[TheForge] Which is the better Mig. Miller or Hobart. Does Tig beat em all?

[Carl Tappan]

A friend once welded copper with a MIG welder, though I have no Idea the
quality of the weld. Wasn't MIG wire he used, though. I agree that a TIG
is best, but all of the metals you mentioned can allegedly MIG weld with
the right setting and accessories. Regarding models, I like millers, but
have not used the Hobart. The one that did the Copper was a Hobart
BetaMig 250 or something like that. I don't know how it is to use,
though. My knowledge of this is somewhat limited, though, so don't take
this for gospel.
Carl Tappan

On Mon, 2003-11-17 at 16:57, John Husvar wrote:
> TodEstesRN@aol.com wrote:
> > Help!  I am looking at the Miller 175 and the Hobart 175, which is the better 
> > machine?
> > Do I need to look at a larger machine? I have A/C and D/C Stick welders as 
> > well as a good Oxy/ Acy set up.  Yes, I could forge weld almost everything, but 
> > I am still not a great forge welder (despite practicing).
> >  Would I be better off just looking at going to a Tig system?
> > I mainly work in various steels, although I do use some aluminum, rarely 
> > copper or brass. The use would be my small (but growing) blacksmithing shop. Small 
> > repairs, and light production.
> > Any and all opinions accepted. Thanks in advance.
> > Time enough for sleep in the grave.
> > Tod Estes.
> > 
> 
> > 
> > 
> 
> Both seem to be considered decent machines, but....
> 
> newsgroup sci.engr.joining.welding
> 
> Post your question there with a good description of what you want/neeed 
> to weld and you'll get the opinions of some of the most knowledgeable 
> people in that trade -- in about half an hour. :)
> 
> Well worth reading regularly.
> 
> MIG will work on steel and aluminum with the right gases. I use 
> flux-core for all my steel stuff, using a lincoln Weld-Pak 155.
> 
> If you're planning on doing much non-ferrous welding, aluminum, etc, TIG 
> is the way to go, especially if you're proficient at Oxy/acetylene. A 
> good TIG machine (~$1500 and up -- WAY up!) will also work very well 
> with stick. A stick machine may or may not work effectively for TIG. 
> Even if it does, it'll be limited.
> 
> HTH
> John