Stick welder vs MIG for farm repairs... what's really better in the field?

My buddy swears by his MIG for fixing tractor hitches and gate hinges on his property up in Oregon. Says it's faster and cleaner. But I've always used stick on the farm because it handles rust and dirt way better when you're patching up old equipment outside. Had a job last week welding a cracked plow blade out in a dusty barnyard. Took my Lincoln AC225 stick welder and got it done in like 15 minutes. He woulda spent twice that cleaning the metal. So which side are you on for rough outdoor work? Stick or MIG?

2 comments

2 Comments

andrew71d ago

You mentioned that plow blade repair took you 15 minutes with stick, but how long did you actually spend chipping slag and grinding that bead smooth afterwards? I'm wondering if MIG's cleaner weld might save time on cleanup even if prep takes longer. Also, did your buddy ever try running flux core wire in his MIG for those dirty outdoor joints?

anthony9891d ago

Yeah @andrew7, nobody's spending 15 minutes on stick and then another fifteen chipping slag unless they're welding with a coat hanger.