Nice....Really nice looking welds !

 

SWEET welds... makes me feel all fuzzy inside!!!

and a little jealous...

Mike

 

In reading back over my post, this line I wrote sounded almost like I was criticizing others or their advice, which isn't my intention. I have read some good advice here and don't want this to be misinterpreted as being a negative comment.

Thanks for the compliments guys. I have found that welding is in many ways an artform. Just like drawing, some people have a natural talent and others have to work hard at it. I was always one of the lucky ones that didn't have to work hard at it. Maybe the years of video games as a kid paid off by giving me some good coordination

 

if you have a tractor supply store close i found that they have the best price on hobart welders

 

I am not real familiar with wire speed auto tracking but from what I understand it can be a real headache for inexperienced operators as it actually can require 2 adjusments every time a change is made. The HH is famous for ease of use. Maybe Engloid can elaborate on auto tracking.

 

Honestly, I don't know what it is...or at least by that term.

I can tell you that I absolutely hate using a mig machine that doesn't have separate heat and wire speed controls.

 

I know in theory you set the voltage and the speed is sposed to match up,,, seems backwards to me. Dan from the Hobart forum, who is one of the best small feeder experts around has elaborated somewhat although I cant remember the details. I believe the MM175 was equiped this way and they were not impressed and wanted to disable it but that wasnt possible with that design. I know Dan was recommending the HH due to stepped settings (especially for the occasional user) and he felt it was the machine of choice for the $ although the SP was considered one of best in class but it costs more and the avg user wont be able to see the advantage. My neighbor just bought a MM175 and is happy with it but he is pro,, so??? They do have both settings but as far as I know it takes some getting used to. I havent had a chance to test it though. My SP130 (230V) has stepped settings and I do tend to like it over infinate V as its so easy, just set the V in the right range and tune with the speed, very easy. My 255 has infinate and you have to fuss when making changes, set the speed then tune the V and my work isnt that fussy so I want point and shoot, just wouldnt be an issue for me. Stepps is one thing that they like on the MM210, set the V range from the chart and dial in the speed to fine tune. I know Rocky D likes that too and he has run serious miles of wire.

 

I don't mind a machine that has step adjustments, but I don't prefer it.

You talked about running miles of wire. It reminded me of the place I work now. Years ago I worked there once before and there were guys that would burn three 30lb spools of wire in one shift. I was content to burn one, but have all my work at better quality. I figured they could be labeled hard workers and I'd labeled a skilled worker. It paid off because it wasn't long till they moved me onto jobs that needed to look good. Those guys stayed on the jobs that just had to have a lot of welding done on it. Imagine about 100 pieces of 3/8" plate, 12 feet long standing on edge. Each one had to be welded down the full length of both sides.

 

WOW, super sweet Engloid.

 

tractor supply sells some nice little mig welders that run offf of 110volts 20 amp outelt is needed to use the high settings. they have seprate heat and infinte wire speed control. mine has an option for using either flux cored wire or a shielding gas. came withe vrything but the bottle for the gas. ive had it about 3 years now and absoulely love it for weld thin stuff. get to the thicker stuff tho and i like a stcik welde rbetter. ive only used flux cored wire and its worked great for doing exhaust work and body panels etc.

 

The small mig machines like the HH series are hard to beat for auto body work and thin stuff like that. They're easy to use, and will pt down a quick tack with minimal distortion. If I was doing body work, I'd definitely use a $300 mig machine over a $5000 tig machine.

 

What I meant to imply was that Rocky is experienced and knowledgable. I do not doubt that you would choose an infinate machine and to you or me or Rocky it wouldnt be much of an issue as to ease of use but for the avg guy that is asking questions on a forum like this one a stepped machine would propably be easier to operate and the advantages of an inf machine would would be negligable at most.

 

Well folks thanks for the inputs, I have been convinced not to buy one from HF, but I aint going out to buy more than I'll ever use or need.

 

Me neither!!!

 

I bought the $300 Campbell Hausfeld from Home Depot (serious duty version, whatever that means..) and I've welded everything from sheetmetal to 1/4" with it, and have yet for a weld to break. It gone thru a few 10 lb spools of .035 (I think) flux core and I've been pretty pleased with it. Put my roll cage together, welded hoods and fenders together, body mounts, 55 gal. drums, a whole lot of stuff. That little maching has taken a lot of abuse but just keeps on ticking. Asuming a good power source (less than 150' of 14 ga. extension cord) and clean material, it does a pretty dang good job. Now, granted, for the heavy duty stuff, I use my 220 stick welder or my neighbor's 220 wire feed Miller (I'll never smoke wire with Lincoln again), but for the ligh to moderate duty, I use that little CH. Weld it up, grind ogg the boogers, weld it again, and it penetrates ptreey goor. It has a dial for the wire speed and 4 different heat settings (low-1, low-2, high-1, high-2). Does a real decent job for $300.