BOC migwelders

[turbo gu]

Just want to know if anyone has any experience with these? Are there a good mig. I am looking at the 250 amp one.
Cheers

[v6hilux]

They are great!

The gas bottle rental will "kill you" if you don't have a stolen one or can't make good use of the welder to make money.

There is the gas-less wire, but that is like welding with an arc-welder, needs the slag constantly chipped-off the job.

[ssfabricator]

not a bad machine we have 3 phase one at work 320 wf4 you need wf4 for aluminium

[PJ.zook]

Yeh theyre not bad a unit, although ive got a 120amp i think it is, its not worth pissing on if it caught fire, it cant weld anything more than sheetmetal on a hot day. The bigger units are fine though.

[v6hilux]

I just remembered I knew someone in a small metal fab shop that owned a CIGWELD mig.

The thing stopped feeding the wire. I took the wire feed motor apart and found the motor brushes had worn-down. That was in 1994 and I remember that the brushes were not available. I was able to rotate them and get it working again, but for some reason, I had to tell him that it was a motor replacement next time (in few months), not just brushes. (I did this for a friend and not as a trader wanting more money in the future!)

Can anyone expand on this motor brush issue?

[Thommo 73]

ive got a 190 amp. 2/3yr old. great for chassis and panel work.

[zagan]

you can get new motors I've killed 2 of them, there's 2 cigwelds at my work.

I'll try to get the brand or a number off the motor so you have something to look up.

Other wise try hitting up the welding shops or cigweld them selves.

You can get everything replaced in the Cig weld mig welders, I know that for sure as I've killed just about every part in a cigweld welder.

My suggestion don't run them at the top settings for months on end, it kills the motor after a while, if the motor lasts then the guts can go bye bye as well but these are old machines as well they were in there before I started and I've been at my work for 6 years now so I'd say they be doing pretty good for their age.

Brand new should get a good 10 years or so out of them.

If the fan dies, it won't turn on.

[Mark2]

Bit off topic but I've just bought a BOC Smootharc 130 inverter stick welder. Currently on special for $309. I cant believe how easy it is to use compared to my old transformer welder or even my mig for that matter. I find vertical welds easier with this thing than the mig welder (yes its not gasless!). In fact I tend to reach for it before the mig for most things.

Anyway, inverter mig welders are now starting to get cheap, if they are anything like the stick welders in terms of the arc quality and lack of splatter, it might be worth looking out for one. Plenty on ebay but cant comment on the quality.

[BowTieGQ]

What are the inverter migs like?

[Mark2]

What are the inverter migs like?

I've never tried one but I hear they are very good. They are also a lot smaller/lighter for the same output. If the improvement is anything like going from an old school transformer stick welder to an inverter stick welder they would have to be fantastic!

[BowTieGQ]

I agree. I've got a decent size workshop stick and a decent portable stick. My cousin has an inverter one and even though I havn't used his, you can tell the difference just watching and listening to him weld. Sounds heaps softer, like a sausage sizzling on a bbq. My big even shat a power point in the shed on start up. Thirsty farker.