|
|
|
The time has come to have a go at some welding.
With project Rascal starting and various other projects 'on-going' I am finding a greater and greater need to get behind some metal melting!
I've never done it before and I am willing to take my time & practice on lots (and lots) of scrap bits until I am happy with my technique before tackling a vehicle.
Despite never having done it before, I am pretty handy and a fast learner so not too worried about the welding itself. What I would like advice on is buying one.
I don't want to buy cheap (false economy in the long term) but I won't be welding for a living either and this means I don't need a full on 3phase piece of kit, so I'm looking for a good quality welder that will help a novice (if that makes sense??)
Budget - probably around £600. Happy to look second hand and ideally a bit less than £600 because I will need to kit myself out with visor/gas/clamps/tools etc...
Has to be MIG (not gasless) but other than that, I am all ears.....
Thanks in advance for any suggestions....MM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for your input Panda - and for looking up those links for me.
I think I might have to get something a bit more powerful if the '130' is for 3-4mm thick material because I know I'll be wanting to weld stuff that is 5-6 mm thick (the joys of modding 4x4's!!)
Those Snap-on ones certainly seem good VFM but I'm happy to spend a bit more on a piece of kit with more kick.
Am I best avoiding makes like Clarke? What makes/brands are good to look for??
Thanks again,
MM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avoid anything by SIP or Cosmo (one is a copy of the other) as they are gash. Have a look on www.mig-welding.co.uk its an excelent forum for either buying advice - there are a few suppliers on there, and for welding tips etc.
|
|
1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
|
|
|
|
|
SIP's arent so bad. buy a big name unit, the higher the amps the better, i think generally 150+ is the rule. the rest of the gear aside from teh gas setup wont cost you much, should be able to get leather gloves n smock for around 10 quid and helmet for under 40. I paid $95au for my auto darkening helmet and am very pleased with it.
|
|
Remade In Australia thereimaginarium.com.au
|
|
|
|
|
You need to be carefull though, as the higher current settings on 150+ amp units are rarely used for bodywork etc, but these machines often don't have very usefull low settings. Many 150 amp units lowest setting is 40 amps, which is a bit too much for 1mm sheet steel bodywork. when looking, check its power range is as wide as possible.
|
|
1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for that Dave - the sort of advice I was looking for.
What sort of lower range would be OK for me? (30A??)
I'll probably be using it for welding bodywork, but also for welding fairly thick (5-6mm) sheet steel when fabricating things like winch mounts, heavy duty sump guards etc....hence why looking for something with more power.
If I know what power rnage to look for then this is half the battle won.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avoid anything by SIP or Cosmo (one is a copy of the other) as they are gash. Have a look on www.mig-welding.co.uk its an excellent forum for either buying advice - there are a few suppliers on there, and for welding tips etc. Really, do what Dave suggests, the mig-welding website is superb. Really friendly helpful knowledgeable bunch. If you do a search on the site you can probably find answers to most of your questions straight off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've got a clarke 130 , that I picked up second hand off ebay. The seller was a very helpful chap, and had restored 3 or 4 series land rovers using the welder he was selling. He was able to show me work that he'd done with the welder, and even gave me a quick welding lesson! I've heard that the higher power welders often don't go low enough, or the increments between settings aren't ideal, but having never used a 150 I'm not sure. Turbo models are a bonus as thay have inbuilt cooling, so won't overheat and cut off if you're using it a lot. Saying that I've never had mine cut out on me as yet. You can weld heavier stuff wiith a 130 amp welder, as long as it's on a higher setting you should be fine. On the lower settings mine will weld my (paper thin) scirocco bodywork too, so I'm happy with it. I paid £140 for mine with 2 bottles of pub gas (Co2) 2 rolls of wire, spare tips, shrouds, a liner, and a mask, plus a little bosch grinder, it's worked spot on from day 1 too. I may have paid a little over the odds, but the seller was great, and seeing examples of what it could do was useful. It's worth getting friendly with your local publican to see if you can lay your hands on a bottle of pub Co2, as they last for ages. I forgot to bid on this the other day, which was just round the corner and dirt cheap (although it says no gas, this only means it can use gasless wire, but can work both ways, hence the bottle on the back): cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130234506741&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003
|
|
1967 Morris Traveller 1971 Series IIA Land Rover 1991 Golf GL 4+e 1992 Corrado G60 1986 E28 BMW 528i
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have a Clarke 130 turbo. It must be 15 years old, was abused by Ray of Rayvern Hydraulics and then by me. It is bloody brilliant - no probs with penetrating 6mm plate when building lowriders various (and it wasn't even turned up to full), yet it will also fizzle away quite merrily on japanese body panels.
Really can't recommend it enough. The only thing I will say is get an account with BOC or similar for argoshield/argoshield light, as those little gas bottles really are a waste of time and money...
|
|
There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes
|
|
Tefal
Part of things
Posts: 514
|
|
|
id personally go for something like a 130 mig welder for bodywork and get an arc welder (or stick welder) for the thicker chassis's
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ive got a 130amp Telwin MIG that I got new of eBay for £90 about 4 years ago. Its both Gas/Gasless. I use it Gasless for steel above about 1.8mm and with gas for anything less. It will weld down to about .7mm thick steel but is very tricky. I also use it on aluminium ranging from 1.2mm up to 8mm plate and engine case's - works a treat, but you have to get good spec alloy sheet or it's a real headache. I got a book to get me started then just started played around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks guys - I've signed up to the nig welding forum and posted a comment on there, so will see what advice they give. Looking forward to getting behind the trigger now....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2008 10:20:01 GMT
|
Clarke 150 turbo here. Great bit of kit. Bought it on recommendation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 10, 2008 11:53:40 GMT
|
if you look through the posts on that mig forum you will see they think the clarke 160 is the best hobby welder and it runs on the full size bottles as it coming with a regulator if you fancy a more robust and easier to use mig they all seem to say get a portimag. ive just ordered a portamig btw,you have a 2 week wait on them as they are built to order
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2008 18:08:29 GMT
|
Thanks Matt, I've just ordered a Portamig myself, so also have a 2 week wait to get started! Went for the 215 so can run from 20A up to 215A I think I'll be needing the upper end of the powerband in order to make my winch mounts, rocksliders etc.... I thought it seemed a worthwhile investment after reading a lot of the reviews compared to Clarke, Sealey, SIP etc...(none of those makes seemed bad, but the Portamig just seemed to be in a different league!) I'm investigating a good source for gas (much cheaper than BOC) and have already ordered an auto-darkening mask, wire and will pop down to Machine Mart tomorrow to get some clamps, gloves, magnets etc.... Now to start collecting lots of spare bits of steel to practice on....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2008 19:23:53 GMT
|
If you don't mind, could you post how much the welder is costing you?...A ball-park figure if you don't want to be specific.
|
|
1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
|
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2008 19:34:39 GMT
|
I've got a clarke 151TE turbo which has welded everything from french tissue paper to 6mm trailer bits, and most bits in between! Highly recommended by me
|
|
1997 TVR Chimaera 2009 Westfield Megabusa
|
|
|
|
Jul 11, 2008 19:44:16 GMT
|
If you don't mind, could you post how much the welder is costing you?...A ball-park figure if you don't want to be specific. No worries - it was £590 including VAT and delivery which is within what I was willing to spend and looks like a great machine. All reviews I've read have been excellent and many owners who have switched from other brands (such as Clarke) have said how much easier it is to get a great weld with it. It comes with the gas regulator (2 gauge) 3m Euro torch and 3m HD earth lead and a bundle of spare nozels etc.... It's got a 2 year warranty with 5 years on the transformer. They are hand built to order and take 2 weeks (you don't pay for it until delivery) I also added a SIFlite auto darkening mask to my order (£59) and a 15kg reel of wire (£25) Have a look HERE and HERE for a couple of the reviews that helped me make my mind up....although you've probably read them seeing as it was you that put me onto that site! (thanks again for that )
|
|
|
|
|