MIG with Gas
Easiest · Cleanest- Best for
- Body panels, auto repair, clean indoor fab.
- What you need
- Solid wire (0.8mm thin, 1.0mm thicker) plus a gas bottle.
- Why choose it
- No slag, little spatter, beginner-friendly, clean welds.
Free shipping across Canada. No minimums.
Getting started
Five steps from the box to your first bead.
A plain-English guide for body shops and fab shops. Match the job to the setting, set up your wire and polarity, pick the right mode, then pull the trigger.
Setup finder
What are you welding?
Torch (+) · Clamp (−)
- Wire / rod
- Solid (ER70S-6)
- Drive roller
- V-Groove
- Polarity
- DCEP (+)
- Machine mode
- ThorSync or MIG Standard
- Shielding gas
- 75/25 Ar/CO₂
Choose your process
Every Thorworx multi-process machine runs all four. Pick the one that suits the job in front of you.
Flux Core (No Gas)
Works Outdoors- Best for
- Outdoor jobs, wind, rusty or dirty metal, thicker steel.
- What you need
- Flux-core wire (0.8 / 1.0 / 1.2mm). No gas. Switch polarity (manual shows how).
- Why choose it
- No bottle, works in wind, deep bite. Chip the slag after.
Stick
Toughest- Best for
- Thick steel, structural, farm repair, dirty or painted surfaces.
- What you need
- Rods (6013 easy all-rounder, 7018 for strong structural welds).
- Why choose it
- No gas, no feeder, welds through rust and paint.
Lift TIG
Most Precise- Best for
- Stainless railings, thin sheet, welds that must look perfect.
- What you need
- TIG torch (sold separately), tungsten, filler rod, argon gas.
- Why choose it
- Cleanest, most precise finish. Steel and stainless only, not aluminum.
Fit the drive roller
The roller grips and feeds the wire. Match its groove to the wire you're running, and its size to the wire diameter.
Solid Steel Wire
V-Groove (Smooth)
For MIG with gas.
Flux-Cored Wire
V-Knurled (Toothed)
For gasless welding.
Aluminum Wire
U-Groove (Rounded)
For soft wires.
Set the polarity
Polarity is set by swapping the torch cable and ground clamp on the front panel.
Rule of thumb
Gas process: torch positive (+). Gasless flux and Lift TIG: torch negative (−). If the arc sputters, check polarity first.
Solid Wire (MIG + Gas)
Solid wire with shielding gas.
DCEP / DC+
Flux-Cored (Gasless)
Self-shielded wire, no gas needed.
DCEN / DC−
Aluminum (MIG + Argon)
Aluminum wire · 100% Argon · spool gun recommended.
DCEP / DC+
Stick (7018, 7014, 6013)
Most rods — always check rod packaging.
DCEP / DC+
Lift TIG
Steel, stainless · 100% Argon.
DCEN / DC−
Pick the wire size
Thinner wire for thinner metal. Match the roller and the contact tip to whatever diameter you choose.
0.6mm
(.023")
Very thin metal like body panels. 18–22 gauge.
0.8mm
(.030")
Standard autobody work. Most general welding.
0.9mm
(.035")
Medium thickness. Car frames and brackets.
1.0mm
(.040")
Thicker steel. General workshop welding.
1.2mm
(.045")
Heavy fabrication. Structural and industrial.
Before you weld
Setup rules
Match the roller to the wire diameter — a 0.8mm roller for 0.8mm wire. The wrong size means slippage or shaving.
Match the tip to the wire size. The number printed on the tip should equal your wire (e.g. 0.8mm tip = 0.8mm wire).
Polarity is set by swapping cables. Move the torch cable and ground clamp between the (+) and (−) posts on the front panel.
If the arc sputters or won't strike, check polarity first. Reversed polarity is the #1 cause of arc problems.
Always check the rod or wire packaging. Manufacturer instructions override general rules.
Select the mode
With wire, roller and polarity sorted, choose the mode that matches the job. Not sure? Start with ThorSync.
MIG modes on the MIG 200
Start here
ThorSync
Automatic Setup
Pick your wire size, tell it how thick the metal is, and the machine sets the power and wire speed for you.
Use when
You're new, switching between jobs, or you just want it to work with no fiddling.
For Thin Metal
MIG Standard
Runs a Pulsed Arc
The screen says "MIG Standard," but it pulses the power on and off fast to keep metal cooler. Used with gas and solid wire.
Use when
Welding thin panels, fighting burn-through or warping, or welding vertical/overhead.
Full Control
MIG Full Control
Manual Settings
You set the power (voltage) and wire speed yourself. Total command over the weld.
Use when
You're experienced and want to fine-tune the arc for a specific job or material.
Every mode on the machine
ThorSync (Synergic MIG)
MIG 140 + 200What it doesYou set how fast the wire feeds; the machine picks the right power level automatically. The easiest mode to start with.
Use it whenMIG welding with gas and solid steel wire when you want fast, consistent setup. Best for beginners and most production work.
MIG Standard (Pulsed Arc)
MIG 140 + 200What it doesThe screen says "MIG Standard," but it runs a pulsed arc — pulsing the power up and down rapidly so the metal heats up less overall. Used with gas and solid wire.
Use it whenWelding thin sheet metal and body panels without burn-through, fighting warping, or welding vertical and overhead. On the MIG 200 it also helps with aluminum and out-of-position work.
Flux (Gasless)
MIG 140 + 200What it doesConfigured for flux-cored wire. Polarity must be set to DCEN (torch negative).
Use it whenNo gas bottle available, welding outdoors in wind, quick repairs, or rusty/dirty metal where flux-cored handles contamination better.
Stick (SMAW)
MIG 140 + 200What it doesStick welding with Hot Start, Arc Force, and Anti-Stick. Adjust amperage to match the rod.
Use it whenThick steel, repair work on dirty or rusty metal, outdoor jobs, and structural work. 7018, 7014, 6013, 6011 rods.
Lift TIG
MIG 140 + 200What it doesTIG welding with lift-arc start — touch the tungsten to the work, then lift to start the arc. No high-frequency.
Use it whenClean, precise welds on stainless steel and thin steel parts where appearance matters. Requires TIG torch and 100% Argon (sold separately).
MIG Full Control (Manual)
MIG 200What it doesFull manual control — you set both the power (voltage) and the wire speed yourself for total command over the weld.
Use it whenYou're experienced and want to fine-tune the arc for a specific job, material, or thickness rather than letting the machine decide.
Cheat sheet
Which mode should I pick?
MIG with gas, solid wire, easy setup?
ThorSync (Synergic)
MIG with gas, need full manual control?
MIG Full Control
No gas, outdoor or windy?
Flux (with DCEN polarity)
Stick electrode welding?
Stick mode
TIG welding clean steel or stainless?
Lift TIG
Thin sheet metal or aluminum body panels (MIG 200)?
MIG Standard (pulsed arc)
Complete setup reference
The whole setup on one line per process. Pin it to the wall.
| Process | Wire / rod | Roller | Polarity | Machine mode | Gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIG Steel | Solid (ER70S-6) | V-Groove | DCEP (+) | ThorSync or MIG Standard | 75/25 Ar/CO₂ |
| Flux-Cored | Flux (E71T-GS) | V-Knurled | DCEN (−) | Flux | No gas |
| MIG Stainless | Solid (ER308L) | V-Groove | DCEP (+) | ThorSync or MIG Standard | Tri-mix or 98/2 |
| MIG Aluminum | Solid (ER4043 / 5356) | U-Groove | DCEP (+) | MIG Standard (pulsed on 200) | 100% Argon · Spool gun |
| Stick (SMAW) | Rods (7018, 6013) | N/A | DCEP (+) | Stick | No gas |
| Lift TIG | Tungsten + filler | N/A | DCEN (−) | Lift TIG | 100% Argon |
Every Thorworx MIG ships with 6 drive rollers and 6 contact tips standard. For MIG with gas on steel, use a 75% Argon / 25% CO₂ mix ("C25"). For TIG, use 100% Argon. Flux Core and Stick need no gas at all.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
Arc won't strike or sputters badly.
FixCheck the polarity. Wrong polarity is the most common cause.
Burning through thin sheet metal.
FixDrop wire size to 0.6mm or 0.8mm, lower amperage, or use MIG Standard's pulsed arc on the MIG 200.
Wire feeds inconsistently.
FixCheck roller match (must equal wire size), tension setting, and clean the liner.
Porous, ugly welds with flux wire.
FixPolarity is reversed. Flux-cored is DCEN (torch negative).
Spool keeps unspooling itself.
FixTighten the spool tension nut. It should resist when you spin it by hand.
Still not sure?
Start with ThorSync, or call a welder in Ontario.
Set your wire size and metal thickness and let the machine do the rest. Our Canadian support team is here Monday to Friday, 7am–5pm EST.
Always check your machine manual for exact wire, gas, and polarity settings.