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Thread: unimig kmm180 opinions
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4th April 2015, 10:10 AM #1Novice
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unimig kmm180 opinions
Hi everyone. I'm looking at buying one of these welders and am wanting to hear from anyone who owns one. Im looking to use it for some small jobs such as making coffee tables and other small welding jobs. Won't be welding above 3-5 mm.
Id like to hear how your going with it in both gas and gasless mode and what your general opinions of the welder are. I've done a lot of research on the welder but can't find any real demonstration videos or opinions from actual owners.
I'm not interested in hearing from people who say that you need to spend $10000's to get a decent weld or that gasless welders are terrible etc etc. I've heard enough if that to last me a lifetime. I don't want to weld the Sydney harbour bridge. I'd really like to hear from people who actually own one.
Look forward to hearing from you guys and thanks.
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4th April 2015, 11:28 AM #2GOLD MEMBER
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I don't own a KMM180 machine, but I did look at the spec sheet. For what it's worth, here are my thoughts.
Good points are the Euro gun connection and straight/reverse polarity capability.
Bad points are only 6 voltage steps, with the lowest voltage being 21V and the duty cycle is really poor. I know that you don't want to weld the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but it doesn't take all that much to be pushing 100 -120A on say 3mm material which I estimate would probably be around a 25% duty cycle.
Have you considered something more like this Token Tools machine?
https://weldingstore.tokentools.com....ls-mig200.html
I realise it's a few more dollars, but it is a lot more machine and will outperform the Unimig at both the lower and upper ends of the current range with better voltage control all the way down to 13.5V, as well as possessing the ability to stick weld and even DC TIG if you should desire at a later stage.
The extra $400 could be money well spent in my opinion.
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4th April 2015, 11:38 AM #3Tool addict
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- May 2008
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- Perth
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Frankly, I'd say go for it. If you find mostly positive mentions on forums via a quick google search, then you're onto a winner.
My experience tends to be with the Boss brand gasless (ie this one) at work, where amongst all the nice big 3ph units we're running (CIG, UniMIG, AusMIG, Lincoln) we've got that little machine for the times where the stick welder is being hogged by some mudmonkey. And, overall, she goes well, takes longer than shielded welds to get the same amount of metal in the joins, and a much fiercer arc making for hotter hands, but does a great job. I don't get the opportunity to play with thin plate often, but I'm confident that it'd be excellent for it. And thusly, I'd have absolute confidence in the UniMIG.
My only advice would be to ensure where you buy has a good warranty, if they offer an extra year or two, I'd spend the extra fifty or so bucks for that.
I wouldn't worry about videos of demonstrations or whatnot, only word of reliability. Each brand of machine has its own characteristics, and you get used to them.
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4th April 2015, 01:57 PM #4Intermediate Member
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- Aug 2014
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- North Queensland
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Same Brand, different model
Earlier this year I bought a Unimig Razorweld 165 Mig welder which is a bit more expensive than the one enquired about but with three years warranty. I have used it on steel with gas mix and on aluminium with argon with an extra Mig torch and a teflon liner I bought separately. The steel ranged from 1.5mm sheet to 6mm angle and handled it ok. Specs say only 25% duty cycle but I am not production welding so hasn't affected me. MIG voltage is stepless from 11V to 26V. Have not used gasless wire in it as I still have my 20+ year old SIP transformer Mig which has only ever used gasless wire.
I had considered the Unimig Kmm 180 when I was looking at small MIG welders and almost bought one so I am sure it will handle all you wan't to do.
I have used many 4.5 Kg spools of gasless wire on the SIP over the years with good results so I think you will have no problems with gasless wire.
My Unimig Razorwire welder also runs stick rods up to 3.2mm quite well but not sure if the KMM 180 will do this.
Regards
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4th April 2015, 04:29 PM #5
Got 2 Unimigs. A Unimig 240 and a small 3-way unit (cant remember exact model)
Both have Binzal torches which I can interchange. Parts are available everywhere, so wont have any troubles there.
Both have had repairs under warranty. The 240 for a loose connection was fixed promptly by local repairer. As for the small unit, well they had 2 cracks at it. After it let the smoke out for the second time, I told em to actually leave it on for a while. Seemed to me like it was a thermal fault cause it it took a while before it acted up.
Since both these units have been fixed, so far so good.www.lockwoodcanvas.com.au
I will never be the person who has everything, not when someone keeps inventing so much cool new stuff to buy.
From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".
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