using a coiled mig gun in place of the arc stick welder

since arc stick welding is doesnt provide good looking welds im wondering if i could take my coiled mig welding unit and plug it into the 200lx i have and use it along with what ever gas i need for either alum or steel welding has any one tried that i think that would work great any thoughts or advices would be helpful

brit,

The Tig/Stick process is CC or constant current. The current stays the same at a given setting, but the arc voltage varies as the length of the arc changes.

The Mig process is CV or constant Voltage. The voltage remains constant and amperage is controlled or managed through the wire speed. Technically the amps go up the faster the wire is fed because the stickout generally increases.

I am not sure what you mean by a "coiled" mig gun. Are you referring to a spool gun? The spool gun is also CV.

Now with that said, you can buy voltage sensing wire feeders that automatically regulate the wire speed if the unit is to be run off of CC power supplies. It isn't a great solution, but it does generally offer satisfactory results when CV isn't available. These type units are used on engine driven welders and typically have a switch that will go from CV to Voltage Sensing depending upon the type of power supply. But they are more than the price of a new mig usually, even used they are quite expensive. If you have one though, it should work fine. Just watch duty cycle issues. I'd suggest our Power I MIG 160 with a spool gun. It does have a stick function and can get by with scratch start tig if needed. Its compact and portable and the price is right!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by performance

brit,

The Tig/Stick process is CC or constant current. The current stays the same at a given setting, but the arc voltage varies as the length of the arc changes.

The Mig process is CV or constant Voltage. The voltage remains constant and amperage is controlled or managed through the wire speed. Technically the amps go up the faster the wire is fed because the stickout generally increases.

I am not sure what you mean by a "coiled" mig gun. Are you referring to a spool gun? The spool gun is also CV.

Now with that said, you can buy voltage sensing wire feeders that automatically regulate the wire speed if the unit is to be run off of CC power supplies. It isn't a great solution, but it does generally offer satisfactory results when CV isn't available. These type units are used on engine driven welders and typically have a switch that will go from CV to Voltage Sensing depending upon the type of power supply. But they are more than the price of a new mig usually, even used they are quite expensive. If you have one though, it should work fine. Just watch duty cycle issues. I'd suggest our Power I MIG 160 with a spool gun. It does have a stick function and can get by with scratch start tig if needed. Its compact and portable and the price is right!!

---

ok ive bought the 200 lx ac dc stick welder and the 50 amp power plasma cutter from you and so whats your best price for this 160 amp mig unit and will it weld over quarter inch steel and alum

Brit,
email me your email address and what you need. I will get back to you ASAP

ive tried to contact u by email and phone but no replies about ur best offer for a i mig 160 since i ve bought a powertig200lx and a powerplasma 50 from u already and i want to know if it will weld at least a bit over a quarter inch steel stainless steel and alum and my pager email is balbertson@sprint.blackberry.net and my text is 919 394 5307 thanks

Sorry Brit,

I did find your email, I had made a note to reply but I will work on a reply for you. But as far as a call, I do not have any record of it.
the I-MIG 160 will be good for 1/4" though, but that will depend just like anything else upon conditions and skill.

I would have to ad , my own experiance, that 160 amps is pushing it for .250 steel. If it where me I would go up to the next higher amps at least to a 200 because you would be pushing the machine toward its upper limit at only 160 amps.
Just my 2 pennies here.
Gary

I spoke with a Don last night on a tech call. I recommended the Power IMIG 200 for him and it was the same deal. And you can go a little thicker if you need.