New Mig welder

[baldy]

After hours of deliberation, ive decided on an oxford migmaker 180. it wont be leaving the shed ,so that suits me. I just worried that the r tech and jasic units would have no continuity in 10 years time, however the british made arc tec unit, should be ok for 20 years.
So thats that. Moving on...Torches, i need to order a torch separate, as it doesnt come with one apparently. which would you guys recommend , preferably under 200 quid, and why?
Many thanks for your input regards Pauly

 

[123hotchef]

id buy thingies torch in the for sale section

 

[baldy]

id buy thingies torch in the for sale section

ill have a look ta

 

[123hotchef]

welcome to the forum where in kent are you?

 

[baldy]

swanley kent

 

[123hotchef]

i am nr bromley

 

[baldy]

Ah Cool. ive been talked into an oxford with a 3m genuine binzel torch, so im hoping its all good! Just spoke to jack at welding supplies direct and thrashed a deal out.Somebody stop me in case it was a bad decision !
Ill look at a 4mt torch and see if it fits in the workshop.

 

[daedalusminos]

I've got the Oxford 200 with Binzel torch....you won't be disappointed

 

[Ruffian]

Binzel torch is nice in the hand and will take the heat.
180amps you should get away with a mb15 provided you aren't abusing the top amps at all times.

Personally I prefer the 25 as a larger gun I find steadys my hand into a smoother weld and wont melt when properly giving greef.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Usually Oxford suppliers will do a package with torch and regulator.
Where are you getting it from?

 

[baldy]

Usually Oxford suppliers will do a package with torch and regulator.
Where are you getting it from?

you ! haha .
I dont need the reg i have one.Jack has sorted me out a deal, however i have learned that oxford can be custom made, so im going to ring them tomorrow and see if they can incorporate a few extras in the build.Ill give you guys a bell when i have news.cheers Pauly

 

[Wedg1e]

I just tripped over this thread by accident, note that it went quiet back in Feb... did the OP ever get his Oxford?
My reason for commenting was that in the first post he made reference to future reliability issues and service support. I have a TIG welder built by Tech Arc for SMP (Kidderminster? They're more known for welder calibration kit I think) that I bought new in 2005 and although it's only ever done light duty I was disappointed to find the main transformer burned out this summer. Tech Arc normally give their transformers a 5 year warranty which is pretty good for industrial equipment so 14 years might not appear too bad.
Anyway, I contacted TA and they were able to supply a new transformer within a couple of weeks (the SMP set not being a variant of any of their current production sets meant it had to be specially wound) for £300. I'd have probably had the original rewound if I could have found anyone in Teesside or Durham who still winds transformers - anyway it's back in action. The cause of the failure MAY have been down to the thermistor which monitors the transformer temperature having become dislodged from its location within the windings, but I can't be certain. I've certainly never known the set trip on overheat so maybe there was some other failure mechanism at work... either way, there was no fixing it with off-the-shelf parts but by way of confirming the OP's choice of British-built, he can be fairly sure he'll get years of service from an Oxford.
I have two old MIGs, one an Oxford and the other a Romarc; both were built by Tech Arc and both are still mentioned in their current spares/service catalogue. As a corollary for service techies: Tech Arc are happy to sell you things or perform repairs but not so happy to tell you anything technical - I needed a replacement resistor for one that had burned so I couldn't read the value and they refused point-blank to tell me what it was so I had to experiment. I thought it was a bit churlish since it wasn't as though I was about to go into competition with them, but off the back of that I traced the circuit boards and have full working diagrams now, which means I'm less likely to put any work their way in future.

 

[arther dailey]

I asked if I could by a switch knob, told they only sell to the trade

 

[Wedg1e]

There must be any number of places that could sell you a knob, it's not as though TA use anything that obscure.

 

[baldy]

Yes ,I did buy the oxford Migmaker, like yourself, i asked for a circuit diagram and technical info and was told no, yet i had a full diagram for a previous Murex set i used to have.I would have thought spending 600 odd quid youd get a circuit diagram . The instructions were a bit low rent too. Heres the review of the set, https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/oxford-migmaker-180-240-v-single-phase.90393/
I will when the set warranty expires, take it to bits and replace the low grade crimp on car style connectors and replace with solder on type terminals.I does weld nice,it all looks a bit basic inside, but do you need high tech?, when all you want is to weld stuff nicely, which it does.
As an after thought i wish i had gone for the 200amp unit, as welding 6mm plate i feel it could do with more go go. But she does me proud, thats all you can ask i guess.

Edit. 1breakdown to date, the earth cable fell out of the crimp on the earth lead croc. I showed a Jasic arc welder earth lead(chinese made) and the oxford earth lead to a sparky and he was gobsmacked at the crap quality of the uk made lead, the termination on the Jasic was leagues ahead of the two bob connector on the oxford, which was proper low rent.The Jasic chinese made lead was way thicker although the same amperage set, and the crimp was put on properly and fitted with heavy duty shrink wrap, the oxford was merely crimped.Poor show oxford.Im also going to step up the cable size for the earth and power supplies inside, as they look like they are running to the max.