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FCAW, no Gas MIG, Fluxo MIG...


o_teunico

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Hi all!

I have at home a big non inverter industrial type MMA welder, but always have dreamed about having MIG and TIG welders.

Both the price of such machines + expense of ARGON, ARGON+CO^2 or CO^2 bottles were a problem.

Some weeks ago I heard about FCAW, No Gas MIG, FluxoMIG, Fluxed MIG or whatever way you want to call it.

This kind of welder doesn´t need any bottle and the machine itself can be cheaply sourced from Ebay.

Has anyone experienced this kind of welding? Pros and Cons?

Tis is the one I´m looking to, just 87€ + 10€ p&p

Fluxed wire is 5 to 10 times more expensive than normal one, but I will use it very little and maybe 1kg of it will last a year.

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A cheap machine will behave like a cheap machine, regardless of which wire you put through it - not very well!!

When you consider the small difference between the two processes, from the machine's point of view, you should ask why a cheap machine is cheaper - when the only difference is the polarity of the output and a solenoid valve.

Have a look at this page which explains the differences. http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/gasless-mig.htm

In the UK, it is now much easier to get 'rent free' gas. You pay a deposit for the cylinder, and slightly more for the gas, but for hobby use it is much cheaper than using disposable bottles or hiring a cylinder on a yearly basis. Is the same thing available in Spain?

Luke

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Hi Luke,

Here in Spain "free hire" exists for home and caravan cooking gas but have never seen it for welding gas.

I even thought about MAG using pub CO^2 bottle. Secondhand full bottle could be sourced for about 50 but gas MIG machines are no cheaper than 250 and beeing unemployed since may 2012 every penny counts.

Very usefull link

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Well, I have finally ordered this cheapo welder from eBay. I should recive it on Tuesday or Wensday. As said before, just 97 Eur p&p included. It comes with 1/2 kg of fluxed wire for mild steel welding. I can buy 1kg of this for about 25 Eur.

I will post some pics and info on this machine as soon as I recive it.

$(KGrHqZHJE8FCn)VhulWBQu+hRJDJ!~~60_12.J

http://www.ebay.es/itm/SOLDADOR-TURBO-MIG-100-A-HILO-GAS-ACCESORIOS-SOLDADORA-VENTILADA-SOLDAR-/221161636276?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_186&hash=item337e42c1b4

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It´s a complete set with FCAW machine, wire spool, wire brush and mask. Build quality is certainly better than expected (remember, just 87€ for the whole pack).

I has ten wire speeds and just four fixed power settings.

The box

p2031217pq.jpg

Front panel

p2031219pq.jpg

After a good meal...

p2031222pq.jpg

...we are ready for testing it in some chassis front legs

p2031246pq.jpg

If you are not carefull you can make holes in chassis even at lowest 50 Amp setting (wire speed was at MAX)

p2031253pq.jpg

Here a video of me testing the TURBO MIG 100 for first time. Note that it will close the circuit and create arc even if torch´s button is not pressed.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hot news! My brother has just ordered a propper MIG machine. Since he doesn´t want to use the Argon bottle from the TIG in this machine, he has managed to obtain a CO^2 bottle from the local beer dealer for 65 Eur. No cylinder rental or deposit, just pay for the gas.

I will see if my torch is prepared for gas and how much will cost a regulator/valve. It´s seems a cheap way of converting to MAG.

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