Im after a Mig welder for hobby use, welding up bits of trailer/gate, brackets for the kitcar and the like, maybe body work. But also working on our narrowboat.
160amps seems about the minimum to cover everything, the narrowboat 4/6/10mm plate but it will by occational use so i dont mind preping the join, welding both sides, and taking it slow. Clearly i wont get full penitration into the 100 base plate but as long as i can stick a 4mm bracket to it suitable well thats fine. The sides are 6mm. Roof 4.
The main dilemea on my mind other than how much to pay is should i go inverter or not.
Clearly the inverter based ESAB/Kempi units are MUCH lighter, so in terms of lifting them on and off the boat, into cars, etc, its great. There will be a bottle, but that can be separtated for carrying. The also advertise being better and welding on long extensions and lower power (13amp) sockets which would be great.
Are there any durabilty issues with the inveter units, if i am going to be abusing plate onto the narrowboat with it?
Ive used a clarke 135TE/151TE/205TE and they all work but i also like the Portamig packages and the Lincon.
Inveter based
ESAB Caddy MIG C160i
http://www.weldequip.com/esab-caddy-c160i.htm
Kemppi MinarcMig 170
http://www.rapidwelding.com/dynamic/Category.aspx?c=MINARCMIG&o=0&zl=3
Tranformer based
Clarke 160TM
http://www.weldequip.com/clarke-160tm.htm
185 Portamig
http://www.weldequip.com/portamig-mig-welders.htm
Lincoln Power Mig 180C
http://www.rapidwelding.com/dynamic/DisplayItem.aspx?c=K2661-1
Daniel
160amps seems about the minimum to cover everything, the narrowboat 4/6/10mm plate but it will by occational use so i dont mind preping the join, welding both sides, and taking it slow. Clearly i wont get full penitration into the 100 base plate but as long as i can stick a 4mm bracket to it suitable well thats fine. The sides are 6mm. Roof 4.
The main dilemea on my mind other than how much to pay is should i go inverter or not.
Clearly the inverter based ESAB/Kempi units are MUCH lighter, so in terms of lifting them on and off the boat, into cars, etc, its great. There will be a bottle, but that can be separtated for carrying. The also advertise being better and welding on long extensions and lower power (13amp) sockets which would be great.
Are there any durabilty issues with the inveter units, if i am going to be abusing plate onto the narrowboat with it?
Ive used a clarke 135TE/151TE/205TE and they all work but i also like the Portamig packages and the Lincon.
Inveter based
ESAB Caddy MIG C160i
http://www.weldequip.com/esab-caddy-c160i.htm
Kemppi MinarcMig 170
http://www.rapidwelding.com/dynamic/Category.aspx?c=MINARCMIG&o=0&zl=3
Tranformer based
Clarke 160TM
http://www.weldequip.com/clarke-160tm.htm
185 Portamig
http://www.weldequip.com/portamig-mig-welders.htm
Lincoln Power Mig 180C
http://www.rapidwelding.com/dynamic/DisplayItem.aspx?c=K2661-1
Daniel