mig welders

[poolcues]

looking to buy a mig welder. more specifically wanting to know the advantages and disadvantages between the tap control and continuous control.gonna be used for light fab work and sheet metal work.did a search and didn't turn up much.
thanks

 

[Insomnya3AM]

I'm a welder and I've never heard of continuous vs. tap. All the MIG welders I've ever used, you need to hold down a button on the gun while you are welding.
Get yourself a Miller, make sure to get one with gas, no flux core, and start practicing!

 

[tRustyK5]

Tap is 4 heat setting for voltage control. The slightly more spendy models have infinite voltage control which is far superior IMHO. I would not have bought my Millermatic 135 if it had 'tap' for voltage control.

Being able to fine tune the voltage is crucial and allows you to make much better looking welds.

Rene

 

[Insomnya3AM]

Tap is 4 heat setting for voltage control. The slightly more spendy models have infinite voltage control which is far superior IMHO. I would not have bought my Millermatic 135 if it had 'tap' for voltage control.

Being able to fine tune the voltage is crucial and allows you to make much better looking welds.

Rene

I see what you're saying. I've always gotten along perfect with my couple of 'tap' MIGs. All machines have infinite wire feed control, so to 'fine tune' it, you set the voltage to as close as you want it and either go faster or slower along your weld.
IDK - It's a matter of preference.

 

[poolcues]

Tap is 4 heat setting for voltage control. The slightly more spendy models have infinite voltage control which is far superior IMHO. I would not have bought my Millermatic 135 if it had 'tap' for voltage control.

Being able to fine tune the voltage is crucial and allows you to make much better looking welds.

Rene

sounds like continuous control allows you to reduce "booger" welds also.

 

[cbbr]

Mine is a Tap (Lincoln 175) which works fine for what I do. Seems like most guys who do more detailed work go with the infinite. Go look in the Tool Shed section. This has been discussed several times.

 

[big83chevy4x4]

at work i have a continous control (with a digital readout), while at home i have a tap control. there are times that i wish i had continous at home after using the one at work.

sometimes i feel it is needed for what im welding, where most other times i never have to touch it. it is nice to have though.

 

[tRustyK5]

I'm also spoiled with the machines at work...which was probably why I was so set on the infinite voltage feature.

Rene

 

[poolcues]

with all that's been said it sounds like continuous is the way to go.