Advice on first welder

[widdz81]

Hi everyone this is my first post I've been lurking and reading a lot on this forum, and watching a lot of videos and guides, I've recently moved in to the metal shop at work and been using a sealey super mig 180 and 195, I've never done any welding before but have now got the bug, we only really do spot welding at work for what we are producing, and the boss doesn't like runs as it all costs more as in time wire etc,

So I've decided my best course of action is to buy myself a welder and just practice at home as much as I can then go to college and eventually get a proper welding job I've been looking at a sealey mighty mig 150 but noticed it doesn't have a euro torch I know it can be converted but my the time I've bought all the bits I think I might as well buy a 170 that already has a euro torch so was just putting this out there so any advice or guidance would be much appreciated as to the best way forwards from here

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum:

I don't think we have enough info to give you the best answer, if it's welding practice only then a euro torch will make no difference.

What is more important is do you have other plans once you advance your skills, car work? projects? etc.

Can you upgrade your electric supply in your home workplace to allow welding of material over 5mm for example ?

If you are advised to buy the best you can afford then what is your budget for a machine?

Most people start out with ideas of learning and perhaps doing little jobs and projects and then find the hobby escalates, sometimes into a paying hobby welding for others, they then realise the machine they bought is well below what they require.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

What thickness of metal is it you plan on welding? Any future projects in mind? Any set budget?

Those questions will help us help a lot

 

[widdz81]

Not really sure pn metal thickness really I weld 2mm 1/2" box section at works but will spend about 300 ish been looking at sealey 170 mighty mig seen an ex demo one one eBay for 289

 

[Tom Orrow L]

The 170 Sealey will do what you want it to, make sure you're getting some warranty with the ex demo machine.

 

[widdz81]

Yer you get s 6 month full warrenty I wanna get good witha mig then learn tig eventually but got crawl before I run

 

[widdz81]

I've picked up mig quite quickly at work and defo wanna go to college in the new year i hear what your saying about getting a tig I just want to weld anything that moves at the moment