How to Compare MIG Welders
Another name for a MIG welder is a "wire welder." With this type of device you piece together the insides of electrical wires into strands that you can use in a wide variety of applications. If you are in the market for a new MIG welder, you should base your purchase on the exact nature of the task you need to complete. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Find out the maximum thickness of material that you can weld using a particular MIG Welder. Not all MIG Welders will be able to work with all thicknesses of material. This number will be measured in millimeters, and the higher the millimeter indication in the MIG Welder documentation, the thicker the material the welder can work with. Which number is right for you depends almost entirely on what you'll be using the MIG Welder for.
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Look up the weight for a particular MIG Welder you're thinking of buying. The weight of the unit affects how portable it is. Typically, portable units weigh around 70 lbs. or less. Tabletop units or units that are not designed to be moved can weigh 150 lbs. or more. If you need a unit to be portable (for example, to carry back and forth between work and home), you'll need a lighter unit.
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Determine the length of the "duty cycle" of your MIG Welder. The "duty cycle" is a measurement of the number of times you can use a MIG Welder in a short period of time without it getting too hot and overheating. Higher duty cycles can operate for longer while welding thicker pieces of material. Buy a MIG Welder with the highest duty cycle you can find.
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Find out how many different wire diameters the task involves. When using a MIG Welder, you will invariably need to work with wires. Certain MIG Welders only have the capacity to deal with wires of a specific diameter. This diameter will be listed in the product's documentation. Other MIG Welders can work with a variety of different wire diameters, giving you more options when it comes to the types of jobs you can perform using the device.
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