What welder?

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Well I've convinced dad to buy a welder. So what would be best?

I'm thinking a mig welder, and something lowish cost. I'm guessing they're what? £150?

Gaz

Adam E · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 01 Oct 2005 Karma :

You should be able to get a ok MIG welder for that money and shoud be good for what most people want to so. Dont forget you have you gas monay on top but shouldnt be too bad

0ddball · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

If you're interested i was just about to put one of these on ebay

https://www.e-powertool.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=108&osCsid=ac26d90141a2b537f25d7d7b78cce3e9

Not boxed but brand new with manual and accesories. I've never even plugged it in. Just one of the many toys i buy then never use.
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ZXR750L

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

That looks about right, how much are you looking for? Postage would be an absolute twat on something so bulky I'd expect.

Gaz

MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :

I bought a 'hobby' mig welder not long back, a Clarke 160T. By the sounds of it you are looking to spend around £150, so that puts you in SIP/clarke/wolf etc territory. The main weakness of all of the cheap MIG welders is the wire feed mechanism, clarke seem to be the best. I don't like SIP migmates, the wire feed mechanism isn't up to much and parts aren't that easy to get hold of. Torch wasn't much good either.

You need to think about whether you are going to use gas or gasless, what thickness of material you are going to be welding (halve the specified thickness the booklet sais and that is what the welder will do Rolling Eyes

) etc. I went for gas and use argoshield which is another £115 for a decent sized bottle and £25 for the regulator. Reactive face mask £58, wire £15, gloves/clamps etc £20.

Expensive stuff, so you need to make sure you buy the correct kit otherwise its a waste of time.
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NSR 125F > BROS 400 > NC30 > BROS 400 > Trumpet S4 > '97 VFR 750

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

Take a look here first some good advice:
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=661

Personally I wouldn't go for anything below 130amps with 150amps being obviously better.

90 amps is ok for welding up to about 2mm on full power. Anything more and your looking at bevelling the joints to give any penetration.

Clarke appear to have a good reputation amongst the budget welders.

The SIP 130 here looks ok, bit more money though.
https://www.welduk.com/Results1.asp?Category=30

Jamie S · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Karma :

Gaz my family own a welder supplys company , I will pm you the number/website addy for you to have a chat/look if you want ?

Tattoo Artist · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Karma :

of course they do jamie, what happened to that number you were getting me for the 4x4 company they owned aswell?

Jamie S · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Karma :

listen i will pm gaz the number and he will confirm it.

Jamie S · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Karma :

In fact phill G can confirm it as his mate buys a lot of stuff form them.

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

I have no PMs.

Well, one job will be welding up a crack in the trailer, which is about 3-4mm steel I guess. Other than that it'll be little bitty things like the mini moto and MZ frame.

I think MIG is what I'm after, I'll read through the links above aswell. I have had a little experience of mig welding before. And what's the difference (other than the obvious) of gassed vs gasless?

Gaz

Jamie S · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Karma :

You have a pm Gaz.

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

Can't think of a good way of putting it but here we go, a bit of a ramble in no particular order.

Gasless welding uses a flux cored wired which, if your doing a lot of welding, is quite expensive when compared to ordinary wire and gas. The smoke off the flux makes it a bit hard to see what your doing, especially when your starting out. The flux doesn't conduct electricity so you can't go back over the weld once its cooled, what you see is what you get unless you clean it back. Gasless tends to spatter a bit more and generates more heat. The biggest benefit is that you can weld outside in windy conditions.

Gas gives a cleaner, cooler weld and allows you to 'play' with the weld pool to improve the general appearance. Biggest downfall is getting a decent supply of gas. Small disposable bottles are about 6 quid but don't last long enough for any big projects. If you go for bigger bottles then your going to need another regulator.

A 90 amp welder is good for up to 2mm, 130amp 3.5mm and 160 4.5mm.

Plenty of hobby gas/gasless welders which will suit most peoples needs for £100 - 150 giving you the choice of both worlds. If its just odd bits of thin material welding thats probably what I'd go for and keep my arc welder for heavier stuff.

Try to stay with one of the named ones if possible, there are cheaper ones out there but some have known problems with the electronics and it very hard to get spares.