21 replies to this topic

[Daz1968]

I will throw a spanner in the works as I went for a kende Chinese welder, many don't rate them but it has a large trolley suitable for full sized bottle, mb25 euro torch, very good duty cycle, a good solid and reliable welder with 15.5 volt 30 amp min setting. It has spot weld timer and a very heavy duty wire feed and cost me less than a hobby clarke welder at the time. So have a look around before buying Here's a couple of pics

Edited by Daz1968, 12 April 2014 - 09:05 PM.

[Ben_O]

I've had a series of cheap Mig welders in the past. Nothing was worse than the SIP migmate i had first. Bloody thing used to be fantastic for a few inches of weld, then put the torch down, adjust the work piece and then go back to weld and it would weld like crap!

 

I would defiantly recommend buying the best quality one you can afford but watch out for parts and consumables as for some machines these are expensive.

If you can get a welder with a euro torch then go for it as the consumables are less than half the price. If not, some models can be converted to use a euro torch.

 

I have just bought a second hand Snap on (cebora) Mig 130. Quite an old machine now but it is really good. It is easy to use, produces consistently good welds and above all, being an old machine can be picked up cheap on ebay.

 

I would defiantly agree with the others about having a trolley. I just made one out of some bits and pieces laying around and already i don't know what i did without it. i was always knocking the gas bottle over before and struggling to carry the machine and bottle together round the other side of the car for instance. Plus i designed my trolley to hold everything i need to hand so that saves time too.

 

I have used gasles systems in the past and my last welder had  the ability to switch polarity by swapping two cables round with thumb screws to run both gas and no gas but that's another story.

You can achieve perfect results with gasles mig welding with practice but i just find that gas is just more effortless and certainly more suitable for beginners. so long as you are prepared to spend out on the gas.

 

One thing with the gas is that unless you only have a tiny amount of welding to do, don't waste your money on the disposable bottles. They are a complete waste of time and money if you have quite alot of work to do as one bottle will only last for about 20 mins of welding (if your lucky) 

I do however keep a disposable argon/c02 in the garage in case the big bottle runs out  when the dealer is closed so at least i can finish up!

 

I recommend hobby weld for gas bottles as they are priced well but always take along your regulator and check the fill pressure before you take it away as i have had under filled bottles from them in the past.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[MR J]

+1 for the Snap on/Cebora Turbo Mig 130. I have had mine years and it's still going strong!

[Covert]

And another for the snap on cerbora 130

[pierres]

Have been looking at welder and seen something called tig welder whats the difference to mig welder and which is better/easier to use

[alex-95]

 

Have been looking at welder and seen something called tig welder whats the difference to mig welder and which is better/easier to use

 

Tig is alot harder to get the hang of than mig, it's a lot more time consuming too as it needs the torch and a filler rod where as the mig just has the continuous reel.

[pierres]

 

 

Have been looking at welder and seen something called tig welder whats the difference to mig welder and which is better/easier to use

 

Tig is alot harder to get the hang of than mig, it's a lot more time consuming too as it needs the torch and a filler rod where as the mig just has the continuous reel.

 

Oh thanks for that will stick at looking for a mig then