[pez]

Hi,

I have been reading for a while and now have a question. I'm looking to expand my fleet, and have been offered a Transmig 255 transformer GMAW (MIG) power source (victor technologies, sold as Cigweld in Australia). The old 195 I have is hammered and the cost of all the bits (that are still available) is high.

The 255 is designed to work with a remote feeder (nothing built in) however this unit has been stripped (just the source left). Are all wire feeders close enough to the same that I could make something work? Money is an issue so I'd be scrounging for a second hand unit so don't know what brands I could find (probably a different CIG, WIA or even ESAB).

Apparently it came with a '2R' wire feed unit that is no longer current, with a 24V control signal and 7 pin connection.

LWS just wants to sell me a whole new setup, no help.

Any advice would be appreciated!

[TRACKRANGER]

OK, you have a MIG machine without an external wire feeder. I would have thought you might be able to adapt one without too much problem. After all, the wire feeder usually only starts / stops the feed-motor (with speed control) and gas supply. The switching of power to the torch comes from the machine itself (into the wire feeder)

What about spares from this unit?

[pez]

Just spoke with cigweld, and apparently there are all sorts of issues with the feeder control on the 255's - need custom pcb's etc plus poor spares availability They apparently configured it different to all the rest.

Speaking with a couple of other repair shops it's going to be ~$1200 to get something to work.

Think I'll pass, possibly get a Chinese pulse mig or something to play with instead. It'd be cheaper, and probably have better spares availability :O

[weldin mike 27]

Ring around welder repair shops. Macroweld in Shepparton Victoria sell lots of second hand machines. Also Angus welder repair in Bendigo.