Choosing an MMA Welder

[hejayParticipant @hejay]

Hey all, I need to make some aluminium and steel jigs and frames out of tubular steel and don’t know what MMA welder to go for. Needs to be 240V and have a duty cycle that’s not agonising. Other than that, can be new or used.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

You make no mention of materisl thickness or the number to be made. For a quality job I would say inverter Fusion at Honiton The 175A is good and has a guarantee at about £500 . There’s cheap far east, or a old transformer unit BOMB proof and second hand = cheap, must be oil filled. Tube, I would also look at a GOOD MIG set. Noel.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

MMA is a very poor choice for aluminium.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Following Roberts comment I agree. If aluminium is being used then there is only really one process that will work well if using electric, TIG ! AC TIG ! I recently bought a cheapish machine that has worked well and depending on what extras you add will do TIG, MIG and MMA at up to a CLAIMED 250A !This machine also claims to need 28A at 240V but is supplied with a 13A plug that does NOT even get warm when running at a setting of 250A ! Alli can be welded using MMA but is is messy and rods are expensive. If you use TIG or MIG you will need a supply of ARGON gas and unless you are a skilled welder you will need some time to get the hang of it. Working on 1/4″thick material I needed the claimed 250A. It was a ROHM 250 WSME. Noel.

PS If you go for TIG  then avoid a scratch start type, go for high frequency start, the former will work but soon gets tiresome to use. N

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

You should be asking here

[DC31kParticipant @dc31k]

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I don’t think mocking someone’s punctuation actually helps

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

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