Advice/Help needed please

[dmule3]

I love my 210, am learning to weld, and eventually will use it to its potential, but right now I am only using it for doing 3/16" cold rolled steel and .058 4130 round tubing with .035 wire.

Sometimes while doing this small stuff it feels like I am rushed because of all the wire that is getting layed down even at setting 1 with a low wire speed. I try to make a nice small penetrating bead but it seems like too much wire too fast. The welds seem too big and I worry they are not hot/penetrating enough because of rushing it, and I feel like I need to slow down to get good penetration and small bead and not have a big long glob.

The M25 gun is too big sometimes to get in tight spots tack welding a small chassis, and the tacks are too big. I realize its practice,practice,practice but I really think I would benefit from using a smaller gun and smaller wire right now.

I considered buying a new 140C and running 024 wire, but I dont really have the 6 or 7 bills for another welder.

I have gone through many scenarios – sell the 210 – but I know I will just be buying it back again down the road… of course I always wished I got the 251 anyway… buying either welder later will just be more expensive… bla bla bla it goes on and on

Since the 210 can go down to 30 amps like a smaller wire feed, can I and/or is it feasible to get the M10 gun for the 210 and do it that way? Of course I would need to get the 024 drive rollers also. Or would the M15 gun be better?
Dunno

[Danny]

The 210 runs .030 wire noticably better then .035, especially on that .058 wall tube. The 210 will do real well with an .023 on the .058 tube too.

The M-10 or M-15 will fit the 210. Both guns are very close to the same size. The M-15 is the more industrial between the two at the machine end. Plus also, the M-15 can be purchased in a 12 ft length.

[hankj]

When I bought my MM 210, I also grabbed up .035 wire. I never did like the arc quality, and found out (after hearing the recommendation both here and on Weld Talk) that the machine really runs better on .030 throughout it's operating range. Try it - you'll like it!

As for the M10 gun, you bet! It's a plug 'n play option. The back ends on the 10 and the 25 are identical. Just remember that in high current applications, your gun's duty cycle will be less.

Close quarters are always a problem. Sometimes the only solution is an ingeniously bent stick rod and intuition! But, in general, the M10 gun will get you where you can't go with the 25.

Hank

[Steve]

I would check price of drive rolls and possibly a liner for the smaller stuff. That would be cheaper than another welder or spool gun.

[Fat-Fab.com]

I love my 210, am learning to weld, and eventually will use it to its potential, but right now I am only using it for doing 3/16" cold rolled steel and .058 4130 round tubing with .035 wire.

Sometimes while doing this small stuff it feels like I am rushed because of all the wire that is getting layed down even at setting 1 with a low wire speed. I try to make a nice small penetrating bead but it seems like too much wire too fast. The welds seem too big and I worry they are not hot/penetrating enough because of rushing it, and I feel like I need to slow down to get good penetration and small bead and not have a big long glob.

The M25 gun is too big sometimes to get in tight spots tack welding a small chassis, and the tacks are too big. I realize its practice,practice,practice but I really think I would benefit from using a smaller gun and smaller wire right now.

I considered buying a new 140C and running 024 wire, but I dont really have the 6 or 7 bills for another welder.

I have gone through many scenarios – sell the 210 – but I know I will just be buying it back again down the road… of course I always wished I got the 251 anyway… buying either welder later will just be more expensive… bla bla bla it goes on and on

Since the 210 can go down to 30 amps like a smaller wire feed, can I and/or is it feasible to get the M10 gun for the 210 and do it that way? Of course I would need to get the 024 drive rollers also. Or would the M15 gun be better?
Dunno



What gas are you using?
For the steel or 4130 I would use 75/25
the al. I use Argon Helium mix.

[fun4now]

you might consider a spoolgun with .025 wire in it and .030 in the main roll.
i think a M-10 would get you a smaller gun but you could also look into some other options like the benard trade in program as listed in the post below

http://www.weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=6913
lots of people find the M-25 a little large for daily use on smaller stuff. there are some other options like the alfa II but i cant find a link at the moment, i'll keep looking.
:confused:

[bob_e95482]

Your 210 should come with reversible drive wheels. I'm running .035 on mine now, but usually use .030. You can even go smaller; it draws less amps to burn smaller wire, I believe .024 & .027.

[fun4now]

try this, thease are said to be nice guns with interchangable ends
http://www.binzel-abicor.com/frameset.asp?refer=sub&lng=1&ctr=neu
http://www.binzel-abicor.com/frameset.asp?refer=sub&lng=1&ctr=neu
i have been considering an alfa 1 for my MM135.;)
good price and pounts right up to the MM series

[turbo38t]

I'd be running your second lowest heat rating and the wire speed pretty ****ed low too. And then move fast. This is some thin stuff ur welding. I was just doing some 55gal drums today with a 1/8" thick hinge to protect some of the heat and was welding with a MM135 with .030 on setting 6 I believe for voltage and like 3 for wire speed and I had to go real fast then even. Dave

[dmule3]

Forgot to mention that I am using C25 gas

Thanks for all the replies, and I have decided that I would like a smaller gun. Sounds like I will benefit from the smaller wire also. Can't find specs on the actual dimensions on the M10 or M15 guns to make a decision on which to get.

Also have been looking at pricing - am I looking in the wrong places? $200 plus? even for not Miller brands?

Looked into Bernard (thanks fun) and they are sending me a quote.

I mentioned I didnt really wanna spend money on another welder right now, but if its gonna cost me 2 hundred plus for a gun, I may as well spring for a new 140 for 6 hundred plus and have a portable for the race/parts trailer while at the track as a bonus

Course I do have the spoolgun. I never thought of using it for anything but aluminum (duh) but thats too easy - now that I like the idea of having a smaller welder that I could take with me, the war department wont have to know about the cheap and easy spoolgun option:D

[dmule3]

Nevermind - found cheaper guns

Still like the idea of having a portable welder though...