Friday, January 4, 2013

Some Points To Consider Before Purchasing A Mig Welder

By Kenny Marcum


For those who need a small welder for the convenience of doing a few jobs around the workshop, a MIG welder is a good choice. Mig is an acronym for 'metal inert gas'. It is one of several forms of arc welding. Welding consists of fusing several pieces of metal together using an electric arc to create intense heat at the site. The arc is started with a short circuit and then controlled by a control board in the machine itself.

This type of welder uses a filler wire which feeds through the welding gun to the weld site. The wire doubles as the electrode and when it touches the opposite polarity metal, it creates an arc, melting to form the weld. Portable units of this type are popular.

An inert gas which is a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide acts as a 'shield' between the air and molten metal. This ArgoShield prevents what would otherwise be a brittle and weak weld. The gas and wire feed through a gun operated by a trigger This controls the feed.

This is supplied in a large coil and is usually steel coated with copper. This reduces the shower of tiny glowing sparks which occur when steel and gas come together. Wearing a welding mask is very important as the brilliant ultraviolet light can cause burning to the retina of the eye.

Stick or MIG welders are available are portable units. Stick welders are not as expensive but there are other points to consider. Much depends on the material thickness you want to weld. You will need to choose between different voltages. If you want a welder that connects to a vehicle battery, these vary in their cycle times. The spools of wire range for 0.2 of a kilogram to 5 kgs. Most units take at least several different sizes.

Gasless units are also available. The current is often adjustable. There may be a light to indicate overheating of the unit although internal fans help with cooling. If you need a Mig welder, there is bound to be one to suit you.




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