Maximum amps for car bodywork

[AlexGTR]

Hi guys,

I have found a MultiMig UK 160amp for a decent price. I will be using it for welding car bodywork and floorpans. It will also be my first MIG.

It has quite a few knobs on the front. The lowest amp setting is 60amp. Is this to high to be welding car bodywork?

I am starting to get very confused about all this now as am finding contradicting answers online.

This is the front of it if it makes things easier -

If this one is no good can someone please tell me which one to buy as i have been looking for months now with no luck. I have a £300 MAX budget.

Thanks

Alex

 

[Richiew]

The data plate on the front of that welder suggests it goes down to 30amps.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I too see that, and it's nice that it has six power options which gives a little more control, many machines only have four.

 

[PTvor]

Multimig UK still seems to exist, maybe as a shell company

http://www.mylocalservices.co.uk/West_Yorkshire/Welding_Equipment/1232432/MultiMig_U_K_Ltd.html

It's worth trying to see if you can get a manual out of them.

That looks like a very good machine. I think you'd get more help on what the knobs do if you uploaded a photo where the lettering around the knobs is legible.

As said before the data plate says it's good for 30A to 160A. It's got a 100% duty cycle at 60A.

 

[AlexGTR]

Ok thanks guys so looks like it's worth buying then for what I want it for? I got the minimum amp from the seller I guess he just saw that from the front somewhere...

 

[Bill Edwards]

I would say so, yes.
I don't know anything about the make so can't make any comments on the quality, but the spec looks fine (if the price was right I'd probably be happy to own it myself).

Perhaps the seller got confused by all the numbers on the plate, easily done.

 

[Kent]

here is one for you. there is too much talk about how many amps for what "thinness", its a pretty darn good guess to say a MIG that will run 0.8 wire or less and has a max output of around 160 is going to do the job because if not what will it do? I mean its not likely to be much use for making up gates, structural steel and such. its not unknown for thin stuff (sometimes stupidly thin) to be welded up with a big heavy duty plant and 1mm wire in the right hands just because its not worth the bother of changing out a reel and tip

 

[PTvor]

Ok thanks guys so looks like it's worth buying then for what I want it for? I got the minimum amp from the seller I guess he just saw that from the front somewhere...

Potentially it's worth buying. You want to see it working and put through its paces or the price and the feel good factor needs to be such that you are happy to risk it.

 

[Richiew]

Looks like a potentially good welder to me. It's got a spot weld function and a trigger latch function, Euro torch is a nice touch too. If the price is right it looks very nicely specified. Manufacturers don't put those components on cheap and nasty welders. As Ptvor has already mentioned though, only a demonstration will show whether it is any good.

 

[AlexGTR]

Thanks for your help guys. I have bought that welder. Now, where to find some gas!?!?!

 

[Bill Edwards]

Depends on how much welding you will do.
For thin steel, get a 95% argon mix (the remaining 5% is CO2 and other stuff). You can use pure CO2, but it isn't as pleasant to use and tends to be hotter, which isn't generally desirable for welding thin metal.

If you'll only use a small amount look for 'rent free' gas suppliers, such as Hobby weld. Or, if you'll go through more, check out the 'Volkzone' offer from BOC, you rent the cylinder and the price and refill cost is very good.
Be aware that when pricing up gas different suppliers that they don't all fill to the same pressure - for example BOC fill to 230 bar, but some rent free suppliers only fill to 137 bar which gives far less gas in the same size cylinder.

Don't bother with the little disposable bottles, they're an expensive waste of time.