25 feeder,but they can be ghetto adjusted with stick out...any Co2 or Argon regulator should be fine,some people just go silly with high flow rates thinking it will give a better weld.I havn't owned a M.I.G unit for some time,but get by with a 175 Top and a Lincoln Invertec V200T for pipe and dairy tube.M.I.G machines in general run fine as long as the liners,head and drive gear are kept clean.As far as bottles i have had a argon 4.50 for ages from Air Liquide but they are trying to get rid of folk who only go through minimal exchanges a year,rental is $8 something a month i think.If you ever want a hand just say the word.

[Madmax]

Co2 just pisses me off (bloody freezing and shit) but was doing some special
work at the time we ran manifold gas, some really strange welding shit as well too.
Co2 gives of carbon monoxide and other nasty shit as well as ozone
with no breather it gets you in days,
I spent three in hospital after breaking a breather hose
Mig
alloy, argon mix
mild steel, Co2 (but not in inclosed spaces)
mild steel, flux core (bloody good in windy places just do not breath it in)
Tig
only Argon mix
if you are going to try alloy
use a high frec injector to break up the oxide on the alloy
(watch out for mag based alloys buy the time you have broken through the oxide the sucker is molten, real bad!!!)
for what its worth
:slap:

[ManDownUnder]

Cheers all - thread posted and stuck to the shed wall.

For the record - I did my time in Fitting Turning and Machining, and learned Sticka nd gas welding as part of that. I had a few MIG lessons and was lucky enough to work for Mark Lagore as a school kid for a couple of summers... so I got to see a real welder in action...

Now my time is coming - anyone got something they want hot gluied together... with REALLY HOT glue?

Did I mention I bought a MIG?

[The_Dover]

Did I mention I bought a MIG?

Does it look like this one?

[ManDownUnder]

Does it look like this one?

Sure does, and Aunty Helen's pissed because she's outgunned now...