1988 Migmate100.

[scotclayshooter]

Heres my old Migmate man has this thing given me feed trouble over the years!
Note the pipe cut in half and cable tied on to stop the kinking where the torch comes out of the machine.
Yep it has a steel liner, The feed tension roller is out of adjustment and bent.

It owes me nothing as ive made and saved a lot of cash out of it over the years.
Many many cars have made it through a MOT thanks to this thing!
Many Farmers have saved thousands on Tractor exhausts as i used to repair them for an Agri engineer.

I bought this thing when i was 18 and got it at trade price with no VAT through the farm i was working on so it cost me £189. More than my first car cost in 1987 lol

It has driven me mad many times with its crap wire feed and the need for the cable to be as straight as poss, Cutting out with 2" of welding to go as it has no fan then carrying it outside so it will cool quicker.

So thanks to you guys im planning an upgrade

 

[BChild]

Heres my old Migmate man has this thing given me feed trouble over the years!
Note the pipe cut in half and cable tied on to stop the kinking where the torch comes out of the machine.
Yep it has a steel liner, The feed tension roller is out of adjustment and bent.

It owes me nothing as ive made and saved a lot of cash out of it over the years.
Many many cars have made it through a MOT thanks to this thing!
Many Farmers have saved thousands on Tractor exhausts as i used to repair them for an Agri engineer.

I bought this thing when i was 18 and got it at trade price with no VAT through the farm i was working on so it cost me £189. More than my first car cost in 1987 lol

Sounds like it's earnt it's keep despite its shortcomings I can't say anything like that about mine - it's effectively cost me more than it cost to buy and it's still a poor excuse for a welder

It has driven me mad many times with its crap wire feed and the need for the cable to be as straight as poss, Cutting out with 2" of welding to go as it has no fan then carrying it outside so it will cool quicker.

So thanks to you guys im planning an upgrade

Just wondering what you plan to upgrade too - either way hope the next one proves less frustrating

 

[scotclayshooter]

Sounds like it's earnt it's keep despite its shortcomings I can't say anything like that about mine - it's effectively cost me more than it cost to buy and it's still a poor excuse for a welder



Just wondering what you plan to upgrade too - either way hope the next one proves less frustrating

It burned out some relay that was fixed under warranty other than that its not cost much.
Welds great some days and next day is a struggle.

As for what to get....The jury is still out!
Much more reading to do here before i part with my hard earned.

 

[pedrobedro]

I had a 130 Autoplus for years. When I first got it the feed packed up, a transistor on the board and they sent me a replacement which I fitted myself and it was never a problem after that It welded sills, wings, floors and numerous other parts and must have paid for itself before I eventually needed something bigger.

 

[scotclayshooter]

Ive never really needed a bigger MIG as i would just use the stick for the thicker stuff. I have a SIP 160 buzzbox but have just bought a Thermal arc 175 Inverter so that its easier to haul about and will work on the genny.
I cant belive how easy it is to weld with compared to the buzzbox!

I have used bigger MIGs in a agri workshop in the past and put the great wire feed down to using 1-1.2mm wire but now it all makes sense. DOH!