My new welder has arrived!

[atregent]

Based on suggestions from my earlier thread, I decided to go with the Token Tools MIG200 welder, which arrived last Wednesday.

After a quick trip to Bunnings on Saturday to get some consumables and parts to make a heavy duty extension lead, I struck my first arc!

I got some cheap 6013 electrodes (the gasless mig wire was a bit pricey at the big B) and ran a few practice beads on an old steel I beam.

Getting the arc going and keeping it going was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Getting a nice bead, on the other hand, is going to take a fair bit more practice...

I am having trouble working out what I want to do with the gas situation though. I know for mig welding steel I need an Ar/CO2 mix, but then if I want to try out the tig function or aluminium, I should be using pure Argon. Do I just stick with gasless wire for steel, and hire an Argon bottle for the other stuff? I really don't want to have two bottles on the go.

My end goal is to build a camper trailer, so it may make sense to get the Ar/CO2 and just stick with steel to begin with.

I'm currently looking at a 0.9mm E71T-GS gassless wire, is that a fair selection for what I'm looking at doing?

[johncar]

Hi atregent,
Look I did without the gas for years, used gasless wire and hated everytime I picked up the torch, dirty spattery fuming welding. hated it! Particularly having the gas at work.
I just bit the bullet last year and now keep two bottles, 25/75 CO2/Argon plus pure Argon. Yeah I know there is a cost but it makes welding a pleasant task with nice results, no choking smoke. I only do odd jobs at home but just budget the gas in like everything else.
I have a TIG plus a separate MIG so one bottle stays on each but can be swapped around as process needs.
I definitely recommend at least keep one bottle of the mixed gas for your steel work and don't waste your money on the gasless wire unless you specifically need it for environmental reasons.

Good luck with your decision

[RustyArc]

I used flux-cored wire for a year or two when I got my MIG - yes there's spatter and smoke, but most of what I weld is Duragal, so you get a fair bit of smoke anyway - the important thing was that the resulting welds were good quality and cleaned up easily with a quick stroke of the wire brush.

About a month ago I changed to solid wire and CO2 gas using a 6.8Kg beer-gas cyclinder I bought outright off Ebay - very happy with the results - weld appearance is great, less smoke and spatter and the gas helps blow some of the smoke away when welding Duragal. Best part is no bottle rental :)

So I'd suggest starting with a small spool of flux-core - it's the least-cost option in getting going with MIG and then decide on what direction regarding gas. Also flux-core is good to have on hand if you have to weld outside in windy conditions where sheilding gas loses its efficacy.

[atregent]

Good point about welding outside. I ordered a 5kg spool of 0.9mm wire, and some 0.9mm contact tips.

I've seen a couple of CO2 cylinders on eBay, about $160 for a 2.5kg and $200 for a 6kg. Do they use the standard gas regulators? Seems I can also use it for my home brewing...

[RustyArc]

The 6Kg bottle cost $250 including delivery, and I had to get a special CO2 regulator/flow meter for about $100 as the fitting on CO2 bottles is different to MIG gas bottles so I couldn't use the Argon regulator that came with my welder. So $350 all up, which is a greater up-front cost than if I'd rented a bottle of Argon/CO2 mix (about $160 up front and then $180 a year in rental with refills on top of that), but I'm expecting that with my infrequent use, I'll be ahead eventually.

That said, Argon/CO2 is a bit nicer to weld with - there's other posts here showing the difference, but I'm very happy with the results I'm getting with straight CO2. What I'm not sure about yet is what it'll cost to refill the bottle.

[Vernonv]

... I had to get a special CO2 regulator/flow meter for about $100 as the fitting on CO2 bottles is different to MIG gas bottles so I couldn't use the Argon regulator that came with my welder.I believe there is an adapter available that allows you to connect your normal reg to a CO2 cylinder ... I'll see if I can find the info again.

Edit: this is the beasty (http://www.welderssupplies.com.au/product_details.php?cPath=32&products_id=1085), I think.

[RustyArc]

I believe there is an adapter available that allows you to connect your normal reg to a CO2 cylinder ... I'll see if I can find the info again.

Edit: this is the beasty (http://www.welderssupplies.com.au/product_details.php?cPath=32&products_id=1085), I think.

Ay idea on the damage for that? I found one from a UK supplier and from memory it was possibly even more expensive than the 100 clams I paid for the CO2 regulator, but the adaptor looks like it couldn't cost that much,

[Vernonv]

Sorry, don't know exactly.

I did find what looks like the same thing from a US supplier and it was around US$20, so I would expect from a local supplier it will be about AU$399 + GST :U

I'm going down the CO2 path as well (just need to get off my butt and order a cylinder), so I'll get a more definite price, but if it's too expensive I'll probably make up and adapter to suit.

[Vernonv]

Ordered my CO2 cylinder the other day ($250 delivered ... rental and 1 refill was costing me $260 a year).

I also got a response from an Australian supplier (welderssupplies.com.au) for the "CO2 to Argon" adapter (CO2 cylinder to Argon regulator) - $59.40 + $16.50 freight. Bit more than the US price, but certainly cheaper than some regs.

[atregent]

I think I'll end up fronting up the cash for a hire bottle of Ar/CO2. Once I've got the hang of it with the right stuff, I can start experimenting with alternatives. Like has been said many times, it's just one of those cost of ownership things, like having to put fuel in the car.

In the mean time, here's some of my stick practice beads. I think I'm sort of getting the hang of it. The first strike with a new rod lights up really easily, but for some reason I keep pulling back as soon as it happens, and have to try again.

[brenton21]

thats the go mate! keep feeding your rod in there and maybe slow your travel speed down a little. time on the machine is the way to get better!!

[matthew_g]

I think I'll end up fronting up the cash for a hire bottle of Ar/CO2. Once I've got the hang of it with the right stuff, I can start experimenting with alternatives. Like has been said many times, it's just one of those cost of ownership things, like having to put fuel in the car.

In the mean time, here's some of my stick practice beads. I think I'm sort of getting the hang of it. The first strike with a new rod lights up really easily, but for some reason I keep pulling back as soon as it happens, and have to try again.


Hi there Mate,
I have an account with CoreGas through my local AIS. The rental is charged monthly instead of yearly, Is a little cheaper than BOC and AIR LIQUIDE..
Also last month I found it was cheaper to have "G" size bottles than the "E" size (by lots)
The rent is the same for "E" and"G" and the "G" is $30 dearer for the fill...So you get over double the gas for $30 extra.
I run "G" size oxy/acet and 25/75 argon/co2 and pure argon. The fact I can pay the rent by the month makes life just that much easier on the hip pocket, instead of a big bill at Christmas time....
Anyways I know I am rabbiting on, But I kinda hope it might help you make a decision..
I hate using Fluxcore unless it is absolutely nesessary, And really if I have to weld outdoors in the wind I would rather use the stick...
Just my 2cents
have a great Sunday.........Matt:cool:

[atregent]

thats the go mate! keep feeding your rod in there and maybe slow your travel speed down a little. time on the machine is the way to get better!!

Thanks, I think I'm getting there. Experimenting with different amps and speed at the moment. Burning a stick or two whenever I get a chance!


A monthly charge would certainly be easier to deal with. I spoke to SupaGas a while back, to get an idea of pricing. The biggest bottle definitely worked out to be the cheapest. I think they were charging $15/month rental, can't remember on the gas cost though.

[atregent]

I got my gasless wire this week and ran a couple of beads.

I think I'm almost ready to try my hand at actually joining some metal now!

[Vernonv]

Ordered my CO2 cylinder the other day....Posted some photo's of the regulator adapter and some test welds here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f160/looking-welding-gas-129006/index4.html)for anyone who is interested.