which mig welder for daily workshop use?

[Kylie]

Hi, I'm after a new welder for welding thicker mild steel (2mm to 4mm) on a daily basis, needs to be able to run off a standard household 3 pin plug supply. Budget is not really an issue as long as it's for a decent machine that's going to last. As I've only been hobby welding up to this point I'm a bit lost when it comes to the bigger machines and looking for some help into whats best to go for, any help, suggestions and recommendations would be much appreciated

Thanks

Kylie

 

[Bigjoe]

Hello and welcome,
I would think any decent machine would do this,maybe an inverter unit might be less likely to trip 13a electrics with regular use,you have many options really, either new or used sets.....it's personal choice really,and an inverter set is more portable also.

 

[BrokenBiker]

thw gys smart mig 162 is worth a look if you want a new unit. True 160 amp output, runs at full steam off a 13 amp supply and has an easy to use control panel with a chart that shows you what settings to use

 

[Bigjoe]

I've got one of the gys smartmig 162,which I bought second hand and to be honest it's a cracking little machine, I've added a longer euro torch and it's light enough to lift about even though it's a transformer set.

 

[cumbriasteve]

What do you mean on a 'daily basis', do you mean daily for 6 hours a day, or daily use maybe an hour in total a day.

It will make a fair difference to what is best, you don't want a machine running close to it's top end power all day.

My initial suggestion would be a 180 amp machine like the R-Tech, which also has MMA function but that may change if I knew more details of use.

 

[Bill Edwards]

How much work will you be doing in day? Duty cycle needs to be considered so you're not sat drinking cups of tea while waiting for it to cool down.

Is portability important? If so, inverter machines are smaller and lighter, but for such a small machine if it doesn't need to be carried I'd probably suggest something transformer based as it should live longer.

 

[Kylie]

thank you all for the replies. To give more details about use, I'll be using it for about 2 - 3 hours a day, mainly on 3mm box section and plate. Being easy to move about isn't really a big issue as the work will be mainly bench related with the odd occasion where it will need to be moved. Looking at buying new

 

[Bigjoe]

Come on then,I'm intrigued now whatcha building? I would say a transformer set up might be a better idea maybe something like a portamig 185 or a machine of similar size and type,still movable if it's only occasionally

 

[Badger1bear]

Kemppi minarc mig Evo 200, granted it doesn't have a euro torch but it's not as tho your going to be beating the heck out of it so it should last quite well. The front panel is very easy to use and it's more of a display rather than numbers and lights. You would be hard pushed to set it up wrong. Extremely portable and a pleasure to use

 

[blenkie1]

I would go for a Tec Arc or a Jasic. Both have euro torch and both are lot lot cheaper than a Kemppi. Think the Tec arc is £300 cheaper. The Jasic has a 5 year warranty. Duty cycle is a big consideration mind

 

[Badger1bear]

Quality wins out every time, you pay cheap you get cheap,
You get what you pay for,

Don't scrimp on a tool that will last you well and earn you some sheckles

 

[daleyd]

I'm a fan of rtech stuff but if your earning a living from it (and your budget can stretch to it..) then it would be hard to look past the big names like kemppi, Miller, esab etc.


You say budget isn't an issue but I would say you would do well to have some sort of a target or limit, if only to narrow your choice down a bit!

 

[blenkie1]

I do earn my living from it thats why I buy quality gear with good back up. I have a Lincoln welder (expensive) and its been nothing but trouble. Kemppi are good welders but no better than stuff from Tec Arc and a lot more expensive. I can buy a lot more gear with that £300/£400 I saved

 

[Kylie]

I've asked the questions of questions here haven't I? lol. well to put a budget on things and keep it sensible, £900

I have been looking at the portamigs and jasic, but that Kemppi badger1bear has mentioned looks amazing. what are peoples views on it? worth spending the cash and will it happily tackle what i need of it and last?

thanks again for all the help, definitely given me a nice welcome to the forum

 

[Badger1bear]

The Kemppi makes a good welder (you) a better welder
The informative screen shows you your weld deposition so you can choose how you want your welds to look. Granted it doesn't have euro torch as standard but a well looked after machine will last a long time. It can be converted over to euro but why bother. It's a fantastic lightweight machine and you will love it

 

[MGB restoration]

thw gys smart mig 162 is worth a look if you want a new unit. True 160 amp output, runs at full steam off a 13 amp supply and has an easy to use control panel with a chart that shows you what settings to use

I've got one of the gys smartmig 162,which I bought second hand and to be honest it's a cracking little machine, I've added a longer euro torch and it's light enough to lift about even though it's a transformer set.

Thanks for these comments, it is good to read that you like the GYS, user feedback is far more important than sales blurb! I am also looking for a welder to use restoring my old MGB and after a heck of a lot research, and a huge headache, I have narrowed it down to the Sealey 150, BlueMig 150T, and the GYS 162. From what I have read so far it is looking like the GYS and BlueMig are highly recommended and worth the money, The Sealey seems to be a bit more irratic at times. I need something that can produce clean and repeatable welds rather than changing what it does every time I pull the trigger - I have a very old Sip 100 that is long long past its best - if it really ever have a 'best'!

 

[Richard.]

Out of that lot (bearing in mind I know little about the hobby migs ) I'd say gys is my vote simply as it has the higher current scope.
Personally I'm with badgerbear all the way on this one. It's a fact with welding equipment you get what you pay for. No exceptions. If you spend 300 notes you get a hobby mig no matter who puts there name on it. Spend £1000 and your looking better quality, rugged design, better arc stability, more accurate read outs, etc.
It's always worth using the budget to it's max and getting the best you can afford.

 

[Kent]

firstly if your doing that amount of welding you should put a new 32 amp supply into wherever? ( I am assuming its not mobile welding here). ok if you can do that forget all about mini / portable anythings they simply aint meant for burning hours on end daily. I don't see a budget? How about the Lorch 252? Pro ? Esab 250? both of these are transformers. Alternatively Kempi? Second hand should always be considered as your looking at around half the money.

Sorry I don't know nowt much about GYS and the like Jassic are ok though my neighbour uses them and they are the best the Chinese do under their own name (don't be fooled most inverters are made in China despite the badging and if it aint fully made their chances are most of the guts are in bit form)

 

[blenkie1]

Out of that lot (bearing in mind I know little about the hobby migs ) I'd say gys is my vote simply as it has the higher current scope.
Personally I'm with badgerbear all the way on this one. It's a fact with welding equipment you get what you pay for. No exceptions. If you spend 300 notes you get a hobby mig no matter who puts there name on it. Spend £1000 and your looking better quality, rugged design, better arc stability, more accurate read outs, etc.
It's always worth using the budget to it's max and getting the best you can afford.

Don't agree. I have a Lincoln Tig welder and a Lincoln Ranger both cost a considerable amount of money. The Tig is only 2 years old not had a lot of use and the main circuit board has gone. The firm that repaired it (R Tech use them and who put me in touch with them) said they were always going wrong. Soon as I said Lincoln he knew straight away. It was only luck he had a spare board from another machine. The Ranger is the same. Will work Ok one minute next the amps are jumping sky high. Seemingly Lincoln is a reputable brand? Yes Kemppi is a good make but recently I was in the market for a wire feeder to plug into the ranger the Kemppi rep quoted £2000+. I got one from Tec arc for £800. So really I could buy 2 and still save money and its more than likely as good if not better. UK made, UK support and at least 10 year parts back up.

 

[Richard.]

I've use a Tecarc 206 Tig and its ok but not even close to the mls or the Fronius I had for that matter. Arc stability is night and day between high end brands and middle of the road stuff. I Tig a lot and notice/pick up the stuff most people don't. Don't get me wrong like your experience with Lincoln things ain't always that way and I cannot comment on Lincoln really as I've only had a quick blast with the mp speed tec (which IMO is great). From my Tig experience alone Tecarc and Kemppi are not comparable.