Advice on first MIG

[crj007]

Hi
I am new to the forum and new to mig welding. I have had some experience of arc welding underneath landrovers etc upside down!

I fancy a mig welder for general repairs on motorcycle trailers and home fabrication/repair work plus the odd jobs on the landy.

Being a newbie could anyone with experience please advise on best first mig welder. I'm not made of money so budget is of a concern but understand you get what you pay for.

Looking over the forum I see people recommending clarke welders.

Would appreciate valued advice.

Thanks
Clive

 

[super noob]

I used a clarke a while back to repair my 109 but got a sealey after that and now use a butters

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Just bought a portamig 285 as my first mig

 

[zippy500]

I was looking at the clarke 151 the the 160 overstreched my budget and got a GYS SmartMIG 162...portamig would be nice...:-)

I see you can get a GYS SmartMIG 142 now. more price range for the clarke but havent seen any reviews for it yet.

 

[F.J.]

I own/ed a Butters 180amp mig, a Murex Tradesmig 165 and Cebora Panther 200 and all three would do the jobs your after completing quite easily. All run off domestic three pin plugs and are nice simple machines to use. Other machines to consider could be a Sealy supermig 195, Cebora panther 180 (can't comment on smaller Migs as I havnt used any). Hope this helps

 

[super noob]

Zippy have you considered second hand migs ?

If you trawl ebay you can usually get a good bargain on something in your price range

 

[zippy500]

I did look at 2nd hand migs...watched a few on e bay they got close to £200 for the clarke ones, which you can buy new with the vat free option. which in my eyes isnt worth it if have to replace any bits

 

[super noob]

A good sealey or murex would serve you well, I sold my sealey 190 super mig for £285 posted and that I bought second hand too!

Served me well

 

[Sir Crashalot]

I have just purchased a Clark 151EN (I already had a reg etc) & have been very pleased with it as a first step on the welder ladder plus I have the option to reun is gaslees if ever required. Under £200 with a VAT free voucher

 

[anto]

I started off with a Sealey 130xt.
It was just ok to learn on and also to see if i was able to weld at all and had i not got the knack for welding then i wouldnt have been down much money.
Ive now upgraded to an Esab Caddy 160 and it is a joy to use in comparison.

If you feel that you have the knack for welding then i would say buy the absolute best you can afford and rated higher than you think you might need because you can gaurantee you will eventually need it.

 

[crj007]

Hey guys, thanks for your replies. Been away for a few days so haven't had chance to catch up.
I see anti had gone for the caddy 160.... Looks fantastic and like the idea of just setting the metal thickness and away you go. Unfortunately way out of my price range.

Having looked at the comments on the forum the Clarke 151en looks good as a first mig. What's the difference between the red and blue machines of roughly the same ampage???

Also how to the cebora and sealey compare in this price bracket?

 

[Sir Crashalot]

Don't forget the 151EN is set up for gasless so you will need a reg (& conversion kit if you want to run on re-fillable bottles), new wire & tips to suit to run on gas but I already had most of that.
If you want one that comes with a reg for mini bottles (you still need a conversion kit at about £10-£15 to use the larger re-fillable bottles) then go with the 150TE or 151TE as for the difference I could not tell any significant difference apart from the red one having a side hinged door and a rotary power switch rather than all push button (I stand to be corrected) BUT avoid the 152 as that is Chinese rather than Italian made.

The 135TE seemed also to be well regarded.

Please bear in mind these are my own thoughts/ opinions after reading many posts on this site & having trodden the same confusion strewn road as you are now doing

Hope this helps!

 

[gaz1]

i have a few mig welders at the moment

sip 130 gas only
sip 150 gas/gasless
and clarke 151 blue which is just gas model

thoe i am learning on the gasless sip for now and then i will swap up to the clarke 151 model instead

some dont like the sips thoe but at moment they are not to bad as long as they work fine ebay at moment is dear for mig welders at the moment even im considering putting one of the machines i have which is more like the sip 130 model