Another welding question

[ben711200]

Sorry, didn't want to gatecrash the other one as my question is a bit different to the other..

I've been offered one of these (I think it's the 150amp one, I'd need to take a look to check), for a very cheap price, and while I'm aware SIP aren't the best welders, it's a big step up from my rubbish hobby mig toy thing.



Questions- Worth going for at the right price for welding holes in my Volvo up?

And.. What are people paying for proper welding gas now? I do too much for disposable bottles, but not really enough to justify a great big bottle. I'm awkward like that.

Have something rusty by way of thanks

[dave21478]

I have had one of those, and am now using the 170 amp version - both bought second hand for around £50 each, and By my reckoning, I paid about £40 too much.

Hatefully bad wire feed mechanisms are an inherent design flaw of these. Yes, they are perfectly useable, but you are constanly fighting against their weakness as well as concentrating on your welding. Saving up for something better is my advice, but if you do buy it, have a read of my thead on the mig forum.....

www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7007

Although, it should be noted that my initial enthusiasm about its imprved performance was short lived, as it still needs very , VERY regular TLC to the mechanical side of the feed mechanism to stay anything like reliable.

[nomad]

Have a look around the welding forum mentioned - lots of very helpful stuff:)
2nd hand prices? not sure, but be prepared to service it (new liner, etc) before it works properly.
I tried the disposable bottles, soon changed to use pub c02 ( got the empty bottle for nowt, costs £10 for a refill that will last me a few years ), you will also need a new regulator (£40 if you buy new)
or look at "proper" mixed welding gas, but expect to have to pay rental on the bottle.

[screech]

interesting to hear of issues with the wire feed, iv had mine from new and never had an issue with it. havent had to touch it in over 4 years. done everything from chassis to sheet metal to bodywork with it. even repaired a stainless exhaust with it. its never missed a beat.

only criticism I could level at it is its heavy/ hard to move about and occasionally the wire can tangle after the feed rollers, but I'm talking like once a month, perhaps less.

did this with it not that long ago. (4 years old unmaintained at this point.)

[ben711200]

I know that the owner has built at least one se7en type thing with it.. So would assume any problems would have been ironed out. I know that the reason he doesn't want it is a lack of space or interest in cars.. He gets all misty eyed when he talks about his bike and his garage is tiny and very, very messy...

[ben711200]

Nov 2, 2009 18:22:51 GMT nomad said:

Have a look around the welding forum mentioned - lots of very helpful stuff:)
2nd hand prices? not sure, but be prepared to service it (new liner, etc) before it works properly.
I tried the disposable bottles, soon changed to use pub c02 ( got the empty bottle for nowt, costs £10 for a refill that will last me a few years ), you will also need a new regulator (£40 if you buy new)
or look at "proper" mixed welding gas, but expect to have to pay rental on the bottle.

Where did you acquire a bottle and who do you go to for gas? I'm not friendly enough with any pubs to go in on the blag...

[ezzysi]

I bought one new for £300 odd 8 years ago.
Still got it and still works ok, have had to mess about with wire feed an awful though and its still a bit pants with a brace fitted between the feed rollers.
When it does give up the ghost it certainly won't get replaced with another sip !

[screech]

id say the only issue is the slack rollers on the feed, but this is only a problem if you try to wind too much preload on the spring bit.

[kabman]

I have a SIP 150 MIG, similar in shape and size and to that one but it's about 25 years old. I bought it secondhand about 20 years ago to restore a VW bus and then it sat in various mates' garages until about a year ago when I dragged it out to restore a Beetle. It works fine for me and I've never changed the liner or other major bits even though it's probably well over due. I think the main thing is to learn how to set it up properly, www.mig-welding.co.uk is a big help for this. And practice - I'm getting reasonably capable now but only after years of blobby welding.

As for gas, when I resurrected it I switched over from CO2 to Argoshield and that made a huge difference. And if you haven't got an auto-dimming helmet, get one.

[spiny]

I have the baby version of this - the 105 and it was always awful, enough that I bought a different welder in the end.
But last year I decided to drag it out and take a proper look. I replaced the liner with a coiled steel one, rather than the plastic curse word it comes with and its now a perfectly good welder

[Mystery Machine]

Hi Ben,

For gas, check out a guy on the mig welding forum called Gasman (his real name is Andy)

He can supply proper argoshield gas without the yearly rent. I think the initial cost is around £100 for the deposit & first fill (£103 iirc??) but then you just get a refill whenever you run out which is about £35.

Unless you're using a welder day in, day out - renting a bottle just isn't cost effective. I can give you more details over the phone if you like? (I never did ring you back.....sorry!)

[Mantasport]

I've got the same welder, bought it new about 7 years back and its done a huge amount of welding in that time.

The feed rollers can become an issue from too much preload being applied.
It makes the upright post that the roller is held by flex outwards, which spits the wire from between the rollers.

But there is a simple fix to improve them on the mig-welding forum here www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3993

Ok its not the best welder in the world, but if its in good condition and the price is right buy it.

[ben711200]

Nov 3, 2009 8:31:03 GMT Mystery Machine said:

Hi Ben,

For gas, check out a guy on the mig welding forum called Gasman (his real name is Andy)

He can supply proper argoshield gas without the yearly rent. I think the initial cost is around £100 for the deposit & first fill (£103 iirc??) but then you just get a refill whenever you run out which is about £35.

Unless you're using a welder day in, day out - renting a bottle just isn't cost effective. I can give you more details over the phone if you like? (I never did ring you back.....sorry!)

Cheers Bruce, I'll grab the details on saturday between crushing my fingers under bits of two post lift


Thanks to everyone, a wealth of knowledge as ever. I'll see what I can get it for and might give it a bash