curse word SIP MigMate 130 welder

[DavidB]

I sold my Clarke on here recently as I had this new, assuming it's better.
It's not - it's curse word. Inconsistent wire feed and random power settings mean I'm either daintily placing plops of metal onto the surface of the metal or blowing great big holes in 1mm steel. I can not get good results with it at all and its curse word me off. I have removed some spot welds from a previous job I did on my car as I need to pull the panel out a couple of mm as it doesn't line up with the door. The welder is ruining the work I previously did and I'm going to have to fill holes that the SIP has left.

I've read about mods you can do to this loser that will make it a bit better - has anyone had the misfortune of owning one of these before and got anything good out of it? I'd rather be captured by ISIS than spend another minute using it.

[skkylinedave]

I think the mods involve bracing the wire feed rollers as they flex about giving inconsistant performance . Pretty wibblepoo if that needs doing straight out of the box .

I think practical classics have a long way to go explaining themselves for SIP . For about 2 or 3 years they regulary ran product test etc singing there praises and people bought them in droves !

[skkylinedave]

Fix it if something broken , clean it and flog it on ebay and get something better . If you offer carraige it will sell easy as no one wants the hassle of sending something so heavy .

[retrowrongun]

Feb 19, 2017 15:58:04 GMT skkylinedave said:

I think the mods involve bracing the wire feed rollers as they flex about giving inconsistant performance . Pretty wibblepoo if that needs doing straight out of the box .

I think practical classics have a long way to go explaining themselves for SIP . For about 2 or 3 years they regulary ran product test etc singing there praises and people bought them in droves !

Ever heard of product placement

I'm always dubious of something that's always pushed like you say above
Modern migs are curse word unless you pay lots for them tbh
Can't beat a good order older mig

[hario]

Maybe measure the voltage at the wire feed and if it's inconsistent, fit a smoothing capacitor, or something..

[DavidB]

It's not bad for basic work, but I can't make mistakes on this, it'll just mess everything up.
Does anyone want a practically new welder for 30 quid?

[hario]

Sounds ideal for getting old vans through MOTs.. Where are you?

[DavidB]

Opposite end of the country - near Chester!

[86corolla]

These cheap welders are more hassle than there worth they are made extremely cheaply by a 5 year old Asian boy

I've had one of these welders.they often use steel liners for the wire feed switching to a plastic Teflon one helps a bit...if you have alot of welding to do flog it and buy a used Clarke.or draper ain't to bad

[awoo]

best mod to do on one of these is to never get one in the first place.

buy quality with a welder and you can't go too far wrong.

get an old murex or lincoln etc and you'll be fine

[Deleted]

I am sure bstardchild will be along to give good advice. He is a God in SIP circles....😂😂😂😂😂

[bstardchild]

Feb 20, 2017 1:15:33 GMT @johnnybravo said:

I am sure bstardchild will be along to give good advice. He is a God in SIP circles....😂😂😂😂😂

I'll not take compliments that I didn't earn or don't deserve - I'd been taught to arc, mig, tig and gas weld at college but it was 25 years before I purchased an SIP (Badged Cosmo) and tried to weld with it - they say a bad workman blames his tools.......

Anyway I set out on a path of making a silk purse out of a sows ear...... Fundamentally modding SIP welders is a slippery slope

Wire feed brace, a steel liner (if it doesn't already have one) and a 100 Ohm trim pot on the circuit board is about all I'd do to one and accept the "compromises" with the rest of it.

For interest I've copied the costs over (2010 prices)

Mine was £152.00 Brand New in Box (Old Stock)

1st mod to wire feed - should be std IMHO

£2.00 Wire Brace

2nd WFM Mod - separate power feed

£4.70 Relay Bridge
£21.10 Transformer
£10.00 Wire & Connectors

3rd mod - Euro Torch - to fix constantly leaking gas valve

£29.00 Euro Torch Connector
£20.00 Gas Solenoid
£32.00 Euro Torch
£7.00 (Postage)

4th Mod - Multi turn pot and counter - fix over sensitive std Pot

£12 2K Ohm 10 Turn Pot ("First one")
£22 10 Turn Pot counter

5th Mod - to stop wire run on

£3 Relay Brake

6th Mod - 100 Ohm Trim pot

£2.50 - Was actually donated by another forum user and I owe him a pint (2010 prices)

7th Mod - to remove original wire feed circuitry and improve wire feed

£15 PWM (From Malcolm)
£12 New 10K Ohm 10 Turn Pot to suit PWM ("Second one")
£1.63 for some rubber feet

If my math is any good

£345.93 Total

So 3/4 of the cost of a Portamig and still not a great welder - way better and usable but not a silk purse but maybe not a sows ear either.

Err a bit of a long thread on an SIP/Cosmo here

Oh and I bought a Portamig so it (the SIP) hasn't seen any use since then

[richl]

Make sure the wire is nice and clean, no surface rust at all. Also make sure the wire tensioner isn't set too tight, it often is on SIPs as people have feed issues and think winding it down tighter is the answer.
You should be using power setting 1 or 2, no more. Gas flow about 10 litres per minute or full flow if using one of those crappy little disposable cylinders.
Wire speed should set itself automatically as you alter the power settings then you fine-tune it with the speed control. Up it until you feel the torch just start to be pushed away then back it off until the pushing stops. That should optimise the wire speed for the given power setting.
Post some photos, it'll help us advise.

[madeline]

Ensure the wire is quite perfect, no surface rust by any stretch of the imagination. Likewise ensure the wire tensioner isn't set excessively close, it regularly is on SIPs as individuals have feed issues and think twisting it down more tight is the appropriate response.

You ought to utilize power setting 1 or 2, no more. Gas stream around 10 liters for every moment or full stream if utilizing one of those horrible minimal expendable chambers.

Wire speed should set itself consequently as you modify the force settings then you adjust it with the speed control. Up it until you feel the light begin to be driven away at that point back it off until the pushing stops. That ought to improve the wire speed for the given force setting.

Post some photographs, it'll help us exhort.