Is this the way to go for an absolute beginner?

[vitus992]

HI All

I have been prowling this forum for a while now and need advice on purchasing a first machine.
In my normal trade I know full well you get exactly what you pay for but at the same time I am on a very tight budget.
I am absolutely new to welding and like the idea of having a go at looking after a little car I own as and when it's needed.
So I was looking at the Clarke 90en gas/gasless model. I know from these forums that gas is the way to go for thin car body metal but thought about getting the gas/gasless version. I thought using the gasless mode on thicker scrap metal to learn the basics and then switching over to gas for honing my skills on thinner metal and doing the real work as I understand the little disposable gas bottles empty pretty quick!
Your thoughts please?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome:

You have picked a decent machine that will manage the car repairs fine, unless it is an armoured Russian tank you own.

I understand budget restrictions but I will bet within a few months you will be finding other little projects and wished you had a few more amps going spare, 90 amps tops can be restrictive.....the 135 and 150 models are worth considering, but if you are certain it's light work only... it will serve you well.

 

[vitus992]

Many thanks Cumbriasteve, does my logic make sense - practise with gasless and switch to gas for the real work?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Sort of, although once you use gas you will not be keen going back to gasless.

Gasless does work and it will get you used to those big nasty sparks going down your neck etc but even saving the disposable bottles for the real work will prove costly, they really do expire fast.

You could consider a bottle of Co2, free from a mate with a pub or around £12 from a supplier, it is not a perfect gas to use but a damn site better than gasless.

 

[vitus992]

That is certainly something I will consider along the way.
Cheers your thoughts have been a great help, really appreciated.

 

[T0rnado69]

surely your be better off just go straight to gas.
you can get a good size bottle from BOC on the volkszone deal. 20L argonshield light.
gasless wire isnt cheap, and using gas its far cleaner weld

 

[vitus992]

volkszone deal?

 

[T0rnado69]

take a read of this thread

 

[skotl]

take a read of this thread

Hint: Probably start at the second-to-last page and work your way forward...

 

[T0rnado69]

thanks skotl,

link changed to page 27

 

[skotl]

thanks skotl,

link changed to page 27

I guess any thread that suggests that a link needs to refer to Page 27, indicates that a thread needs some tidying

 

[Rocketman]

Get the pro 90 instead of the en. It's already to go with gas then, for how much more it costs it's a no brainer.

The main benefit of the 90 versions is that they go down to 25amp where as the higher versions of the Clarke range start at 30amp. So there lies the problem either have the benefit of 25amp on thin stuff or lose that but be able to weld thicker stuff.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Can you stretch to either getting a rent free cylinder of gas, or renting on the BOC Volkzone offer?

If you can, I suggest you do, then you can learn with gas which will be nicer and, in my opinion, not expensive.

 

[vitus992]

Wow thank you all for your input, over the next few weeks I will keep you posted!

 

[T0rnado69]

fluxcore would be great for outside use, where its windy.. and you cant put up a shield to use gas.
but ball park figure of £60 for a 4.5kg roll of fluxcore wire.

compare to £16 for 5kg roll of 0.8mm and £20 for 5kg roll of 0.6mm.


as bill said above. if you can, learn using gas its far better then fluxcore.

 

[vitus992]

Thankyou T0rnado69 your input is appreciated.

 

[Richard.]

If your new to welding avoid gasless wire. It's pretty ugly and there is bound to be a new thread started what am I doing wrong. Don't learn on gasless learn using gas. You'll have a better understanding of what does what to the weld pool as you'll see it much clearer. I hope to see your results soon best of luck.

 

[vitus992]

Many thanks Richard, as soon as I have the budget I will be off to buy my new toys.