Using the M200

The MIG unit I learned to weld with was a Linde 200 amp system which had similar specifications as the Air Liquide M200. One major difference, though, was that the Linde had TWO power control

Some sample welds.

settings. There was a coarse control and a fine control. There were somewhere around 20-30 settings you could achieve depending on the combination of those two knobs. Seeing the Air Liquide's 8-setting power control made me wonder if I would have problems finding a suitable power setting for my various welding jobs. After ten minutes of welding with the M200, my concerns were allayed. It was dead simple to guess the appropriate power level and then dial in the correct wire speed. This machine seemed fine with the eight settings where as I would have to make frequent power adjustments to get the Linde to produce the same nice, clean welds. I hate to say it because it takes away some of my mystique (what little there was to begin with) but the M200 can make anyone look like a great welder. It's just that easy to operate. Have a look at the photo of the test weld. It has excellent penetration and the weld has nicely flattened into the work piece.

Of course, the true test of a welder comes when you use it in a real-world application. In this case, it was on a project to install a Ford 8.8 axle under a Jeep Cherokee. That required the use of the M200 to install a new set of spring perches to match the Jeep's spring pack locations. The axle tube and spring perches were quite thick so I set the power dial to "7" and after making a single adjust of the wire feed speed, I was getting perfect welds with deep penetration.

Dialing in the M200 for perfect weld penetration was dead simple.

The resulting welds were perfect.

Remember to make short welds and let the axle tube cool down between each weld, otherwise you run the risk of warping the tube.

Conclusion

Writing a conclusion for this article is a formality. If you got this far you already know what I'm going to say. I am extremely impressed with the Air Liquide M200. It has the power, the features, the durability, the quality, the pricing, and the distribution network to make it a strong contender for a spot in any fourwheeler's garage. With their new line of welders, Air Liquide has made it clear that they can compete head to head against Miller/Hobart and Lincoln. In the battle for my business, Air Liquide has won.

Want to see some of Air Liquide's other welders? Click here.

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