On Sun, 5 Apr 1998, Patrick Bitton wrote:
> I found a mig welder in Montreal for $150.00.
> 75a on 110VAC. Would that be good enough for welding sheet metal?
Make sure it's a genuine MIG welder. Some of the smaller ones are
wire-fed flux core welders (FCAW)- you want a wire-feed, gas sheilding arc
welder (GMAW)... Gas Metal Arc Welder.
For that price I'd say you get the little buzz box, a gun, and some wire.
I presume it's a flux core welder. These are the same as a stick welder,
just the weld rod is inside-out! So you get the same amount of smoke and
spatter and burn through as with a stick-welder. The sheilding gas is
required to make welds strong enough for body work.
My MIG shopping list:
-must have infinite variable AMPS, WIRE SPEED
-must have gas kit (regulator, adapter, solenoid valve)
or be able to be adapted to gas
-bonus if gas cylinder comes with, these cost about $200 + fill
-hands-free mask, no way are you gonna be able to weld w/ 1 hand
Around here, a new MIG welder is about $1000 cdn inclusive; that's
everything you need, including the gas cylinder and contents. I have seen
a used one for $350 cdn, I think it sold in less than an hour.
-Malcolm
|