BEST WELDER TO BUY

kincaid

Hi,

Arc welder has given up on me but was not great for the job i was doing and tended to stick alot and burn holes in the piece i was trying to weld ...
I am looking for a DIY welder the would weld van panels and tractor bonnets and doors so would need to be able to weld thin material.
Don't want to spend alot as wouldn't be using it very often...

Thanks

enumbers

A mig welder is what you need but you won't get a decent one for small money currently using a really nice esab mig is really brilliant but around 1k for it but worth every penny, the welder I had before cost over 400 and the wire feed was a nightmare. One issure you will have with a mig if your not using it a lot is that the wire roll with start to rust which is a pain in d arse

darragh o meara

I use a Murex Tradesmig a lot for just this type of work. Reasonably priced and excellent reliability with plenty of power to boot.

kincaid

OK Thanks, Was hoping to get something around the 300 mark,
I only ever used an arc welder and they were a nightmare to use even on the thicker steel...
Whats the no-gas welders like.

enumbers

No gas migs are horrible horrible pos to use , murex are good but not gonna be in your price range

CJhaughey

You would be as well buying an inverter welder, I have welded some pretty thin steel with one of these dialed right down and small rods.
You can get them for 2-3 hundred now.

kincaid

Oh i didnt know you could weld car panels etc properly with these as thought they were for the more thicker material.
Someone mentioned the weld wasnt as good with these and were not as reliable as the mig welders etc but its just what i hear.

Pottler

kincaid wrote: »

Oh i didnt know you could weld car panels etc properly with these as thought they were for the more thicker material.
Someone mentioned the weld wasnt as good with these and were not as reliable as the mig welders etc but its just what i hear.

You need a mig, and you deserve a good one if you are going to pay for it yourself. The long term hatefulness of a cheap welder will far outweigh any savings you might feel you have made when buying a cheap pos. If you want cheaper, buy a mid range SIP, spend over €500 and it will do, but you'll outgrow it rapidly. You also have to budget for gas and rental etc..

Might be worthwhile looking for a second hand machine, but you'll run into the 3phase wall most likly. If you have 3phase, the machine can be got easily and cheaply, if you have 16amp 1phase ten lads will want every 1 welder for sale, and if you only have 13amp, don't bother..

I weld a lot, an awful lot...and I use a 240amp SIP mig 1ph as I have no 3phase(too remote). I've often welded all day every day for a week or two non-stop burning a full roll of 1mm wire every day or two and apart from the torch(tweecoHD) melting in my hands unless dunked regularily, I've had no issues. I'd love a 3ph machine, can easily afford one, but don't have the juice for it. People slag off SIP, but I've had 0 issues with mine after about 10 years of proper hard work. I'm on somwhere about torch 6 at this stage and walk through liners and tips but I have never touched the welder itself as regards repairs. Ever. And it's been used by numerous employees to do all day welding as well. I know several other production companies that use the same 240amp sip as their mainline welder as well, some quite well known ones as it happens. Every street bin (steel ones) you pass has been welded with one for example...

kincaid

Thanks, something like this may do my job and Clarke's not a bad make

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNIB-CLARKE-230V-150AMP-NO-GAS-GAS-MIG-WELDER-KIT-/400340472377?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d3626d239

Pottler

kincaid wrote: »

Thanks, something like this may do my job and Clarke's not a bad make

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNIB-CLARKE-230V-150AMP-NO-GAS-GAS-MIG-WELDER-KIT-/400340472377?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d3626d239

Rubbish wire feed. It will make you look like a bad welder no matter what you do.:( Erratic at best..

enumbers

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/tools/4251625 this at a reduced price would do anything you asked it

Pottler

enumbers wrote: »

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/tools/4251625 this at a reduced price would do anything you asked it

I looked at that ad earlier. Nice wlder tbf.

enumbers

its is indeed but still to find the limits of the esab small package serious punch though

Pottler

enumbers wrote: »

its is indeed but still to find the limits of the esab small package serious punch though

I've a tiny esab inverter mma and it is literally a weapon, it weights about a kilo and eats 3.2 rods - I use it on site because it's so light. Usually I run it on 3 phase suplies using only one phase(electricians will know what I'm on about, just use a 3ph plug with a 1ph feed going out, 2 ph not connected) and it will weld literally anything. I have a Snap-on mig for outside work(clarke rebranded I think??) and it's ok, just -I somtimes dick with the wire feed using a clamp to improve traction if I'm doing precise stuff (I weld a lot of stuff for big car mfrs and haulage companies). I've a few inverters as well as a Mosa 50hp Yanmar diesel 3ph stick for the heavy stuff, but given the choice, I'd use the SIP all day every day, I really like it.

enumbers

the problem is the smaller sip migs it the wire feed its rubbish your fine with the decent size models

kincaid

Pottler wrote: »

I've a tiny esab inverter mma and it is literally a weapon, it weights about a kilo and eats 3.2 rods - I use it on site because it's so light. Usually I run it on 3 phase suplies using only one phase(electricians will know what I'm on about, just use a 3ph plug with a 1ph feed going out, 2 ph not connected) and it will weld literally anything. I have a Snap-on mig for outside work(clarke rebranded I think??) and it's ok, just -I somtimes dick with the wire feed using a clamp to improve traction if I'm doing precise stuff (I weld a lot of stuff for big car mfrs and haulage companies). I've a few inverters as well as a Mosa 50hp Yanmar diesel 3ph stick for the heavy stuff, but given the choice, I'd use the SIP all day every day, I really like it.

Hi Pottler, what amps is that welder of yours and can it be run easily from standard single phase household supply as i hear they can trip the fuses.
I might go for one of these if they could weld 2mm steel from time to time

Thanks

Pottler

kincaid wrote: »

Hi Pottler, what amps is that welder of yours and can it be run easily from standard single phase household supply as i hear they can trip the fuses.
I might go for one of these if they could weld 2mm steel from time to time

Thanks

It's 180 amp, and I've never tried it on a 13 amp plug, It has a 16 amp plug on it and usually gets plugged into a 3ph - single phase adaptor I've made up. I just pick a spot somwhere outside, usually I head for a waste compactor area as they have good juice going to them and some shelter to stop the wind blowing the gas away.

I bought another one last week as a back up, off adverts for €150. Like I said, they're ok but the wire feed is fairly crappy and stability of the arc is only ok. Once you get used to weldig with a chunky tweeco torch, it is also hard to go back to using the hard-wired lightweight toy torches all these budget welders come with.

I've a lincoln gas-less mig set up for flux cored wire that I run off the Mosa genny welding feed if I need to Mig heavier stuff, but while the weld is fine strength wise, it looks crap and the spatter is unreal and bloody hot - you need serious gloves, arm leathers, boots etc or it will fry you. I've often gone around for weeks looking like a heroin addict when my arms have been spatterburnt top to bottom, despite wearing welding overalls, a fleece etc - you need leather for that stuff. You also need fully enclosed goggles under your mask or it will have your eyes out rapido.

Diesel Dick

would ye recomend these or anyone have one?
http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-180amp-mig-inverter-welder-t194.html

http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-181dp-mig-welder-gas-gasless-wheel-mounted.html

Pottler

Diesel Dick wrote: »

would ye recomend these or anyone have one?
http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-180amp-mig-inverter-welder-t194.html

http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-181dp-mig-welder-gas-gasless-wheel-mounted.html

I'd get the first one. Actually, with that duty cycle I'll probably actually get one, thanks for that! The duty cycle refers to a 10 minute time period, so you can do 180 amps for 6 minutes before you start hitting thermal trip-outs. Lower the amps and the welding time goes up. The fact it's an inverter also means it's light, which is nice.

Don't like the second one, duty cycles crap enough.:)

aujopimur

Diesel Dick wrote: »

would ye recomend these or anyone have one?
http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-180amp-mig-inverter-welder-t194.html

http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-181dp-mig-welder-gas-gasless-wheel-mounted.html

What ever about the welders, Jebbs after sales/warranty is crap, I ended up in the small claims court as he failed to honour a warranty.

kincaid

hi Pottler, are those esab inverter mma welders arc welders and can be used outside as wind wont affect them,

Pottler

kincaid wrote: »

hi Pottler, are those esab inverter mma welders arc welders and can be used outside as wind wont affect them,

Yeah Kincaid, the esabs are mma arc - I use 2.5 rods. The issue is wite the snap-ons being used outdoors, the wind blows the argon mix away and you get poor welds because of inadequate shielding, so you end up welding with your free hand cupped around the tip to shield the shielding gas.

Fishtits

Find a Sealey dealer, they have dozens of welders.

kincaid

Hi Guys.
I'm thinking of buying this welder and it comes with 2 years warranty and think it would be better than Sealey but would like to know what you think of this

http://www.plasmapart.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98&products_id=470

Pottler

kincaid wrote: »

Hi Guys.
I'm thinking of buying this welder and it comes with 2 years warranty and think it would be better than Sealey but would like to know what you think of this

http://www.plasmapart.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98&products_id=470

It's not a mig and will weld bonnets etc as badly as any other stick welder will. The problem is that even a 2.5mm rod is probably 1.5mm thicker than the steel you'll be welding and an arc that can easily melt 2.5mm steel rods will have vaporised the weld-metal long before it's melted the rod. You weld panels with .6mm MIG wire for a reason..btw, the gas keeps things even cooler... buy a welder from Lidl if you want somthing like this, it will be equally crap, but you'll have spent less.

Diesel Dick

http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-250amp-mig-arc-inverter-welder-ideal-301.html

anyone know what these are like? mig and arc all in 1 would be ideal for me but dont want an unreliable yolk!

Pottler

Diesel Dick wrote: »

http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-250amp-mig-arc-inverter-welder-ideal-301.html

anyone know what these are like? mig and arc all in 1 would be ideal for me but dont want an unreliable yolk!

Looks ok, could be a good egg.

CJhaughey

Diesel Dick wrote: »

http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welder/sip-250amp-mig-arc-inverter-welder-ideal-301.html

anyone know what these are like? mig and arc all in 1 would be ideal for me but dont want an unreliable yolk!

Company not supposed to be very good with aftersales from all accounts.

aujopimur

CJhaughey wrote: »

Company not supposed to be very good with aftersales from all accounts.

See post no. 20.

Pottler

CJhaughey wrote: »

Company not supposed to be very good with aftersales from all accounts.

aujopimur wrote: »

See post no. 20.

The phrase "Limited evidence" springs to mind. One swallow not making a spring and all that. I'd say their fine, but with the odd exception. Welder looks pretty good, but I'm a bit wary of "two in one" jobbies, get a dedicated machine.:)

Silent Shrill

You'll get plenty telling you to spend way more than you require. I don't know why those type of comments are made! curious.
If you just want to weld up a few car thickness panels then a 90 amp machine will do you fine.
Gas or gasless?..........I've used both, and irrespective of others comments a decent weld can be obtained by gasless. You get splatter, that's the downside, but if you're needing a smooth finish then the grinder's coming out anyway.
You're not running a welding empire, and you're not employing the country. You simply want to weld up a few bits & pieces. It's easy talking big when money's no object.
Clarke, sip, and maybe a few others will meet your requirements. Choose one that offers spares and consumables. If you go gas, then prepare to pay out 150 for your first full bottle, plus regulator, plus 4mm adaptor hose. You could buy the disposable bottles at 20 a pop.......approx 8 minutes worth of gas, but seeing as you're not going to need it much, it might just be for you.
After you've finished with the machine, sell it on. You'll get a better percentage, (selling wise), from a small hobby mig than a large 200-250 amp machine, and it'll sell quicker as these machines are more sought after than industrial ones, (which have normally been abused).
Buying used?.........hmmm, many don't look after their tools, and quite often try to sell on defective equipment. If buying used test it first, with gas if it accepts gas. If the seller states no gas to test.....avoid. You'll pick up what you want new for 200, it might not be a sip or clarke, but it'll do what you need to do.
Rusty wire?.......yep, usually the machine is left in damp workshops, and if the wire is rusty you can assume the transformers are also. Pushing rusty wire through the liner fuc*s it up. Remove your wire and store it in an airing cupboard till next use. Keep your machine in a dry place that's not damp.
Keeps cutting out?........the smaller machines are for hobby use, not all-day running. Most have no fan. If you want to improve the duty cycle fit a fan. Purchase a 10e shower-type fan, 240v, and fit it so it blows onto the transformer. Plenty of utube vids and info on the net so you can fit it yourself.
Stick welders are not for car bodywork, even if people out there use them for that. People use knives as screwdrivers, hammer & chisel instead of hex wrenches! It may get the job done....somewhat,......but it aint what those tools are for, and normally buggers it up for the next mug.

If you've never used a mig before, then you have a learning curve to do, but they are probably the easiest way for a novice to begin with. Again, plenty of utube vids, forums, and info on the net where you can begin with.

NuckingFacker

Jody on "Tig welding tips and tricks" has a great welding channel - check it out on Youtube - even the best welder will learn somthing new there. Regarding the above ^, you might buy a Mig welder for under €200 but it will make you look bad no matter how good you are and becomes a pain after a few minutes. The wire feeders on cheap machines are crap - stuttery, erratic and unpredictable. Better machines make welding a pleasure. I picked up a used Kempi minarcmig for €400 recently - it welds off a 13 amp socket, is tiny, never trips out and is smooth as silk. It's a pleasure to use. It makes everyone who uses it look like a great welder as everything is set automatically at the press of one button. You get what you pay for, but you don't have to pay a fortune, there's loads of used bargains around. (That welder is v. dear new btw)