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Big on MIG

Equipment reviews of some of the newest MIG welding systems and accessories for the shop, the field, and for home hobbyists.

Posted: June 3, 2015

(Photo courtesy of Instructables)

Ideal for hobbyist, educator or small contractor and weighing only 40 lb, the Power MIG 210 MP from Lincoln Electric can go anywhere and weld up to 3/8 in thick steel and stainless materials or 3/16 in thick aluminum.

The new Millermatic 350P auto body aluminum repair system from Miller Electric provides a complete welding package, from the power source to the gun and wire, to provide high weld quality and simplify repairs on aluminum auto bodies, frames and beds, such as found in the 2015 Ford F-150 truck.

The 112-page full-color 2015 Full-Line Catalog of welding and cutting products from Miller Electric provides specifications and comparisons on MIG welders and other welding process equipment, as well as automation, training solutions, fume extractors and Arc Armor® welding protection.

The stainless steel outer tube and anti-twist device in the zero degree position ensure that the torch neck of the new PullMig welding torch from Fronius, which rotates 360 deg, remains extremely stable even in the event of harsh impacts with the workpiece. (Photo courtesy of Fronius International GmbH)

The motor on the new PullMig welding torch from Fronius is equipped with actual value pick-up and is connected to the power source via a high-speed bus to automatically synchronize the two PushPull system wirefeeder motors, a function that was previously carried out manually.

The Klutch MIG Inverter-Powered Wire-Feed Welder from Northern Tool + Equipment is ideal for industrial and commercial jobs with mild steel, stainless steel or aluminum. Its infinite wire-feed speed selector, infinite voltage dial and spot weld timer, combined with an optional spool gun, provides users with maximum control.

The 140 MIG Welder from Forney. Six new welders have been added to the Forney lineup, including the 140 MIG, 140 MP, 190 MIG and 190 MP. The 140 MIG and 190 MIG models are high quality welders at a fair price. The MP (Multi Process) welders offer the ability to MIG, Stick or TIG weld in a single machine.

The 140 MP Welder from Forney. Six new welders have been added to the Forney lineup, including the 140 MIG, 140 MP, 190 MIG and 190 MP. The 140 MIG and 190 MIG models are high quality welders at a fair price. The MP (Multi Process) welders offer the ability to MIG, Stick or TIG weld in a single machine.

The 190 MIG Welder from Forney. Six new welders have been added to the Forney lineup, including the 140 MIG, 140 MP, 190 MIG and 190 MP. The 140 MIG and 190 MIG models are high quality welders at a fair price. The MP (Multi Process) welders offer the ability to MIG, Stick or TIG weld in a single machine.

The 190 MP Welder from Forney. Six new welders have been added to the Forney lineup, including the 140 MIG, 140 MP, 190 MIG and 190 MP. The 140 MIG and 190 MIG models are high quality welders at a fair price. The MP (Multi Process) welders offer the ability to MIG, Stick or TIG weld in a single machine.

Six new welders have been added to the Forney lineup, including (l-r) the 140 MIG, 140 MP, 190 MIG and 190 MP. The 140 MIG and 190 MIG models are high quality welders at a fair price. The MP (Multi Process) welders offer the ability to MIG, Stick or TIG weld in a single machine.

Ideal for fabrication shops as well as DIY fabricators, the MIG 250 Welder from Eastwood can weld 18 ga up to ½ in steel, and aluminum up to ¼ in thick, using the optional spool gun.

PLUG AND PLAY ANYWHERE
The Power MIG 210 MP from The Lincoln Electric Company (Cleveland, OH) is a multi-process welder for the hobbyist, educator or small contractor who wants to perform MIG welding and a lot more, including DC stick, DC TIG and self-shield flux-cored wire welding. This compact welder breaks the $1,000 barrier with push-and-turn digital controls and a large color display screen make setup and operation intuitive and easy, while the metal wire drive and sturdy sheet metal construction make the welder rugged and ready for any job in the home or small shop. Advanced options and settings are simple to access.

Weighing in at just 40 lb, the Power MIG 210 MP can go anywhere – the yard, workshop or just about any other place where it’s needed. Likewise, the dual-input voltage options (120 volts and 230 volts) enable the user to plug it in practically anywhere. The welder produces 20 amps to 140 amps DC on 120 volt input and 20 amps to 220 amps on 230 volt input. That’s enough welding output for 3/8 in thick steel and stainless materials or 3/16 in thick aluminum. The integrated wire feeder handles 4 in and 8 in spools and can feed 50 ipm to 500 ipm.

Lincoln also offers Techalloy® X, a new nickel-based MIG (GMAW) and TIG (GTAW) welding wire that is made from a nickel alloy that delivers oxidation resistance and high-temperature strength. This welding wire is ideally suited for petrochemical applications, where it provides enhanced stress corrosion cracking, and for aerospace applications that are subject to high operating temperatures. It is used for TIG and MIG welding of nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys. The Ni-Cr-Mo alloy system provides excellent resistance to oxidizing and reducing environments. This wire meets AMS 5798G chemical and tolerance requirements. To request a copy of Techalloy X MIG and TIG literature, call 888-355-3213 or visit our website to obtain bulletin C14.10.17.

The Lincoln Electric Company, 22801 Saint Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44117-1199, 888-935-3876, Fax: 216-383-2699, www.lincolnelectric.com.

SIMPLIFY ALUMINUM AUTO BODY REPAIRS
Miller Electric Mfg. Co. (Appleton, WI) has introduced the new Millermatic® 350P auto body aluminum repair system — a complete welding package designed to provide high weld quality and simplify repairs on aluminum auto body panels and beds, such as found in the 2015 Ford F-150 truck. This turnkey solution addresses the growing trend of aluminum usage in the automotive market and has been designed specifically to address the challenges posed by welding thin gauge aluminum, such as warping, distortion and burn-through. It builds on the trusted performance of the popular Millermatic 350P MIG power source and can also be used to Pulse weld with silicon bronze, steel and stainless steel wires.

By providing all the components needed for making aluminum auto body in a single optimized package, Miller has helped to simplify the process of aluminum welding, particularly for welding operators who may not be as familiar with this material or the challenges it can pose. The Millermatic 350P auto body aluminum repair system features the components necessary to meet the specifications set forth by Ford and the Assurance Performance Network for completing weld repairs on the Ford F-150 aluminum-body truck. These specifications require a 220V power source with Pulsed MIG capabilities dedicated to aluminum welding, using .047 in (1.2 mm) 5554 series aluminum alloy wire. The Miller package includes:

Millermatic 350P, a 200/230/460V power source for single- or three-phase power.
8 in spool of .047 in (1.2 mm) diameter Hobart® 5554 aluminum wire for superior weld quality.
Bernard™ Q200 aluminum MIG gun, customized with a 12 ft long cable, plastic liner and a 30 deg head tube for superior aluminum wire delivery.
.047 in (1.2 mm) aluminum Centerfire™ Contact Tips for consistent electrical conductivity and arc starting.
.047 in (1.2 mm) U-groove drive rolls for improved aluminum wire feeding.

The Millermatic system provides 300 amp output at 60 percent duty cycle, with improved low-end Pulse MIG programs dedicated for aluminum welding. The low-end wire feed speed capabilities have been reduced from 105 ipm to 75 ipm, resulting in less heat input to reduce burn-through and warping when welding on aluminum auto body panels. As with the standard Millermatic 350P MIG power source, the new Millermatic 350P auto body aluminum repair system offers an aluminum Pulse Hot Start™ that automatically provides more power to eliminate “cold starts” inherent with welding this material. The system features line voltage compensation that provides constant output even in the presence of fluctuations in input power. A Fan-On-Demand™ cooling system operates only when needed to cool the power source, reducing power consumption and minimizing the opportunity for contaminants to be drawn into the machine.

Additional MIG welding equipment can be found inside a free copy of the WE BUILD™-themed 2015 Full-Line Catalog of welding and cutting products, can be requested or downloaded by going to the literature request page via MillerWelds.com or on a mobile device at MillerWelds.com/mobile. The 112-page, full-color catalog provides specifications and comparisons on other MIG welders, including:

Millermatic® 141 and Millermatic190® MIG welders, new MIG and Flux-Cored-capable welders feature enhancements to improve portability, ease-of-use and performance.
Continuum™ 500 Advanced MIG Welding System that offers easier arc starts and more-stable arc performance, providing better results from weld operators of all skill levels when welding on either thin or thick metals.
Syncrowave® 210 TIG/MIG Complete welds up to 1/4-inch-thick material in a single pass, supporting AC/DC TIG and Stick processes — and now MIG welding.

Welding operators can also access extensive product information and other free resources at MillerWelds.com. Available for use are discussion forums, a video library, WE BUILD project gallery, how-to articles and e-newsletters for the do-it-yourselfer, professional and instructor audiences. More resources are now available at MillerWelds.com/mobile and welders are also encouraged to sign up for the Miller Owners Club for a more personalized experience unique to an individual’s interests or products owned.

Miller Electric Manufacturing Co., 1635 W. Spencer Street, PO Box 1079, Appleton, WI 54912-1079, 920-734-9821, www.millerwelds.com.

ONE COOL WELDING TORCH
Weighing just 3.5 lb, the new PullMig welding torch from Fronius International GmbH (Pettenbach, Austria) is incredibly light for a push-pull welding torch. Not only that, the developers have also succeeded in making it extremely robust: it can survive a fall from 3 m completely unscathed. The stainless steel outer tube and anti-twist device in the zero degree position ensure that the torch neck, which rotates 360 deg, remains extremely stable even in the event of harsh impacts with the workpiece.