Hi all,
I'm going to need a MIG welder in the next few months for a few projects, the first of which is likely to be repairing a rotten agricultural trailer and possibly some car work as well. I'm going to guess 1/4" (and that will be rare) is probably a reasonable max thickness, for the time being anyway. I currently have a TIG welder but don't really know how to use it - I bought it second hand when it came up at a good price, and I was expecting to go through a full workshop course, including welding, with the military - unfortunately a nasty illness cut my career very short! From my initial attempts, it seems learning to weld with MIG is probably a better start given the cost of Argon. I have done a very, very little bit of MIG welding at school/university and I know some theory from uni/past jobs, but not much experience.
Anyway, I'm currently living in the US for the next few months and saw a Miller advert for a rebate offer. Looking around it seems you get a lot more for your money this side of the pond than that, and I could pick up a Millermatic 190 for about £550 after rebate which seems preferable to the Clarke equivalent at a similar price. I asked Miller and they said a 60Hz machine can be run on 50Hz, but not the other way around. Obviously it needs to be a 240V machine, which rules out anything smaller than the 190 in the Miller range. It also pretty much needs to be inverter based for weight reasons, due to the cost of getting stuff back to the UK (though as I will have been living in the US for over a year import fees/VAT shouldn't be an issue).
So I guess the question is would you buy in the states, or wait and buy in the UK? If so, what would you buy? I mention Miller simply because I've heard of them and all the welding kit in the factory I worked at was made by them. In all honesty £550 is a bit more than I'd ideally be looking to spend in the UK (I'd be quite happy to go second hand) - but if a small extra investment now gets me a lot more machine than I'd get in the UK I can find the money.
Cheers!
Ben
I'm going to need a MIG welder in the next few months for a few projects, the first of which is likely to be repairing a rotten agricultural trailer and possibly some car work as well. I'm going to guess 1/4" (and that will be rare) is probably a reasonable max thickness, for the time being anyway. I currently have a TIG welder but don't really know how to use it - I bought it second hand when it came up at a good price, and I was expecting to go through a full workshop course, including welding, with the military - unfortunately a nasty illness cut my career very short! From my initial attempts, it seems learning to weld with MIG is probably a better start given the cost of Argon. I have done a very, very little bit of MIG welding at school/university and I know some theory from uni/past jobs, but not much experience.
Anyway, I'm currently living in the US for the next few months and saw a Miller advert for a rebate offer. Looking around it seems you get a lot more for your money this side of the pond than that, and I could pick up a Millermatic 190 for about £550 after rebate which seems preferable to the Clarke equivalent at a similar price. I asked Miller and they said a 60Hz machine can be run on 50Hz, but not the other way around. Obviously it needs to be a 240V machine, which rules out anything smaller than the 190 in the Miller range. It also pretty much needs to be inverter based for weight reasons, due to the cost of getting stuff back to the UK (though as I will have been living in the US for over a year import fees/VAT shouldn't be an issue).
So I guess the question is would you buy in the states, or wait and buy in the UK? If so, what would you buy? I mention Miller simply because I've heard of them and all the welding kit in the factory I worked at was made by them. In all honesty £550 is a bit more than I'd ideally be looking to spend in the UK (I'd be quite happy to go second hand) - but if a small extra investment now gets me a lot more machine than I'd get in the UK I can find the money.
Cheers!
Ben
Thing is how gutted would you be if the customs seized and destroyed a high ticket welder
