I want to buy a welder in the next year or so. I was leaning towards a MIG welder (likely some multi-process). I’m a novice welder, and from what I have heard, laser is easier, faster, causes less distortion, and produces very clean welds (and can be amazing for cleaning).
But they are very expensive. I am wondering if I should go with MIG or perhaps wait a bit for a laser welder.
What’s people’s experience with laser welding and cleaning? Do you see it replacing MIG or TIG long-term? What is laser welding NOT good at today?
Right now, laser welding is pretty expensive. Decent ones seem to start about $5k for ones that can weld 3/16" thick steel in one pass (I probably want up to 1/2" so even more).
If anyone has been monitoring how quickly laser welding prices have gone down in the last few years, do you have a prediction where prices might be in 1-2 years?
I look forward to hearing people’s comments on this.
By all means, get a MIG or a multi-process machine. If you get the multi-process unit, make sure that the TIG has high frequency starting, and also A/C if you think you’ll ever want to weld aluminum.
Also it may be kind of an old school way of thinking, but one of the better ways to start out is to learn oxy-acetylene welding. Somebody with decent O/A skills can basically switch over to TIG and start welding almost right away with very little additional practice. Plus your O/A torch set will generally come with cutting and heating attachments which are both incredibly useful in a shop. Edit to add; and you can braze with the gas torch, which is often very useful in repair work.
That’s not a problem I have had, at least here in Anchorage. My argon bottles I had shipped up to me (in a different town in Alaska) by barge from Central in WA 25+ years ago, then they were exchanged by Airgas/Air Liquide several times after I moved to Anchorage, and now I am back to using Central since they opened an Anchorage location. It may be different in your location, and it’s worth checking with your local gas suppliers to see if they have a policy like Knick mentions.
What is more important if you are buying used bottles, is to make sure that they are not leased bottles. Those will sometimes show up for sale, but once they are empty you won’t be able to exchange them, since they are somebody else’s property.
I was a good OA welder in years past but my MIG is extraordinary in how fast I can get set up and get a good quality weld in place. That said, I gotta say that all MIG machines are not created equally. The cheapest can be very frustrating and may not be a good way to get the technique down well. I have used different MIG machines in different locations and some I can’t get used to at all and even after a bunch of “practice” I still can’t lay down a good weld. I’d suggest a reasonable budget limit and go for the best machine within your budget. Also, as a novice, see if you can find a local welding class. It may be well worth the expense. Or someone you know that is already a good welder. And yes, I still do a bit of OA, especially for brazing when that is called for. A decent torch is handy, and a cutting head is good to have also. Also, the regulators that you may find used need to be either in good condition, or easily rebuildable. Best of luck as you proceed into this addictive “hobby!”
Good insight. Based on its reputation and good reviews as a solid mid-tier rig, I was leaning towards the Primeweld 285 (https://primeweld.com/products/primeweld-mig-285), a multi-process unit supporting MIG, FCAW, Lift TIG, and Stick welding. Which units would you recommend or steer away from?
Rich, I do not have enough experience with the group of lower priced machines, nor would I want to badmouth any specific brand or machines. In general, I stick with the main name brands that are the core of the welding industry in the USA. Warrantee is important, as is ability to have a local shop do a service if ever needed. For example, I have a plasma cutter that failed, was replaced and failed again. At my request with me paying the difference, the company sent me the next higher capacity machine, and for no extra cost to me. The new, better capacity machine works fantastically, and was a full $1K more expensive than my original purchase. That type of service is important.
My opinion is to skip out on all the multi process machines are for the most part junk and if you want a welder that does mig and tig you have to spend 1000+ to get into a hi frequency start equipped machine, lift arc is not worth the additional cost for multi process. Get a used name brand machine preferably something that is transformer based not inverter, they are larger but are pretty much going to run for life. Troll marketplace or liquidation auctions and you will find a good machine for a good price. The cheaper inverter machine will more than likely fail within 10 years and good luck trying to track down parts or customer service in a couple years. I can go in a get almost any part I need for my 40 year old tig machine from my local supply house same day or maybe a couple days out. but most shops wont touch non name brand machines.