Thinking about adding a MIG to the arsenal, opinions?

Alright, I currently have a big Miller Dialarc HF TIG/Stick welder, but I am thinking about getting a smaller MIG welder to use when I don't want or need to TIG. Would a 135/140A 115V machine be a good addition to my big TIG? I know most people say go 220V or nothing though. Besides hot rods, I also work on motorcycles and trucks. Any recommendations?

 

I had a 220 Miller unit and it was too hot for sheet metal.Great for serious stuff.

Could not turn it down far enough.

Picked up a 115 Miller cricket unit and now life is good.I mostly do sheet metal.

So it all depends on your application.

Oldmics

 

I have a new and improved power mig by lincoln and for the money its great . I did a lot of shopping around and its the best for the money . I had the old version it was crap but they worked out the bugs on the new machines . dont buy from home depo those are crap , Do not go 120 go 220 have someone wire it well worth it . 120 just doest cut it, do a search this has been talked about meny times

 

I've used a Miller 115 cricket for years.It's great for sheet metal and up to 1/8" plate,but the duty cycle goes down as the material gets thicker.At full amperage it's only at 20%.That's only 12 min. per hr.

 

I have a Lincoln 140c and love it!

It runs on 110v and replaces for their 135 line. Has infinitely variable voltage and wire speed. With practice, I can dial it down and butt weld 24 ga. steel with minimal warpage.

Two thumbs up!

Hope this helps.

 

g

That's the one I have been looking at to go along with my big old Forney stick welder.

 

...anything but a Century.

 

I have a Millermatic 140. Highly recommend it. I never thought I'd buy a 110 machine, but we had one in the last shop I worked in and it is a great machine. So now I have my own.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_140/

 

I also have a Millermatic and it's great. Alot has to do with the wire your going to be using also. Sheet metal .024..thicker .030. Your gas has alot to do with it also.Argon mix standard.75/25.Thinner metal co2 with give you a kooler weld also.I have 7 welders, 5 are Millers and 2 are lincolns. I'll take the Millers any day. You may want to check your welder supply and see if they have any used ones. Good savings and never had a problem with them. Good luck Dave

 

I was looking for some more thoughts of people that have a TIG and a MIG as well. Do you typically use the TIG for everything heavy? Or do you make use of the higher amps on a MIG even though you have a TIG? I am wondering if I will need the extra capacity of a 180/210 class machine for quick stuff when I already have a 300amp TIG

 

I just want to let you no this has been covered so meny times do a search and you could read for a week on welding threads and welders

 

http://www.millerwelds.com/about/news_releases/2004_archive/articles116.html
110 or 220V

 

So far I am happy with my Millermatic 140 for sheetmetal work (but I would like to add TIG/Stick someday when I can afford it). I think that ideally it is nice to have Oxy, MIG, Stick/TIG
Rebecca

 

If you read closer, you would realize that I am not asking for general welder recommendations which has been covered many times, I am asking for opinions from people that have a MIG and a TIG to find out which they use for what and if they recommend a bigger MIG or not because the TIG can handle that stuff.

 

The 135 miller is a bad ass, but yeah now they got the 140 model which is cool couse they printed the settings on the wire speed and voltage.

 

I have a Lincoln 255 Tig and a Miller 175 Mig. I use the Tig a LOT, but the Mig has it's place. There are times when I have to weld larger peices that take too much time to tig and the extra power of the 175 is great and faster. The Tig is used for anything over 3/16" thick as the 175 has a tough time with 1/4". When it comes to thin sheetmetal the 175 can be dialed down plenty low enough to do panel work without any problems.

 

I have an older Miller 90 which is a 110 v Mig
I use this for about 90% of the jobs around my shop
Many Demolition Derby cars It Will melt 1/4" plate on Hi #4
But I do set a fan next to welder when running hi amperage
We have also used to do several Mustang front ends on street rod projects and a four link on a 48 International Panel
I run .030 wire for most general welding
For sheet metal I change to .023 wire
I also have a Miller Econo Tig
It took some getting used to as foot pettle is amperage
I have had both over 10 years and am very happy
But then I am just an FNG
Good luck hope this is helpfull
Ray