Hello I need some professional advice my boys shop is looking to get a welder I want to get a MIG cause it is easy and portable at the same time we need something that we can weld intercooler piping and just general mild steel. I went to a metal shop and they suggested the Millermatic 180 and spool gun for aluminum. We are going to use the welder for mild steel and aluminum intercooler piping. Any reviews or advice would be very helpful.
Thanks David

 

welding intercooler piping with that thing is going to look nasty and probably leak unless you have welding kungfu of some sort. For everything else yes it would be a perfect welder. For kickass intercooler piping welds you need an AC capable tig welder.

 

If you are only going to weld aluminum occasionally (once a month) and it is not too thin, it will work. If you are going to weld aluminum on a regular basis (or any at all that is thin-walled) step up to a Tig. It costs more but is much, much better in that application.

I had a nice spool gun welder I used for a couple of years on aluminum projects, so this advice comes from personal experience. They have their place, but steady work on piping jobs is not it.

Best of luck with your business.

 

Liconln has a packaged TIG and MIG setup for something like $2650 shipped! Damn good deal considering it's both MIG and TIG machines in one runner package.

Edit: Do an eBay item search for "Lincoln One-For-All One-Pak" and you will see multiple listing from new item vendors that include shipping. Prices are in the $2650 range.


Modified by FastCougar at 3:14 PM 11/9/2007

 

Thanks guys

 

You could also look into just an AC/DC power source that is capable of tig/mig/stick. You would need a remote wire feeder though. Look at used machinery auctions.