Welding and Metalworking - Campbell Hausfeld WF1800

Hi,

I bought a CH WF1800 welder back in 2002. It is a Wire Feed Arc Welder. I have used it a little, but still need practice with it. I am a little confused about how far welders have come now days. My dad used to have a regular stick welder back when I was younger in the 80's. Now, you can get the Flux Core type. I have always thought that the Flux Core and MIG were the same type, being that both look similar as far as the wire feeding out through a gun. Most of the MIG welders that I have seen look similar. I always thought Arc welders were the stick welders. What is the major differences between Arc and MIG welders, besides that MIG is Metal Inert Gas?

Thanks,

Surprised that no one answered your questions. Mig,flux core and stick welding are all arc weldings systems. Stick uses welding rods that are about 12 inches long and thats where the term stick came from an they can be AC, DC welders and in most cases are used for heavy welding. Wire welders,mig are the same type machiines and the difference is Mig uses a argon or argon co2 mix gases that are applied to the welding joint when the trigger is pulled.The result is a very clean joint without slag cleanup and with practice you don't even have to brush it. Flux core wire can be used with wire or mig welders when no gas is used. It gives better weld then not using gas but still splatters some and is much more messy then using true mig welding system.
Mig welder will always have a tank and regulator and a nozzle
shield on it.
Many wire welders can be converted to Mig with add on kits.
I have also found that flux core wire works better then mig on rusty ,dirty welding materials. Mig likes clean welding surfaces.
I love my mig welder. It plugs into most any 120 volt receptical. I can keep it tucked under the work bench for those quick welds right at the bench without setup. I can hold the piece being welded with my welding gloves and tack the two parts together and then adjust a bit and go for the final weld. I am going to add aluminum welding to my mig with a tank of Argon and some aluminum wire.

I added a electronic welding helmet a couple years ago. That thing is great...

Thats about it from this back yard welder
Good luck with your welding

Larry