calling all aussies and welder users

[fowler]

da has finally decided to upgrade to a mig welder

Now my request is differant from most diyer's as im not looking for the cheapest but the most effective for the job i not know the price range yet but over 1.5 grand is acceptable

This is not going to be my welder but a farm welder
so it needs to be able to weld up to 1cm while still being effective with the small jobs like 1.6mm

please help
thanks in advance

 

[KieranM]

Go with gas anyway, my only piece of advice for you

 

[fowler]

thats a given we have a stick welder but its very old and HUGE it'll weld anything but only above 8mm

 

[Bluethunder3320]

i reccomend a lincoln weld pak hd, its flux but portable for the farm. i think r97 has one they are like 3-4 hundred bucks.

 

[KieranM]

Do you have industrial power supply, not too sure what you called it in Australia....3 phase is industrial here, lathes etc.

 

[r97]

yes i do have a weld pak hd, its rated for up to 1/8" but i can squeeze it to get 1/4", and weld stuff to 5/8" rod. it is in the 200 buck range, you can also get a mig version. but i don't think thats what fowler is loking for. fowler prob wants a big mig he can throw in a pickup truck, and drive from shed, to shed, even if he doesn't, he still prob wan't a big welder, 1cm is near 1/2", so thats some thick stuff, maybe a generator?
maybe this? no clue if its exactly what you wan't, its the cheapest mig generator, not sure if its enough for 1/2" (prob, but i can't say for sure), but it comes with some cool feature, and i bet a generator is nice on the farm. http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.aspx?p=103929
generator welders,
http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentseries.aspx?browse=101|400|
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/enginedriven/
non generator welders,
http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentseries.aspx?browse=101|241|&locale=1033
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/onephase.php
a bit more info on what you do, and don't wan't would be good

EDIT: 200a should get the 1cm you wan't

 

[redsox985]

My school just got a MM 252 which I think is around 3k but it can, and I have, welded 1/2" plate in one pass with out beveling the edges. I just did it to try and WOW it's amazing what kind of kick it has. It had digital read outs and adjustments for wire speed and power so it is extremely tune-able and I would highly recommend it if the price isn't a major turnoff.

 

[r97]

i was half asleep when that guy showed up on the screen, almost punched the computer, lol
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_252/

 

[fowler]

we have 3 phase in our shed
we also have a 230kva genrator on a trailer with 3 phase
ill have to look though those links wheniv got more time, thanks

 

[r97]

in that case, i think me and red can agree on one of these, unless they don't work on 3 phase (its 1am here)
http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.aspx?p=103906

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_252/

 

[fowler]

BIG BUMP
but it my thread soooo

i got a WIA 270amp 3 phase mig welder for christmas,m it cost $2600 aus

it is an older model so its gone cheap.

its on the back of a truck coming from southern Queensland right now.

 

[Rustydog2010]

If you wanted portability I would have just stuck with stick..

Jeremy.

 

[fowler]

we are still keeping the stick and dad will only use the stick welder but i dont like it and it is better for doing machine maitenence