A link to the portamig v oxford head to head please.

[Domeo_jones]

Hi all been on here a few years, and have done what all newbies do buy a sealey/clarke and have reached a bit of a glass ceiling.
Im currently restoring a classic mini and am trying to do a quality job as its quicker to to the job right the 1st time than slap it on and then not happy and do it all again.
so im attempting to do butt welds on the floor and areas you see using the stitch method but my poor sealey 180 is struggling the wire feeds fine for a bit and then irratic, i have changed the wire liner to a metal one and upgraded the earth but still having issues so looking at a oxford 180 or portamig 180.
Like the low 15 amps of the porta and the 12 voltages steps but like the capacitors on the oxford for smoothness and the wire on its side....
im in a right bit of bother.
sorry for the essay peeps.

 

[Wallace]

Try giving the wire feed motor gearbox a strip down, wash out and re-grease. Did this to my 25 year old Einhell before selling it to a friend after buying a Portamig, made a big difference to the machine as the old grease was like toffee and over time I had learnt to compensate for the problem.

 

[Domeo_jones]

Hi wallace, thanks for that going to definatly try this. I will keep you posted if it works save me like 600 notes and as were expecting our first the budget and mini project isnt looking great and i have kinda fallen for the portamig.
May i just ask how yours performs on the thinner metal it bet shes a dream.

 

[Wallace]

I bought a 215 and did a bit a write up here. There is certainly more control on thin material with the lower amperage but having spent so many years using machines with around 30amp minimum current I don't often find myself on the lower settings. I hate doing "Mot patches" as it's against my religion but a couple I have done would definitely have been harder without the old machine.

 

[Richard.]

I bought a 215 and did a bit a write up here. There is certainly more control on thin material with the lower amperage but having spent so many years using machines with around 30amp minimum current I don't often find myself on the lower settings. I hate doing "Mot patches" as it's against my religion but a couple I have done would definitely have been harder without the old machine.

2 1/2 years later dose it still have the trim and carpet protecting the paint.

 

[Wallace]

2 1/2 years later dose it still have the trim and carpet protecting the paint.

Yes, and one of Lee Evans tour towels to keep the dust off.

 

[Richard.]

Fair play to ya. Usually the "keeping it mint" novelty wears off after a couple months with most people.

 

[Wallace]

In truth, the original reason for the towel was to hide the shininess and newness!

 

[Richard.]

My tig is like that although I bought it used so the credit has to go to the previous owner.
Nothing to be ashamed about looking after your gear. Those portamigs are pricy units and the longer you get out of it the better.

 

[Domeo_jones]

Well here we go ladies and gents you may have to sit down to stop laughing.
To be honest the re greasing of the plastic gears on the wire feed has helped a little.