Hello guys and girls!
Just signed up after being directed here from a number of watercooled VW forums.
I have a MK1 Polo which I am restoring/modding into a Berg Cup racer. I need some welding done on it so rather than trying to get the car to a welder I thought I'd buy my own and give it a go myself. Plus my dad has an ongoing MGBGT restoration underway which needs a load of welding.
Anyway, I have just bought the infamous 'Giant 195' from Ebay - link here >>> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=170338262480
The reason for getting this is because it was the cheapest I could find and after calling the company in the Ebay ad I was advised that this would be best for my use. Not knowing ANYTHING about welding I took their advice and bought it.
The jobs I need to do are re-welding the rear wheel arches after cutting them back (they are double skinned), plating over the rear wiper hole and arial hole, re-welding the seat bases on a pair of Audi A6 seats so that they fit nicely in the Polo and finally welding a piece of angle bar to the floorpan so that I can bolt the seats to it safely.
I told the guy on the phone this and without hesitation he said that the Giant 195 would suit my needs the best.
I received the welder and attached the wheels to the base at the weekend. Upon looking at the other bits I got with it (0.8mm mild steel wire, etc) I see that I need a half decent mask as the one you get with it is laughable!!!
Now here's the 'fun' part - I searched on here and see that the general consensus is that these Chinese made welders are pants!!! Trouble is, I've bought and paid for it (inc £35 postage!) so don't really have much choice other than to make use of it.
I have been looking into gas and I think I will start by getting a small bottle from Halfords (as it is just down the road) and having a practice with that.
As mentioned, I need a better mask and will get one with an auto-darkening function.
It also appears that I will need some kind of 'gas line' to attach the bottle to the welder??? There is an input on the rear with a little brass coloured connection which says "GAS INPUT". What kind of line do I need for this? It looks like a push on connection.
I have been told that the power of the machine means that I can run it off of a normal house plug......but......it currently has one of those outdoor weather proof plugs on it but I do not have anything to plug this in to! So......I wondered if I can chop this outdoor plug off and replace it with a conventional plug???
One other worrying thing is that after searching on here I see that people have stated that the 'INPUT' power of this machine is "60-180" and that it is no good for thin metal! Does that mean that it will be absolutely no good for car body panels which is primarily what I bought it for? If this is the case then I'd be miffed as to why the bloke said that this would be 'perfect' for my needs!!!
Just don't know what to do now......
Any help would be greatly appreciated guys!
Cheers,
Chris.
Just signed up after being directed here from a number of watercooled VW forums.
I have a MK1 Polo which I am restoring/modding into a Berg Cup racer. I need some welding done on it so rather than trying to get the car to a welder I thought I'd buy my own and give it a go myself. Plus my dad has an ongoing MGBGT restoration underway which needs a load of welding.
Anyway, I have just bought the infamous 'Giant 195' from Ebay - link here >>> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=170338262480
The reason for getting this is because it was the cheapest I could find and after calling the company in the Ebay ad I was advised that this would be best for my use. Not knowing ANYTHING about welding I took their advice and bought it.
The jobs I need to do are re-welding the rear wheel arches after cutting them back (they are double skinned), plating over the rear wiper hole and arial hole, re-welding the seat bases on a pair of Audi A6 seats so that they fit nicely in the Polo and finally welding a piece of angle bar to the floorpan so that I can bolt the seats to it safely.
I told the guy on the phone this and without hesitation he said that the Giant 195 would suit my needs the best.
I received the welder and attached the wheels to the base at the weekend. Upon looking at the other bits I got with it (0.8mm mild steel wire, etc) I see that I need a half decent mask as the one you get with it is laughable!!!
Now here's the 'fun' part - I searched on here and see that the general consensus is that these Chinese made welders are pants!!! Trouble is, I've bought and paid for it (inc £35 postage!) so don't really have much choice other than to make use of it.
I have been looking into gas and I think I will start by getting a small bottle from Halfords (as it is just down the road) and having a practice with that.
As mentioned, I need a better mask and will get one with an auto-darkening function.
It also appears that I will need some kind of 'gas line' to attach the bottle to the welder??? There is an input on the rear with a little brass coloured connection which says "GAS INPUT". What kind of line do I need for this? It looks like a push on connection.
I have been told that the power of the machine means that I can run it off of a normal house plug......but......it currently has one of those outdoor weather proof plugs on it but I do not have anything to plug this in to! So......I wondered if I can chop this outdoor plug off and replace it with a conventional plug???
One other worrying thing is that after searching on here I see that people have stated that the 'INPUT' power of this machine is "60-180" and that it is no good for thin metal! Does that mean that it will be absolutely no good for car body panels which is primarily what I bought it for? If this is the case then I'd be miffed as to why the bloke said that this would be 'perfect' for my needs!!!
Just don't know what to do now......
Any help would be greatly appreciated guys!
Cheers,
Chris.