Using TIG as MIG

[tomchen911]

I am new to welding and now have a chance to aquire an almost new Miller Dynasty 200 SD (base unit only) cheap. The original owner bought the Dynasty to use as a portable stick welder and he had only test weld once with his Dynasty, He does not have the Tig gun kit so I'll have to buy a new set from Miller. I am going to build a 5'X9' CNC wood router very soon and will be welding a lot of steel tubings and chanels. For my purpose CO2 MIG welding will be more suitable which can weld much faster than TIG, also learning to weld MIG will be easier than learning TIG welding. But I do not want to pass up the good deal I am getting on the Dynasty. So my question is can I get a MIG spool feeder gun set and somehow setup the Dynasty to be used as a MIG welder. Thanks

Tom

[tadream]

The only thing you could really use that would work anywhere near satisfactorily would be a voltage sensing feeder. (such as Miller 12VS, or Lincoln LN-25). These are both standard feeders, not spool guns. I believe profax sells a control box for their spoolgun that is voltage sensing. Any of these is fairly expensive. TIG & Stick machines are Constant Current machines. This means that they will vary the output voltage in order to try to keep the current at the set level. MIG machines are Constant Voltage which do exactly the opposite: They vary the output current to maintain the set voltage level. Neither type works well for the other, and voltage-sensing feeders are just a work-around for this. If the TIG is that good of a deal, then get it and either stick or TIG the parts. Otherwise, just get a cheap MIG machine either instead of, or in addition to the TIG.

[mixdenny]

I second Tad's recommendation to spend the money on a MIG, which seems to be best for your application anyway. You could add a Ready Welder spool gun to the Dynasty, they are designed to operate off batteries or standard arc welders. But they are $500 in addition to buying the Dynasty, which makes your MIG a very expensive proposition. And even the TIG upgrade for the Dynasty is $750 list.

Dennis

[low_48]

I was raised on the farm, but if you are mainly welding angle iron, structural work, I would recommend getting a stick welder from the BORG. Less than $300 and welding 1/4" steel will be easy.

[tomchen911]

Thanks for your replies. Most of the steel tubings and chanels I'll be welding for my router will be around 1/4" and 3/8" thick, also will be welding some 14 or 16 ga sheets. I want to get an inverter type MIG welder which is light and small in size but must be of a good solid unit. Can you advise me some models to choose from. TIA

Tom

[dewme5]

Look into this one right here
http://www.readywelder.com/
It has several ways to configure the power supply, from deep cycle batteries, to using an arc welder as a power supply. if it will take the arc, it'll take a tig I think. Uses fluxcore or gas, and since it's spool on gun, welding alum is better then trying to send the wire thru a long lead.

I personally have one, and it's good stuff. I think I paid about $400 for it

[tomchen911]

I want to thank everyone for your advise, I'll get the Dynasty and buy an upgrade TIG contractor kit. I'll get another MIG set if I really need it for my job. Thanks again.

[millman52]

My recomendation for a small mig machine is the Lincoln SP 135 + or if you want larger SP 175 + Not cheap either one of them but very nice machines. Please don't confuse these with the ones you can find at Lowes home centers & other discount stores. They are stripped down Cost competitive models.

[Farmers Machine]

Get the Lincoln power mig 350. it will stick,mig, flux core and tig all in one extreemely powerful unit and it will allow you to do it all. the lincoln rep came out and hooked up the aluminum push pull gun and set up the pulse mig and it works great. also use it on 1 1/2" 572 grade 50 plate with dual shield Kobe 711