3 Tips for Choosing the Right MIG Welder
Welding is an extremely versatile process that is used in many different types of manufacturing. MIG welding is especially popular since this style of welding is easy to do and allows for a margin of error without compromising the weld quality.
If you are thinking of using MIG welding to combine metal components in your manufacturing, you will need to invest in a welding machine, such as the Miller cp 302. The right MIG welder will allow you to create durable and reliable weld seams in the future.
1. Look for a Spool Gun
One of the features that you should look for as you shop for a MIG welder is the inclusion of a spool gun. The primary role of a spool gun is to maintain stability and have better control when you are welding aluminum. Aluminum can easily become tangled when it is fed through the standard wire spool included on all MIG welders. These tangles not only compromise the efficiency of the welding process, they can jeopardize the integrity of your weld seams.
A spool gun will help you tame your aluminum so that you can weld with ease.
2. Check for Thermal Overload Protection
In order for metal components to become joined together, a MIG welder must operate at extremely high temperatures. Exposure to high temperatures over an extended period of time could result in the overheating of a MIG welder. Overheating can cause permanent damage to the welding machine, leaving you unequipped and unable to weld in the future.
Any MIG welder you purchase should have a thermal overload protection feature. This feature automatically shields the vital components of the welder against high temperatures when it starts to overheat. By using a MIG welder that is equipped with thermal overload protection, you can extend the life of your welding equipment.
3. Ask About Surge Protection
Most MIG welders in use today are powered by electricity. Therefore, it's possible for a short-circuit to occur while you are in the process of creating a weld seam. Short-circuits have the potential to interfere with your weld pool and compromise the quality of your weld seam. A MIG welder that is equipped with surge protection can prevent damage related to short-circuits. This surge protection feature modifies the surge of electricity that occurs immediately before a short-circuit. By modifying the current, the surge protection feature can actually prevent the short-circuit from taking place.
Your project will be protected against possible spattering and weld pool interference when your MIG welder is equipped with surge protection.