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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    7

    Talking Stick or MIG for home welding by beginner

    Evening gents, I am about to embark on a trailer build, (Professionals are building the trailer chassis etc), I'm just knocking up some framework for racks inside the coolroom paneling. I have mates who weld and are evenly divided on stick and mig for a beginner. I learn fast and just want a machine that is easy to use. I don't want gas, so either a smootharc 130 form BOC or Rossi Mig off ebay are my options for using at home 10A based on price. I'm going to be welding 25x25x2 and 2.5 mm gal box, it doesn't need to be pretty, just effective. If anyone could just give me the low down I would really appreciate it. I know subjects like this have been covered before, but with the new units on the market, I am hoping that there is new info that can help me.

    thanks again

    Corkster

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Ballina, NSW
    Posts
    725

    Default

    Either MIG or Stick will do the job, but I reckon most people will vote for the MIG. Whichever you get, cut some offcuts of what you want to weld and practice with your machine settings until you're confident of getting a good weld every time (in the positions you will need to do on your build). Practice/experiment for a day and you'll probably be right. Don't rush at it with your build until you can do it consistently.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    769

    Default

    For 2 to 2.5mm section, MIG is going to be a much easier entry point than stick, and gasless wire can make a very good joint, just be prepared to run a wire brush over it and chip of any spatter beads.

    That said, as suggested, do some practice with the sections you are going to use, as the trap with MIG is that you can make decent-looking welds that don't have proper penetration into both sides of the join. One useful exercise is to weld a practice join and then try and break it - seeing how and where welds fail (and what it takes to do so) is immensely informative.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,099

    Default

    Go the stick route. 2mm is easily achievable with stick using a 2.5mm E4112 electrode.
    The welder will be cheaper and more versatile than a gasless mig.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Canberra, Australia
    Age
    62
    Posts
    316

    Default

    Although, with plenty of practice, a stick welder will weld thinner sections very well, and a stick welder is certainly a cheaper option, I'd say go the MIG with gasless wire. I've got both and certainly use the MIG (with gas) more than the stick welder. In my experience, it is easier to weld thinner sections with a MIG. I've seen many of my mates make a real mess attempting to weld thin box section tube with a stick welder as it is so easy to blow away metal, there is certainly a knack to getting the right current setting, electrode speed etc. That said, if you are on a tighter budget and are prepared to put in time to develop your welding technique then a stick maybe best for you. Regardless, be careful when welding gal metals because the fumes given off are toxic and fume fever is a risk if precautions are not taken. Weld outdoors, preferably with a fan to blow fumes away from you.
    The first step towards knowledge is to know that we are ignorant.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    7

    Default Getting both

    Thanks very much for the advice guys. I see that there is divided opinion and so have decided to get both and see which one I work best with. At only $208 for the smootharc 130 and $50 for good electrodes, and $239 for the gasless mig I might as well give them both a go. My dad who is a long time stick user just said get the mig and learn, but covering my bets will hopefully workout. Thanks again for the help. Cheers. Corkster

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Bairnsdale
    Age
    50
    Posts
    798

    Default

    STAY AWAY FROM THE ROSSI WELDERS !!!!!
    I bowed down and bought one a few years ago I managed about and hours welding before it let the smoke out..
    Warrantee Pfft forget it... They'll have nothing to do with you...
    My advice,
    Spend a few extra $$$ and get either a Magnum Welder or a Token Tools welder..
    With either of these blokes you will have the confidence of great back-up and warrantee...
    Just my 2c worth to save you some cash in the long run.
    Matt
    Warning Disclaimer

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Qld Australia
    Posts
    175

    Default

    Hi, I have welded all my life and use MIG for the majority of the welding I do,also do TIG and stick, price wise I would spend a bit more and get a slightly better machine. The low price units no matter which one you go for are literally built to a price with a poor duty cycle, limited settings and not many adjustments or bells and whistles if you know what I mean.

    Once you get a handle on how to weld you will no doubt try to tackle bigger jobs and if you get a small unit you will very soon learn the limitations of your choice. To give you an example, my brother had a 140amp stick unit from Bunning's and for years struggled with bad welds and took him forever to get a half decent bead, spent more time grinding out the bad welds than actually doing the welds themselves.

    Anyway to cut a long story short, I managed to pick up a new 200amp inverter TIG unit for him off Ebay for a couple of hundred dollars which does the TIG and MMA(Stick), and since getting it, jobs that used to take 30 minutes now just take 5 minutes and the weld beads are heaps better. He doesn't use the TIG part as he doesn't have a gas bottle but the MMA function is really good with a much better duty cycle. I have also seen 3-1 units which do the MIG, TIG, and MMA, but I haven't tried those type yet so can't tell you if they are any good or not. But I do know that the low end MIG's will give you problems if you have limited welding experience. I am also a member on a couple of welding forums and the majority of complaints about MIG are from members who have low end MIG units. Once you get into the 160-180+ amp range, the quality and performance of the units improves dramatically.

    However if you are on a tight budget then I would choose an inverter stick welder over a low end MIG any day. MIG welding in some ways is easier to learn but the arc welder will have better penetration on thicker metal for the same amps. Just my 2 cents worth, hope it helps.

    Cheers

    Ed.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Lismore, NSW
    Posts
    53

    Default

    Get the stick. It's a cheaper initial outlay and cheaper to run. Your chipping off slag anyway so why use gasless wire?
    There is no moving parts to worry about failing except the cooling fan. There is only one adjustment to play with so it's alot
    easier to dial in. I can vouch for the quality of the BOC unit. It's a very popular machine and I've not heard of any problems with them.
    Mine is covered in crap after a few years of heavy use and it's still kicking. Runs a 4mm rod too.
    I would not trust the itegrity of any weld made by a beginner on any gasless MIG, ever.
    Get 5kg of rods too. You'll be surprised how quick they go

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay Qld
    Posts
    3,466

    Default

    I am in the stick welder camp.
    The process is pretty easy to master for those of reasonable common sense and dexterity. I would advise at the same time to treat your self to a auto-shading welding helmet of the best quality you are able to afford.

    That alone will accelerate your welding learning curve as you will be able to :
    • tack up easier,
    • strike the arc in the right place and
    • not flash yourself


    The confidence you gain will help with the welding process as you don't need to learn those things (as you would with a conventional helmet)
    while trying to learn the arc weld process at the same time.

    A word about the bottom end inverters,even the BOC 130 amp cheapy. Once they fail its not viable to fix them.Bin them and get another.The better inverter will easily cope with 2mm thick box section.
    Cheers
    Grahame

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