Stick vs. mig

[Geno]

Can any one tell me which is better a AC/DC Stick or Mig. I would mostly be welding steel, angle iron, maybe alluminum some may be painted, or not totally clean and new, and mostly 1/4 or less. I'm looking to upgrade from a 20+ yr. old AC stick welder from my grandfather, I weld maybe 12 times a year avg once a month, for different projects that require custom brackets and connectors

Thanks

[TOMWELDS2]

AC/DC stick....Since you mentioned dirty metal, i'd go with 6010. And keep some 7018 handy for the clean stuff.

[Geno]

Thanks for the quick reply
1. What benefit would you get with a mig welder over a stick
2. Does a mig need to always be used with clean un painted metal? like new metal or just ground clean?

Thanks in advance

[k.a.m]

i would have to say ac/dc stick also lots of diff. rods to choose from alot less exspence upfront, mig has its place for sure but if you want to save some bucks stick is the way to go. you can use flux core wire i have been told on some dirty steel someone that mig welds will be along for sure to give the pros on it i upgraded suprisingly enough from my grandfathers old ac miller thunderbolt to the miller ac/dc it is a fine machine to run i have been told the stickmate is just as good and cost less i am partial to blue:) anyway welcome lots of good people here that are willing to help.

[Sberry]

I am going to go against the grain here, you already have a stick machine when needed, get a new HH187 with C25 and a roll of 030 and don't look back. Keep the grinder handy to clean steel and weld away, so far superior for ease of use especially with light gage materials and poor fit ups, you can weld conduit with one, great for sheet metal. You are a poster person for this machine, the engineers had your picture on the wall when they design it.

[thingy]

Well you say you weld once a month or so,evidently on the stick machine you have? believe if plan stays the same,would just stay the same myself?

Second and most importantly,,cleaning the haz before welding,you are supposed to do this with stick or mig or tig or anything else,not an excuse for not doing it,true mig will more readly show symptoms from improper cleaning,you are not supposed to weld over paint/rust/oil/or anything else even with stick,it melts in your weld,,it causes all sorts of problems,,anybody welding anything with any process should know this and its just plain lazyness not to clean the metal before welding,period. thingy

[Sberry]

With a small feeder you will find more use than once a month.

[Mr Meck]

Ah, another stick vs MIG question. There is no question where I work...really. We use the fastest that produces the best weld. Sometimes it be stick, sometimes it be MIG, or TIG, or torch. If it weren't for our Miller MP-65E and S 60 feeder, our Lincoln R3S-325 with Miller S54 and Spool gun 1 would we would be completely lost? Hold on...Look...over in the corner is a Lincoln Square wave 175(good for stick), And there in the back is the double banked Millers for 600 amps to gouge with(or stick weld), and yet still, there is a stick machine in the other bay. Dang building power is out. Shazam... there be Miller big 40's, and a Miller MP-65D outside and a S32P under the bench and Fluxy stuff in the rack. Oh don't forget the torch for brazing n welding. Anyway if you only weld once a month and what you have suits your needs, keep it the same. Keep what you got and save some cash. Welding is all good fun.:D And I have yet to find a rod that will weld a crack with dirt behind it regardless of what the salesman says.:rolleyes:

[k.a.m]

sberry,thingy,and mr.meck, all have valid answers to your question. if the ac machine is working fine and you want some versatilty the 187 is a good choice,you should always clean your metal when you can hence no dirty metal or paint and having two diff. machines allows one to choose which process is best suited for the job. the reason i went with what i did was that the old ac miller wasnt perfoming properly i already new i wanted the dc side i came to this sight for the same reason i almost bought the 180 miller instead. but opted for the stick knowing i will someday get a mig.

[Big_Eddy]

As a relative newbie - here's my 2 cents. You have a stick machine - sure it's 20 years old but it works and buying a new tombstone likely won't get you anything you don't already have. Technology hasn't changed much on the basic transformer welder.

If you NEED to spend money - I'd go with a 220V Mig like the Handler 187. They are perfect for what you have in mind - and for brackets and such with relatively clean materials you will find it soooooo much more convenient than stick.

[small electrode]

This subject has been hashed to death in earlier posts, but since you are looking for an upgrade, I'd get a 220 volt Mig a HH187 or HH210 would be perfect. I have no problem with using a stick machine welding material 1/8 inch and bigger, but 1/8 and smaller I really like mig. You said you were only using a welder 12 times a year, does spending over a $grand on welder, tanks, gas, wire, etc. make economical sense? Or have you caught the welding disease, as I have, and just need to buy more equipment.:D:D You can't go wrong with the small 220 volt Hobart migs, they work great.

Strictly from a money point of view, stay with the stick, if you want, and I think you do, to try something else...Buy a mig, its another tool, and its fun.

[Sberry]

Because of the ease of use you will find all kinds of things to do with it. I don't recall ever seeing someone come on regretting the money they spent on one of these units, absolutely value for the dollar, most people wish they got one earlier and there is no reason to have any buyers remorse.

[aametalmaster]

I got my first Miller Mig 30 years ago and never looked back. I am on like my 7th one. Sure i have an AC/DC machine and its great for cast iron repair and 7018 but my mig gets the best workouts. You can do so many more smaller repairs with the migs and all your neighbors will be glad you have one as you will become "Mr Fixit" like me....Bob

[Rocky D]

Like Cary, I would go with a MIG, too, but try a HH125EZ, first. You will never look back!!

[Sberry]

I am a solid wire fan for this class but am guilty of not testing the cored wire either at this level so take that for what its worth. There is so much available salvage and light repair that the cost of the unit is soon recovered. Nice stuff can be built from junk, so much of it already prefabricated. painted, etc. mostly for the taking. The material is light but often painted, maybe the flux would help some but fitup can be poor and solid fills gaps so nice.

[Some Creep]

Like Cary, I would go with a MIG, too, but try a HH125EZ, first. You will never look back!!

Question for you Rocky: Would you consider the 125EZ a better bet for a first mig versus the HH125? Both are the same initial price and capabilities (I think) out of the box, but I'd think for the small gas upgrade adder later this might be a more versatile starter. Just an observation of the product line.....

Your opinion?

[Rocky D]

Yes, I sure would. I tested both machines, and for the gas option, on the 125 I wasn't impressed. Even the bigger machines, don't run .030" ER70T-11 as good as the 125EZ. For a MIG, I wouldn't go any smaller than the HH135.