Mig Welder

[alsavs]

Looks like i need to get myself a mig welder. Any comments on which one's to look at and stay clear off would be greatly appreciated.

[fudge]

Well tbh it is spend as much money on one as you can, or do loads of research into the make.
Stay away from an allways live set up, this is where the tourch is allways conected to the live output.
Get a gas mig set up, mot a gasless one as it is harder to use and setup
And try mig-welding.co.uk they have a fourm on there and they are a great bunch of guys and you will get loads of help there

[gregster]

Better to buy a good branded second hand one, sooner than a cheap imported new one...They are only cheap if you can get parts for them!

[alsavs]

Thanks for your input guys. I've only got a small budget but i've seen a clarke100en up for sale at £100. Is this make ok or should i stay clear. cheers

[hipo1024]

This is the one I have. Don't think mines got the same brand printed on it tho, but it's the same unit to look at and it's been great! Best rig I've used bar the machines I learn on at CRC (cambridge regional college) but then they were industrial machines. It's alittle over your budget but food for thought. Mine came with a round 16A plug on it but I removed that and fitted a standard 13A plug on it with the limitation of not being able to use the welders top settings (you need some serious material to need 180A) but only do this if your confident at wiring a plug properly as you could easily cause a fire or worse

Ebay item 390390575095 - http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/390390575095

[snapper]

I got this one in one of their VAT free sales. It's a combo (Gas/Gas Free) unit but as I already had the kit to convert it to Gas I didnt need to get the additional bits.

It's better at welding than me .... Joking apart, I used it to do the winch bumper and that has'nt fallen off yet.

[MG Autos (Mark)]

I've had a Snap On / Cebora 130 Turbo Mig for 15+ yrs now and it's a great little welder.
Got mine mounted on a Clarke Welding Trolly with a full size gas bottle but they can easily run on the small disposables as well.
There great for welding body work (about 1mm to 1.2mm usually) when on the lowest setting or can give a decent weld on 4mm sheet so long as you take your time and have it on the higher settings.
You can pick them up on E-bay for £120 to £170 for a good one and are generally far more reliable than the equivalent Clarke, SIP or Sealey jobs.
I've been thinking of upgrading mine and getting a bigger MIG for years but always seem forget about it as the Snap On / Cebora does pretty much everything I need it to

[bhcalcutta]

I'm with MG. I have a little Cebora that I rescued from a garage that was throwing it a way. I spent £20 on a new wire feed motor, and it's been flawless in the last 4 years or so.

These machines are frequently badged up as SNAP ON, and all parts are readily available

[Retro Pedro]

What's the real argument between 'Gas' and 'Gasless'?
Is it the cost of the wire against the necessity to have gas on tap or is there a vast difference in ease of use between the two options? What about end product, i.e. the quality of the final weld.
Not that I would know because I haven't used one, but remember a real old post about 170 thereabouts being a good option to cover all requirements but if develops since then have changed that argument I couldn't say.

[RatCav]

Gasless wire can be a pig to get right. It is quite temperamental. Gas with gas wire is easier to use, so long as you can make sure that you aren't in an area that will blow the gas away.

[fudge]

my little home mig is the sealy mighty mig 180 and does everything i ask of it, form welding 0.8mm to 8mm thick steel.

gasless is very very hard to get right, and i know i have done 4 sils with using it and dans welding set.
mig gas is fairly easy to get right, as long as you have the set set up right.
i would allways go for gas mig welder, as a gasless one is about the same use as a small stick set (as you are effectively stick welding with it, apart from the flux is on the inside of the wire and it is a continuous feed of wire)

as for strength, if done correctly and defect free they should both have the same strength, but gasless you have to ensure there is no slag inclusions etc as it is more prone to defects.

[alsavs]

Thanks for all your help peeps.