Welder purchase - need advice

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Dewin

Dewin

Well-Known Member
Posts
4,912
Location
NE Wales
Seeing as the Disco need's a new boot floor and a patch to an inner wing, I've decided to learn welding so as to save some money (my neighbours's a pro & is going to teach me).

After lot's of research and searching I've picked out a gas/gasless welder within my budget with the intention of being able to use both methods if need be (always windy around here). I tried to find a welder that worked from 30 amps but had no joy.

Anyway was wondering if anyone on here has used this particular welder or has some thought's on it's suitability or could recommend a similar one (that will run from household mains).:)
 
Dunno that particular welder, but I have one with similar buttons to change things, so all you have are 4 controls for weld rate, Min, Max, 1 and 2 .. plus a feed rate. To be honest I find it fine mainly 'cos I ain't a pro and my bro is and taught me a fair amount, after changing the inner feed tube and sundry other bits (2nd, well prolly 22nd, hand) it works well.

If I were you I'd get your mate to advise you specifically, 'specially if he's teaching you anyway.
 
Just buy a secondhand QUALITY welder, with your budget you could find a good s/h proffesional grade welder with a bit patience on e bay etc.
 
Having used a vast quantity of migs, a second hand 'kempi' would be a really good purchase, they have both the guts to weld solid and the finesse to weld fine box section without blasting holes in, I found very little went wrong with the wire feed and they rarely shaved the wire which can cause irregular wire feed, I've used one of these on both big steels and on vehicles and they are a really nice kit to use, not gas less I'm afraid but will give a great weld for you, and be nice to learn with :)
 
first thing you have to decide is whether you want to spend the money on quality kit to do pretty welds or the minimum necessary to stick patches on to get the landy through the mot......
for me as long as the patching satisfies the mot tester its good enough...its getting covered in sticky black gunk anyway. and the mig will probably sit in the shed till the next test is due, then come out for another couple of hours. ive had mine 3 years... still on me first roll of gasless wire.
the difference between a hobby and pro welder is a lot of beer.
 
Thank you everyone for the input, been trawling the net for info for a good few hours yesterday :)


ricc said:
first thing you have to decide is whether you want to spend the money on quality kit to do pretty welds or the minimum necessary to stick patches on to get the landy through the mot......
for me as long as the patching satisfies the mot tester its good enough...its getting covered in sticky black gunk anyway. and the mig will probably sit in the shed till the next test is due, then come out for another couple of hours. ive had mine 3 years... still on me first roll of gasless wire.
the difference between a hobby and pro welder is a lot of beer.
Click to expand...

Ditto, weld looks ain't an issue for me as I'll probably never sell the Disco, but now that she is almost 18 I'm more concerned with keeping her on the road. Another issue I have is lack of space which the pro welder's seem to take a lot of. But if a decent one came along in my budget I don't think I'd say no to it.
 
Iv got 3 welders a snap on 130amp a swp 210amp and a gass less 90amp
I think the swp is the better welder and the one I use every day
 
Your mate should set you straight,when i was looking alot of small hoby welders got realy crap reviews and didnt last
you need to be able to cntrol wire speed with a dial not a pre set swich
hoddy gas bottles are expensive
gasless is good out side coz theres no gas for wind to blow away
Gasless is wire fed arch welding ,if your mate teaches you that you will **** mig welding

http://http://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/welding/Mini_Mig_130amp_Welder.html
 
ricc said:
first thing you have to decide is whether you want to spend the money on quality kit to do pretty welds or the minimum necessary to stick patches on to get the landy through the mot......
for me as long as the patching satisfies the mot tester its good enough...its getting covered in sticky black gunk anyway. and the mig will probably sit in the shed till the next test is due, then come out for another couple of hours. ive had mine 3 years... still on me first roll of gasless wire.
the difference between a hobby and pro welder is a lot of beer.
Click to expand...
He is not being advised to give big money for a pro mig, what I and others have said is for the price of a new pos , with a bit of luck a real machine could be found.
 
Spunka said:
Your mate should set you straight,when i was looking alot of small hoby welders got realy crap reviews and didnt last
you need to be able to cntrol wire speed with a dial not a pre set swich
hoddy gas bottles are expensive
gasless is good out side coz theres no gas for wind to blow away
Gasless is wire fed arch welding ,if your mate teaches you that you will **** mig welding

http://http://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/welding/Mini_Mig_130amp_Welder.html
Click to expand...
True, you should learn arc and gas first,once mastered tig and mig are easy
 
Richard Martin said:
Is he welding up a rusty landy or starting a new career? MIG is easy enough learn, you don't need to learn MMA or gas welding first and he certainly doesn't need to learn TIG.
Click to expand...
I was agreeing with a previous statement about if you can stick weld mig comes easy.
I wasnt suggesting learning other stuff:rolleyes:
 
Richard Martin said:
Is he welding up a rusty landy or starting a new career? MIG is easy enough learn, you don't need to learn MMA or gas welding first and he certainly doesn't need to learn TIG.
Click to expand...

Mig easy peasy, tig def not needed unless a stainless exhaust is being made :)
Although stainless mig conversions are pants tig if far better for that
And arc is good for steel beams could make a shed for the back though ;)
 
Shame you can't hire one really it'd save storage when you might not need to use frequently
Do speedy hire hire welding plants?
 
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