UniMig Procraft 240 your opinons on this MIG?

[martrix]

Hi, first time poster here, hopefully many more to come. God there are so many forums now to follow.:dizzy:

I am a Cabinetmaker by trade but love to weld. I have been using a SIP 130 MIG for a long time now and it has served me well. Still going strong, but its time to upgrade as I want to weld Aluminum and Stainless steel.

The unit definitely will not be used everyday and wont be abused by anyone else so it wont see heavy use.

I am looking at this UniMig ProCraft 240 (http://www.unimig.com.au/Product%20Guide_2006%203.pdf) as it has everything I think I am looking for.:help: and it is the right price at AUD$1425.00. (http://www.hareandforbes.com.au/sample_2/home.php)

It has features like a fan cooled copper transformer and a gear driven wire feed.

Can someone please explain the Voltage range?


UniMig website. (http://www.unimig.com.au/procraft_1.html)

So I would love to hear the experienced heads here voice the opinions on this unit.....dont hold back:eek:


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b64/iVeneer/unimig2.jpg

[martrix]

bump...

anyone got any thoughts, good and bad?

[wello]

a friend of mine has one that we use to Aluminum work on his trailers with we give a hinding I have welded 3mm up 12mm Aluminum with it and it has not lets us down yet its 4yrs old now
for what you are going to do it should be fine I have a BOC 250R my self but it cost twice as much
the uni mig should be fine

[martrix]

a friend of mine has one that we use to Aluminum work on his trailers with we give a hinding I have welded 3mm up 12mm Aluminum with it and it has not lets us down yet its 4yrs old now
for what you are going to do it should be fine I have a BOC 250R my self but it cost twice as much
the uni mig should be fine

Thanks for that Wello.:drinkup:

As soon as I get a chance, I will go and check it out in the flesh and maybe buy it. Like you say, because it will only be me using it and it will probably only see less than 60hrs use per year it should be very reliable.
I will report back if/when I get it.....oh, and you can expect me back here when I start asking questions regarding sticking bits of ally together!:p

[wello]

no worries martrix
the latest model could be a even better machine than the older one I use at my mates place there has been lots of improvements in the last 4 yrs
for the price and amp range they have I don't think you could go wrong
and by the way were running 1.2mm ally wire in it and it runs fine

I bet if you buy it once you start you'll use it more than 60hrs per year :p

[JohnF]

I've had a Unimig Procraft 240 for about 3 years now. I'm only a hobby welder but I've done up to 12mm flat bar making things for my tractor and an extension to my shed. Also repaired sheetmetal in my son's car but needed to get another torch (Parweld 150A) to handle the 0.6mm wire. The original torch is for 0.8mm to 1.2mm and the 0.6mm wire was just too sloppy in it.
The Parweld is also perfect for 0.8mm wire that I use almost exclusively now.
Also had to buy the roller for the 0.6mm wire.

I love the machine! Never had a problem with it.
I use Air Liquide BlueShield 23 gas with it - 75% argon, 23% CO2, 2% oxygen.

Paid $1395 (AUD) for it from Trade Tools QLD. It's still the same price today.

[martrix]

Thanks for that JohnF.

Think it will be just what I need. I will have to see if I can knock someone down to that price. Where I am looking at getting it, it is $1450.

[welder.man]

Martrix
I have both used and sold unimig machines and the only thing I have found as a weak point is the digital readout, I find it a pain to cycle through the settings and I have had a few come back to have the display replaced. Parts, reliability and back up service should not be a problem.

Just an extra note WGA (welding guns of Australia) or Unimig will not cover it for warranty if it is run off an extension lead

[JohnF]

With the 'one button' model I have, I don't have to 'cycle through the settings'. Once I've set the ramp-up & burn back by cycling through once with the Menu button, the adjusting knob always defaults to the wire speed setting. I only change voltage & wire speed from there on.. couldn't be simpler..

John

[martrix]

Martrix
I have both used and sold unimig machines and the only thing I have found as a weak point is the digital readout, I find it a pain to cycle through the settings and I have had a few come back to have the display replaced. Parts, reliability and back up service should not be a problem.

Just an extra note WGA (welding guns of Australia) or Unimig will not cover it for warranty if it is run off an extension lead

Does that mean that even a 15amp 5metre extension lead would not be covered?

[JohnF]

The reseller here in QLD isn't aware of that restriction. They do, however, confirm (as most people know) that inadequate extension leads lower the performance of any apparatus.
When necessary, I use a 20 metre extension which I made from 30 amp cable with 15 amp connectors (the larger earth blade). I don't see any lesser performance using the extension.

John

[chucka71]

Anyone know where the best deal I can get on this mig.I looked at the Trade tool site and they have a different mig as well Renegade Industrial any opinion about this mig I google it but only miller renegade came up

[Wino]

I have the old version of that welder, it **** itself last week, but it's 12yrs old and had done a mountain of work, it's been a great little machine... (maybe it can be fixed, I have not investigated that option yet)



FWIW the inside of mine has stickers showing it was made in Italy (as opposed to china )