add it to your public liability insurance would be my thought.
- Thread starter Dan Short
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The thought of the boss just bunging a welder in the van and now your a welder shouts volumes .Just the thought of having to ask what welder you need scares me
If welding was that easy you wouldnt have to do four years learning the trade , an afternoon and a multi choice exam would get you going.
stuvy
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as I said an engineer should be well versed in this
stuvy
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Yup that's what I pointed out in the first reply as I had to read the question 3 or 4 times before I realised this is a serious question . However though have to be nice on the forum and give advice on a welder but my thought would be to look into others things before a welder
like a professional?
Mr Roo
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@Dan Short don’t take this the wrong way, we’re only messing (to an extent..)
the fact of the matter is what your boss is asking for is nothing short of a miracle.
A gasless mig welder that you can one-hand lift out the van, runs on a 240V 13A plug and will p*ss through 20mm thickness... and is cheaper than most plumber’s torches?
don’t you think that would be the first google result if it existed??
the fact is you’re asking for something that’s found as easily as rocking horse sh**!
couple it with the fact you don’t seem to know what you’re talking about in terms of welders/welding (240V “on site” is a no-no, unless “on site” means “at a punter’s house..”) means you (and your boss, particularly) seem to think that welding is as easy as tying your laces... which it is... if you’ve been trained properly!
realistically, the idea of someone who doesn’t have the foggiest about welding being sent out on site to weld 10mm or 20mm plate fills me with dread and fear.
the fact of the matter is what your boss is asking for is nothing short of a miracle.
A gasless mig welder that you can one-hand lift out the van, runs on a 240V 13A plug and will p*ss through 20mm thickness... and is cheaper than most plumber’s torches?
don’t you think that would be the first google result if it existed??
the fact is you’re asking for something that’s found as easily as rocking horse sh**!
couple it with the fact you don’t seem to know what you’re talking about in terms of welders/welding (240V “on site” is a no-no, unless “on site” means “at a punter’s house..”) means you (and your boss, particularly) seem to think that welding is as easy as tying your laces... which it is... if you’ve been trained properly!
realistically, the idea of someone who doesn’t have the foggiest about welding being sent out on site to weld 10mm or 20mm plate fills me with dread and fear.
Mick Annick
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Give us a clue about what you’re actually going to do with it, and as others have said is this at private homes or trade premises/ constructions sites, this will all have a bearing on the advice given.
Mr Roo
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i’ve made gates with a clarke arc welder that was about 15 years old and had frayed cables all over it.
i’ve made massive 40mm thick brackets using a gigantic oil-cooled behemoth that was probably in place before they built the workshop around it.
site work i’ve done with fronius buzzboxes, lincoln kit, and small jasics.
it all depends what you need it for, mate.
You wouldn’t pop onto Top Gear and ask “here fellas need a car what’s good?” - do you want fast? do you want to track it? sunday cruising? campervan??!
so why are you asking us “need a welder what’s good?”
help us to help you, ffs!
Mr Roo
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Hi mate can you recommend a welder as my boss wants me to have one but we don't really know if we want one or need one but either way it will look good in the van. Its needs to weld 50mm in 1 pass but work OK on 13 amp but he don't wanna spend more than 150 quid. Can you suggest one please
i’ve actually got a mate who can help you out!
(but he says that’s all three of your wishes!!)
Mr Roo
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Hahahahahahha!
you joke @Bbe555 but one of my mates used to work offshore - sent me a pic of one mental old fella who had wrapped a rope round his chest as a “safety harness”, and was welding a railing with no gloves or mask on.
apparently he kept taking the gauntlets home because “they’re great for gardening!” and he didn’t believe in masks because “been doing it for years, it’s fine!”
my mate showed me his welds... it was most assuredly NOT fine hahaha
you joke @Bbe555 but one of my mates used to work offshore - sent me a pic of one mental old fella who had wrapped a rope round his chest as a “safety harness”, and was welding a railing with no gloves or mask on.
apparently he kept taking the gauntlets home because “they’re great for gardening!” and he didn’t believe in masks because “been doing it for years, it’s fine!”
my mate showed me his welds... it was most assuredly NOT fine hahaha
slim_boy_fat
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If you look at Dan's Profile Page, he's got a Parweld set - or it says he has on there? 
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If you have useful advice then post it but leave the sarky stuff out eh?
From the rules you agreed to when you signed up:
General conduct
Be nice to everyone else on the forum especially new members. New members are important to the forum - they might stick around and contribute a lot in the future. If a new member asks something that has been asked a thousand times before then you might gently point them towards a thread that will answer their question.
From the rules you agreed to when you signed up:
General conduct
Be nice to everyone else on the forum especially new members. New members are important to the forum - they might stick around and contribute a lot in the future. If a new member asks something that has been asked a thousand times before then you might gently point them towards a thread that will answer their question.
Mr Roo
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@Wozzaaah i think we can all agree with your point, but this OP isn’t giving us any useful information to help him with (hence my TopGear comment...)
it’s difficult to give any sort of advice when we have no idea what he wants other than “a welder” - i’d have better luck getting classified documents than finding out what OP plans to weld with “a welder”..!
Will be welding 4-5mm plate, repairs to brackets and cradles that brake testers sit in, as I said before nothing that will have to support any great load etc.
The reason I need 240v 13amp is all the customers sites I attend have 240v 3 pin socket supply as I run my other gear from it, all I wanted to know was are there brands/models to steer clear of and are there stand out brands/models around the 140amp region.
Mr Roo
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finally, something we can work with.
first piece of advice is don’t fool yourself into thinking a brake tester doesn’t take much load..!
as for a welder, i’d look at something like the jasic stick welders. Couple hundred quid, plenty amps, pretty good warranty.
Comes with a 13A fuse.
since we’re talking garages and MOT stations you’re probably going to be fine with 13A fuse, but i’d rewire it to one of those RCD (Test:Reset) plugs for extra precaution! And carry extra fuses wherever you go.
Are you able to take these jobs out and work at a bench or are you going to be stuck welding them in situ? If in situ, look at getting good rods for positional welding possibly.
realistically tho, if you’re in a garage and welding these kind of jobs you might be even better off with MIG after all. A GYS 142 might manage the 5mm so long as you’re not doing 6 inch runs.
(PS - see how much more info you get when we know what you’re planning to do with the kit?!)
slim_boy_fat
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Mig, you're going to need a decent size gas bottle too.
Mr Roo
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Your other considerations @Dan Short are how much do you reckon you’ll use this?
if you reckon you’ll be doing a power of welding, your best bet is to get something like the lincoln bester 190c. Cracking machine and can do mig and tig (but don’t rely on that... if one goes they all go!)
GYS you’ll get reasonable support.
Clarke i don’t rate - they’re well favoured round these parts but i’ve never ruddy agreed with them personally.
stick is cheapest option overall- machine is cheaper, consumables are cheaper, etc...
but if you’re working on minging bits of kit that have had cars leaking on them and covering them in brake dust for 10-20 years then you might find it a struggle to get any good welds...
mig is far more forgiving, but comes with the addition of needing a gas bottle. If you’re welding here and there then go for hobbyweld or SGS.
If you’re doing loads of welding, BOC/Air Products is your next step.
if you reckon you’ll be doing a power of welding, your best bet is to get something like the lincoln bester 190c. Cracking machine and can do mig and tig (but don’t rely on that... if one goes they all go!)
GYS you’ll get reasonable support.
Clarke i don’t rate - they’re well favoured round these parts but i’ve never ruddy agreed with them personally.
stick is cheapest option overall- machine is cheaper, consumables are cheaper, etc...
but if you’re working on minging bits of kit that have had cars leaking on them and covering them in brake dust for 10-20 years then you might find it a struggle to get any good welds...
mig is far more forgiving, but comes with the addition of needing a gas bottle. If you’re welding here and there then go for hobbyweld or SGS.
If you’re doing loads of welding, BOC/Air Products is your next step.
