Tokentools Pulse Mig

[mac_man_luke]

Hey

Has anyone had a chance to look at the new token pulse mig?

http://weldingstore.tokentools.com.a...r-mig250p.html

Seems incredible value, only other machine on the market in that price bracket appears to be the weldsmart unit (which does appear to have a few advantages e.g. dual drive wheels and floor standing but support unknown).

Looking for something to play with some aluminium and pulse really seems to be almost essential.

thanks

[Karl Robbers]

Pulse is nice but far from essential for aluminium.
What thicknesses are you planning on working with? If 3mm+ then pulse becomes less essential.
Pulse also adds extra variables that can be a bit confusing if you dont already have a good understanding or the mig process.
Also be aware that you can't tig aluminium with that machine due to being DC only.

[mac_man_luke]

thanks, 3mm would be the main thickness id be working with, maybe less.

I will likely get a AC/DC TIG as well but mig comes first.

[Karl Robbers]

That being the case, then a pulse mig will be of advantage to you.
Having said that, before I handed over my hard earned money I would really like to try the welder out to see what it can do. Not all welders are created equal and some pulse migs, (most often the original first generation machines), were fair blighters to set up.
Stick to 1.2mm wire, preferably 5183 as it feeds much better and as short a gun cable as you can. 3M cables are brilliant for ally work. Four roll drive is good, but a good 2 roll drive wire feeder will run ally all day and night just the same provided you observe good practices as far as liner maintenance and setup go.
I don't know what your intended usage will be, but you will ideally want a machine that takes full size spools as it opens up your options as far as wire type. Safra and Lincoln wires feed the best in my experience. You want a wire that has been shaved, rather than just rolled. For bench work a separate wire feeder is probably no big deal, but for other applications may be essential.

[mac_man_luke]

thanks

seems the token will take 5kg rolls

Weldsmart and Everlast pulse migs seem to take full size rolls but they are floor standing models
which won't be as convenient for getting the welder up high for good cable angles.