- Thread starter williamz
- Start date
I don't know about prices there in the States (probably less than here!) but you can get Clarke machines; they are as good as any, probably better, in their price range. Your very best bet would be a Lincoln SP170 but you are talking a tad more than 300 bucks!
weldequip
weldequip
shenion
Tool Pack Rat
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I picked up my Clarke 130EN with regulator for $320 including shipping. Then another $195 for 4' bottle of argon (refill is $35.) You can get a small bottle for less. Actually, i'm thinking of trading big bottle for argon/co2 then pick up small argon bottle.
The 4' bottle is half empty, have done about 3 small rolls of wire. I wanted to not have to fill it often. Luckily, we dont rent them here.
Al welding is tricky, I have been fighting it. I'm finally up to speed. Check out my probs and final resolution:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1570
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=1449
After wasting time with the small wire, I can do do good welds.
You can get a small 100A welder, but it will likely have just high/low settings and may not have a good wire feed. I almost picked up one of those Chinese 90A welders that can be had for $95. But I did not want to later have to replace it with something better.
A buddy of mine had a low end unit with just high/low rocker settings. He said moving to a better one with more adjustments made a big difference.
Check eBay and also craigslist in your area. If you cant justify dropping some serious $ on a good MIG, keep an eye on craigslist. I just picked up a Craftman 5HP/20gal compressor real cheap.
130amps is the absoloute minimum I would recommended for Aluminium, it really knocks the guts out of a MIG welding ally; I blew a Rectifier on a 200 Amp ESAB machine welding 3mm Aluminium box section; granted, it was an old machine but way above the capabilities of small hobby machines.
weldequip
weldequip
TIG is really the best method to get sound, good looking welds for that type of work; you know the type of welds you see on custom bits like that - really nice without any finishing needed after. You ain't gonna get AC/DC TIG (even Chinese) for $300 though I'm afraid. Would it not be worth farming it out if it's just one or two parts?
weldequip
weldequip
shenion
Tool Pack Rat
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- 7,586
- Location
- Stone Mountain, GA USA
The Clarke 130EN has no problem with AL. Actually, I had problems with too much current. But that was using thin, soft wire.
If you were doing a lot of Al welding, a MIG spool-gun welder would be best. But just the gun will blow past your $300 goal.
Mine will trip 20A breaker when I am using the highest settings. If you can wire a 240V outlet, get a 240V one.
A regular outlet will not do. Household outlets are just 15A. I wired a 20A dedicated outlet. Easy as my bench is right next to the breaker panel. THe 20A outlets are single outlets (most houses have them for washing machines.)
Heh, now I have 3 custom outlets wired to my bench
240v compressor, 20Mig outlet and a general purpose outlet.
You might get away with a regular outlet on the lower settings. Al would normally use the lower current settings.
Weldequip, probably the high-feed rate of using AL was the problem. Probably makes the current more continuous rather than pulsed. Rectifiers pulse currents are much higher than their continuous currents. My initial tests were thin wire on lowest setting. Wire speed needed to be at 7.5. Not what the MIG normally runs on its lowest setting (usually 3-4).
I am impressed with the 130EN. I have never tripped the thermal overload and the fan keeps it cool. I did 200 spot welds putting the wire grate on my trailer. The 130EN was probably set to 110A and medium wire speed. Unit stayed cool, after a set of 60 spot welds, I placed my hand behind the fan and the air was nice and cool
The only real negative is every time I use the MIG, my satellite TV box resets.
For Al, a TIG would be best, especially for cosmetics. A manifold may be hard to do airtight welds with MIG. Might take a lot of grinding/touchup.
If you were doing a lot of Al welding, a MIG spool-gun welder would be best. But just the gun will blow past your $300 goal.
Mine will trip 20A breaker when I am using the highest settings. If you can wire a 240V outlet, get a 240V one.
A regular outlet will not do. Household outlets are just 15A. I wired a 20A dedicated outlet. Easy as my bench is right next to the breaker panel. THe 20A outlets are single outlets (most houses have them for washing machines.)
Heh, now I have 3 custom outlets wired to my bench
240v compressor, 20Mig outlet and a general purpose outlet.You might get away with a regular outlet on the lower settings. Al would normally use the lower current settings.
Weldequip, probably the high-feed rate of using AL was the problem. Probably makes the current more continuous rather than pulsed. Rectifiers pulse currents are much higher than their continuous currents. My initial tests were thin wire on lowest setting. Wire speed needed to be at 7.5. Not what the MIG normally runs on its lowest setting (usually 3-4).
I am impressed with the 130EN. I have never tripped the thermal overload and the fan keeps it cool. I did 200 spot welds putting the wire grate on my trailer. The 130EN was probably set to 110A and medium wire speed. Unit stayed cool, after a set of 60 spot welds, I placed my hand behind the fan and the air was nice and cool
The only real negative is every time I use the MIG, my satellite TV box resets.
For Al, a TIG would be best, especially for cosmetics. A manifold may be hard to do airtight welds with MIG. Might take a lot of grinding/touchup.
