After doing a bit of stick welding at college I fancy buying an ARC welder, I've already got a SIP 130 DP which touchwood seems to work ok. What is recommended, nothing too expensive, should I consider a ARC/TIG. Befire anyone asks I'm not even too sure what I'll use it for yet. At the moment most of my welding is on my Fiat Strada where the MIG is sufficient. Advice welcomed.
- Thread starter Mr_Caine
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mishka
Is it me?
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Hunt on eBay for an oil-cooled arc welder. Oxford/Pickhill/Cytringam/Olympic. Heavy, but will weld all day and much easier/nicer to use than those cheapie MickeyMart ones.
For example, there's a 110A Oxford in Haywards Heath on eBay at the moment (search for "RT110") and a couple of 180A Bantams. Also a couple of others in Essex/East London. Try the following search string in eBay:
(arc,ark) (oxford,pickhill,olympic,cytringam)
(Note to self: some sellers on eBay spell it "ark" welder...)
For example, there's a 110A Oxford in Haywards Heath on eBay at the moment (search for "RT110") and a couple of 180A Bantams. Also a couple of others in Essex/East London. Try the following search string in eBay:
(arc,ark) (oxford,pickhill,olympic,cytringam)
(Note to self: some sellers on eBay spell it "ark" welder...)
Thanks, quite a beast that Oxford, still looks small compared with the one I was using yesterday. Notice is says needs leads, would getting this gear and servicing the machine be an issue since the machine is clearly some years old - probably older than I judging by its appearance 
shenion
Tool Pack Rat
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The old arc welders are real simple, not much that will fail or need servicing.
Have had little experience with arc welders. I picked up one that was sitting on ebay at $0.99. Thought it was 140A (poor description.) It turned out to be 100A. It works, but is hard to start an arc as you need to run it on full power. It is AC only. Inside was power switch and transformer; nothing else. But it works and let me play with some arc welds.
After doing some reading, I'd say you want 140A minimum. DC would make for cleaner welds.
Arc/TIG is a whole different matter. TIG is real nice, but you will need to spend some serious £ to get one that is good and has nice features like footpedal support, HF start and AC for Al welding. I spent 2 months on ebay before I found a TIG/arc machine that is AC, DC has HF start, lots of current and runs on single phase. TIG adds lots of variables. Most are missing a torch, so consider the cost of getting one.
Shipping on these old beasts are a killer; you can spend more on shipping than you will pay for the unit. Here all the good stuff is coming out of California; 2100 miles away. I finally found one 6 miles away and was a steal.
This arc/TIG (and MIG) beast is 34 years old. Needed some repairs, no one services them locally. But inside is big transformer, power resistors and a few caps. No fancy electronics so not hard to fix.
I guess it comes down to what you want to use it for. MIG is much cleaner, especially with gas. Arc will be useful on thicker metals like frame work, so consider a 180A+ model.
A good TIG would do about anything. A cheapo TIG would probably leave you wanting something better later.
Have had little experience with arc welders. I picked up one that was sitting on ebay at $0.99. Thought it was 140A (poor description.) It turned out to be 100A. It works, but is hard to start an arc as you need to run it on full power. It is AC only. Inside was power switch and transformer; nothing else. But it works and let me play with some arc welds.
After doing some reading, I'd say you want 140A minimum. DC would make for cleaner welds.
Arc/TIG is a whole different matter. TIG is real nice, but you will need to spend some serious £ to get one that is good and has nice features like footpedal support, HF start and AC for Al welding. I spent 2 months on ebay before I found a TIG/arc machine that is AC, DC has HF start, lots of current and runs on single phase. TIG adds lots of variables. Most are missing a torch, so consider the cost of getting one.
Shipping on these old beasts are a killer; you can spend more on shipping than you will pay for the unit. Here all the good stuff is coming out of California; 2100 miles away. I finally found one 6 miles away and was a steal.
This arc/TIG (and MIG) beast is 34 years old. Needed some repairs, no one services them locally. But inside is big transformer, power resistors and a few caps. No fancy electronics so not hard to fix.
I guess it comes down to what you want to use it for. MIG is much cleaner, especially with gas. Arc will be useful on thicker metals like frame work, so consider a 180A+ model.
A good TIG would do about anything. A cheapo TIG would probably leave you wanting something better later.
How much is pretty cheap?
mishka
Is it me?
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The first question then being, what is your budget? What do range to you mean by "not too expensive"? Inverters are all well and dandy, but you'll be starting at around £150 for a basic low-end inverter box (e.g. Clarke ArcTig 85).
Drains
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E bay is a good place to look for a decent 2nd hand inverter. I picked up a Lincoln Electric 200A inverter set for £100 inc postage. It's an obsolete model, so over 10kg, but can take a foot pedal for tig, and works a treat.
I've seen some decent, newer sets go for well under £200, and if you're dead lucky you could pick up a lift/hf tig inverter for less than £300. There have been some shocking bargains over the last couple of months.
Otherwise, it has to be an oil-cooled. No maintenance and repair issues, but you need some wheels!
Exactly my question, cheap to someone might not be to another!
DIY Welding
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I have a nice 166A dual voltage ex demo inverter, digital readout with LIFT TIG as well if you are intrested pm me for a price its less than £300 quid
DIY Welding
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To you mate (weldequip) a lot cheaper didnt want to put the price on advertising and all that jazz
DIY Welding
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Yes its A Italian machine we have been hiring them out This one has all the leads etc and 1 year warranty
Jumpin the gun a bit there Alex! You've only had yours a few months & yet to experience problems. You may never have any but I'll give 50-1 odds that you will & then what happens?
At least with your Portamig you can give me a bell, I'll diagnose the problem, spares will be sent within 48 hours & you'll be up & running again.
weldequip
Dunno where to go with this. So many conflicting opinions. People on the forum say don't buy chinese or Italian it'll be poor quality, buy this and that. Combined with my as yet hazy idea of what I'll use it for doesn't help - I'm actually mostly welding cars at the moment and have a MIG already. I like the look of an old british built welder but some of these things are huge and space is already an issue for me! The welder DIY welder has sounds interesting.
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
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Back to basics on why you want an arc welder would be the thing. Economical welding of really thick metal or welding thick metal outdoors are the real applications for arc. Fun to play with probably doesn't cut it when spending money is involved.
Don't you really want a TIG?
Stick with the old saying "You get what you pay for" & you won't go far wrong. There's nothing wrong with traditional, AC transformer based stick welders & they will far outlast cheap Inverters. General rule of thumb when buying one of those is to get one with quick-connect leads; the smallest, cheapest machines with wired in leads have very poor Duty Cycles, ie.will lay down a couple of rods & then cut out.
weldequip
weldequip
