When you’re shopping for a new MIG welder on sale, you’ll have to look
through a wide variety of settings, options, and add-ons that you may or may not
need depending on the size of your shop or the nature of your welding projects.
It can be overwhelming to read through MIG welder reviews and to try to decide
between the best price and the best machine. You can find a wide variety of MIG welders on sale at some of the lowest prices around (and with FREE SHIPPING) at Baker’s Gas and Welding, but before you click over, here are some tips on what to look for in a MIG welder and how to use it best:
Do You Need a Wire Spool Gun for a MIG Welder?
When you’re using a MIG welder on aluminum, the wire is going to be a little bit
lighter and more prone to bunching up in the wire feeder. Most welders come with
a place to attach a spool gun, so before you buy a welder, especially a less
expensive model, make sure it offers the features you need in order to weld
aluminum.
Thermal Overload Protection for a MIG Welder
Thermal overload protection is generally a standard feature on most
welders—especially the top brands found at Baker’s Gas and Welding. The last
thing you want is for your welder to overheat while you’re working with it,
especially if you’re new to welding and may not be able to catch it in time.
This is one feature that you don’t want to skimp on.
Flux Cored MIG Welding Wire
One of the ongoing expenses of a MIG welder will be shielding gas since the
MIG welding wire needs the gas to prevent contamination while you’re welding. If
you’d rather avoid working around gas canisters or if you want to save money,
you can also pick up some flux cored MIG wire that will make it possible to MIG
weld without shielding gas. You’ll have to chip away the flux when you’re done
welding, but when it comes to weld quality, a flux cored MIG wire will get the
job done all the same and has received positive reviews from many welders.
MIG Welder Short-Circuiting
A surge of power in your MIG welder may cause spatter and ruin your weld if
you don’t have a short-circuiting control. Having a way to modify the electrical
current while you’re working will be ideal for a welder and will save you some
major headaches while you work.
Duty Cycle for a MIG Welder
One of the most important features on a MIG welder, or any welder really, is
the length of the duty cycle. This is the amount of time you can weld within a
10 minute cycle before the welder has to stop to cool down. In other words, a
less expensive welder may last 2-3 minutes before you need to cool down, while a
more expensive welder will last 6-8 minutes. Having too short a duty cycle for a
big project will be both time consuming and frustrating—if not costly if you’re
on the clock!
The best duty cycle for your MIG welder all depends on how often you plan on
using your welder and the size of your projects. The typical hobby welder at
home doesn’t need a particularly long duty cycle, although there are always
exceptions.
High and Low Voltage Options for a MIG Welder
One of the features that you’ll find in a welder like the Millermatic 211
All-in-One MIG Welder is that it can switch between 120 and 230 V in order
to give welders more versatility for the different jobs that will come in their
shops. If your welder doesn’t have enough power, there will be certain materials
that you won’t be able to weld because they’re too thick. If you have too much
power, you could burn through the metal. Having this wide range of options
ensures that your investment in a welder provides the most options.