Hi all,
I'm new here and relatively new to welding. This looks like a great forum, some good advice and information here. I'm hoping some of you knowledgeable types can help me out...
A few years ago I bought myself a budget Mig, a Cosmo 170 gas/gasless. I've only ever used it gasless and, on the whole, it's done the job, it's helped me to learn the basics of how to weld. However, I am aware of its limitations and I'm looking for a new Mig.
Purely as a hobby I work on cars, restoration projects, mainly late 60s up to late 80s. All the welding I do is limited to the demands of a car's structure; so thin steel bodywork and slightly thicker floor/chassis pieces. I haven't yet needed to weld anything other than car projects and I don't see that changing, so a high powered machine capable of welding 5mm+ isn't necessary, plus it ideally needs to work from a 13a plug socket. Portability is a bonus, but it's unlikely to leave my garage unless I'm welding on my driveway, so never more than a few yards but I would be moving it around on my own...
I'm looking for high quality. I only want to buy once! If the new unit could have the option of working gasless too that would be useful, but I am looking to be working to a higher standard now so it's not crucial. I'll still keep the old Cosmo anyway... The main irritation I have with the Cosmo Mig is the wire feed. It is crap! It jams and slips regularly and always has done. I end up with a bird's nest of Mig wire all over it lol. I've wasted more wire than I've welded with... I've read enough on the net about it to know that many budget machines are afflicted with this kind of problem. I've tried the "fix" I read somewhere years ago where you fit an extra strap of metal to stop it flexing and keep the rollers inline and it did improve it a little but not totally. (I see WeldUK actually sell a strap to do just this). Apart from this wire feed fault, the actual cause of which I've never totally understood, the little Cosmo has been fine. But with that annoying fault/design flaw specifically in mind I want to buy a machine that is of a much higher quality with a smooth and reliable wire feed set up.
With a budget of up to around £900 what do you guys recommend? I've looked at SO many I'm dizzy...Based on reputation and suitable spec the Portamig and Oxford units are standing out to me. But I've just seen an SWP which has what seems to be a very over-engineered four roller wire-feed set up and with my previous problems in this area it is very appealing!
As a newbie and a novice I'm in your hands... any help or opinions would be VERY gratefully received!
Thanks in advance...
I'm new here and relatively new to welding. This looks like a great forum, some good advice and information here. I'm hoping some of you knowledgeable types can help me out...
A few years ago I bought myself a budget Mig, a Cosmo 170 gas/gasless. I've only ever used it gasless and, on the whole, it's done the job, it's helped me to learn the basics of how to weld. However, I am aware of its limitations and I'm looking for a new Mig.
Purely as a hobby I work on cars, restoration projects, mainly late 60s up to late 80s. All the welding I do is limited to the demands of a car's structure; so thin steel bodywork and slightly thicker floor/chassis pieces. I haven't yet needed to weld anything other than car projects and I don't see that changing, so a high powered machine capable of welding 5mm+ isn't necessary, plus it ideally needs to work from a 13a plug socket. Portability is a bonus, but it's unlikely to leave my garage unless I'm welding on my driveway, so never more than a few yards but I would be moving it around on my own...
I'm looking for high quality. I only want to buy once! If the new unit could have the option of working gasless too that would be useful, but I am looking to be working to a higher standard now so it's not crucial. I'll still keep the old Cosmo anyway... The main irritation I have with the Cosmo Mig is the wire feed. It is crap! It jams and slips regularly and always has done. I end up with a bird's nest of Mig wire all over it lol. I've wasted more wire than I've welded with... I've read enough on the net about it to know that many budget machines are afflicted with this kind of problem. I've tried the "fix" I read somewhere years ago where you fit an extra strap of metal to stop it flexing and keep the rollers inline and it did improve it a little but not totally. (I see WeldUK actually sell a strap to do just this). Apart from this wire feed fault, the actual cause of which I've never totally understood, the little Cosmo has been fine. But with that annoying fault/design flaw specifically in mind I want to buy a machine that is of a much higher quality with a smooth and reliable wire feed set up.
With a budget of up to around £900 what do you guys recommend? I've looked at SO many I'm dizzy...Based on reputation and suitable spec the Portamig and Oxford units are standing out to me. But I've just seen an SWP which has what seems to be a very over-engineered four roller wire-feed set up and with my previous problems in this area it is very appealing!
As a newbie and a novice I'm in your hands... any help or opinions would be VERY gratefully received!
Thanks in advance...