OXFORD MigMaker Purchase?

[ffr90]

Looking forward to the summer i've a few projects to get my teeth into and my decrepit SIP no gas hobby MIG welder, and small stick welder both of which are frankly crap just wont cut the mustard.
I've got a few Land Rover Defender doors to repair, a Rear chassis Cross member to fit/repair?
Some trailer modifications to make, an a set of military double NATO 76mm tow eyes to join onto a tow pole/tube to weld together.
After much thought through the winter and reading many, many, posts on here, especially MR-HIPPO's post with reply email from Tec Arc i'm set to order after Easter an Oxford Mig maker 200-1 or 240-1.
Amps wise i'm thinking for the heavy stuff i'm leaning toward the 240, a higher amp supply shouldn't be to hard to achieve, considering the main fuse box is only 10 ft or so away from the welder.
Questions wise.
I'll be interested on anyone's opinions on the oxford units ?
The welder will be living in a 'fairly' dry Garage or shed most of its time so i'm leaning to the less complex Transformer welder, rather than an Inverter with its complex circuits, sensitive to dampness sound sensible?
I trust the spot weld option isn't really worth it as at my low experience level i should really only be doing plug welds anyhow, but the reverse polarity is worth it for that time when the gas runs out 5 mins before you finish a job?
Generally i plan to use hobbyweld 5, but I have my own inert gas cylinder 9L size.
I've never used it yet but is it possible to just get it filled with Co2 rather than have to rent another, at a home brew suppliers maybe?
Does Oxford supply aluminium wire rollers, as the cost of a spool gun or an AC TIG for the small amounts of ally work i may do is just too much.
Thanks for any input guys.

 

[Rig Pig]

I used to get my gas cylinders refilled at a fire extinguisher place but health and safety and greedy boc seem to have put a stop to that. If you get beer gas make certain you don't get the nitrogen mix.

 

[blenkie1]

I have the 240 it's a really good machine but not keen on the semi syngenic system it has. I have always been used to manual adjustment of wire speed. It's a robust machine it fell out of a tractor bucket once and I left it in a open fronted farm shed and snow blew in leaving it with about 3" of snow on top. Brushed it off and it worked no problem. Duty cycle is not bad and will weld 3mm box no problem without blowing fuses. Never had anything to do with aluminium on it but they have a good reputation for helping with any problems

 

[vince01]

I bought the migmaker 200-1, a couple of months ago, ive set it up and made sure it was working, but with work commitments ive not had the time to give it a good work out, i do know it came with 0.6/0.8 feed rollers, if you want to go up to 1.0mm youll need to purchase the 0.8/ 1.0mm roller, i managed to buy a part used spool of 1.0mm aluminium wire off flea bay, but like i say, no practice time.

 

[glynygof]

I bought an Oxford Migmaker 330 three years ago and it is worked every day , mostly on structural steel approx. 10mm thick. Up to now it has worked without any problems . It will run all day on 280 amp but the duty cycle is not very good when used at the full 330 amp setting . I only use 1.0 mm wire in it but it has grooves in the feed rollers for 0.8 as well .

 

[ffr90]

I used to get my gas cylinders refilled at a fire extinguisher place but health and safety and greedy boc seem to have put a stop to that. If you get beer gas make certain you don't get the nitrogen mix.

Thank you for your replies guys much appreciated, especially the tip not to get the nitrogen mix Rig pig.

Looks like I just need to choose between a 200-1 & a 240-1 ?

 

[Kent]

an a set of military double NATO 76mm tow eyes to join onto a tow pole/tube to weld together

I should be just a bit cautious over this job as regards material (metallurgy) types and available power / heat off a single phase MIG, regardless of the numbers manufacturers put on their plants there is only so much you can draw from the main supply and MIG is notorious for nice looking beads that break.

Land rover work like rear cross members etc I am sure it will eat alive

 

[ffr90]

I should be just a bit cautious over this job as regards material (metallurgy) types and available power / heat off a single phase MIG, regardless of the numbers manufacturers put on their plants there is only so much you can draw from the main supply and MIG is notorious for nice looking beads that break.

Land rover work like rear cross members etc I am sure it will eat alive

Thanks for that yes i was contemplating posting a thread on the best way at going about prepping and assembling that.
Could be tricky due to the mix of cast eyes and extruded? tube.
Should look like this when finished, really needs a coded welders torch on it.

 

[Rig Pig]

Use eyebolts and tap the tube to fit the thread, no weld required.

 

[ffr90]

Use eyebolts and tap the tube to fit the thread, no weld required.

I think i might struggle hand tapping the tube to about M80?
The end rings in the picture have in I.D. of 76mm.

 

[Rig Pig]

M80? What are you looking to pull a tank!

 

[Kent]

Thanks for that yes i was contemplating posting a thread on the best way at going about prepping and assembling that.
Could be tricky due to the mix of cast eyes and extruded? tube.
Should look like this when finished, really needs a coded welders torch on it.

Don't matter how good a welder you are or are not you cant beat the metallurgy facts. Its been a while from when I was into all this off road stuff big time but the stresses on towing and snatch gear can be massive and flying lumps of metal tend to do more than smart a bit if they hit you.

 

[Kent]

M80? What are you looking to pull a tank!

If they are the old type I am used to (like giant carbineers) - when needs must you do whatever you can in that job I suppose

 

[blenkie1]

Don't know what difference is price wise between the 2 machines but I would try and go for the bigger machine more power if ever needed and a better duty cycle as well

 

[ffr90]

Don't matter how good a welder you are or are not you cant beat the metallurgy facts. Its been a while from when I was into all this off road stuff big time but the stresses on towing and snatch gear can be massive and flying lumps of metal tend to do more than smart a bit if they hit you.

Too true its definitely heavyweights kit thats mainly why i recon it needs a coded welder with applicable experience rather than my amateur touch even with a good weld machine its getting it done right to ensure its safe and load spec is maintained. I did a welding apprenticeship 10 years ago and ive hardly picked a torch up in the last 7 year, not a good combination it integrity is essential.

 

[ffr90]

M80? What are you looking to pull a tank!

Not quite a tank its a short straight bar for the sub 5 ton utility 4x4 or 6x6.

 

[ffr90]

Don't know what difference is price wise between the 2 machines but I would try and go for the bigger machine more power if ever needed and a better duty cycle as well

Well ive just been quoted a wisker under 795 with reverse polarity option on the 240-1
Thats Delvered with a 10 day lead time on it.
Not too bad.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Well ive just been quoted a wisker under 795 with reverse polarity option on the 240-1
Thats Delvered with a 10 day lead time on it.
Not too bad.

Have you ordered it?
The reason I ask is I have the Tec Arc 231 and I paid a lot less than that and it came with a 4m torch and reg.
http://www.rotecweldingequipment.co.uk/acatalog/TecArc_Compact_Mig_Welding_Machines.html

 

[blenkie1]

Think mine was cheaper as well. A local farmer paid for it for work done and I am sure it was cheaper. Mine was about 2 week delivery.

 

[ffr90]

Have you ordered it?
The reason I ask is I have the Tec Arc 231 and I paid a lot less than that and it came with a 4m torch and reg.
http://www.rotecweldingequipment.co.uk/acatalog/TecArc_Compact_Mig_Welding_Machines.html

No i haven't as yet as i'm still looking at options, i will compare the specs, but i believe the Oxford specs are slightly better according to the manufacturer, by looking at this post http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/oxford-migmaker-experiences.28923/page-2#post-428403
It does come with a binzel torch, and reg.