Advice on what mig to get

[DestroyItYourself]

Hi, am after a mig welder to start learning and to weld cars in time once i get the hang of it.

I dont have alot to spend, only £140.. Ive been looking on ebay/gumtree for good used ones but not seen anything yet..

I was considering this, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Combination...d=1413567872&sr=8-3&keywords=mig+welderwelder

Any helps appreciated, cheers

 

[cumbriasteve]

Your links not working for me so no idea what machine it is.

Don't rush into buying some cheap rubbish off ebay or similar site, stick with well known and popular brands like Clarke, Sealey etc.

Its better to save for longer than get a machine that you will never enjoy using and makes learning a nightmare

 

[DestroyItYourself]

link updated, not the ideal situation, am kind of pushed for time..hoping i get lucky and find something decent.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Regarding the Wolf, I had one and it was totally rubbish, a lot of other members agree with that comment too.

However I have seen an occasional review where the owner has got the machine working well and is happy with it.

Worth knowing the disposable bottles last no time at all and are a very expensive method of using gas.

 

[Kent]

you cant buy a decent MIG new for £140! What you can do is create yourself a heap of flustation

 

[Alister]

you cant buy a decent MIG new for £140! What you can do is create yourself a heap of flustation

Only true if buying new. I bought a crackin, never been used, Clarke 160EN for £137 on ebay.

Having said that I have spent over £200 getting wire, gas and various bits since, but If I had been happy to stick with gasless I wouldn't have needed to. I did a little gasless welding and showed the results on another thread "Clarke 151EN or 151TE" so it can be done if your prepared to compromise.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Yes you can get an adequate S/H MIG for your budget.

I trust you are allowing for angle grinders and disks, goggles and that kind of essential tool for repair work?
And importantly, gas. You can go gasless but it isn't nice.
The disposable bottles are hopeless, they're just money gone in a matter of moments.
There are rent free suppliers of larger bottles which can work out reasonable well, or you may be better with the 'Volkzone' offer from BOC where you get to rent a bottle of gas which presents excellent value for money.

Just making sure you're allowing for everything you'll need, the actual welder will be the cheapest part.

 

[Richard.]

Don't bother with the wolf
Seriously it's far too expensive for what they are worth. (About 11 quid scrap value).

 

[Kent]

Only true if buying new. I bought a crackin, never been used, Clarke 160EN for £137 on ebay.

Having said that I have spent over £200 getting wire, gas and various bits since, but If I had been happy to stick with gasless I wouldn't have needed to. I did a little gasless welding and showed the results on another thread "Clarke 151EN or 151TE" so it can be done if your prepared to compromise.

I suppose you missed the "new" bit in my post. Yes the true cost of a MIG should include the bottle, regs etc. that is a point worthy of real note.

 

[Richard.]

The OP did state he had been looking at good used machines which is a little more realistic for £140. But repeating what's said above. That might get you a little machine. But then you need gas, wire, reg, lid, gloves. Gas line, connections, grinder, extension cable , I'm sure you may have some of this but it does mount up.
The cost of a welder and the cost of welding are very different £££

 

[Jan]

I'd second the concept of buying a decent pre used (?preloved?) unit. For the budget you could end up with twice the machine or more. For half that I bought an SIP Migmate 130 that had already been fettled by the previous owner. By replacing the liner with a steel one, adding the necessary gauges and including a few consumables (shielding gas, welding wire, tips, etc) I've still come in not much over £250 and I can weld anything I'm likely to need to work on in the foreseeable future. For thicker materials I can always break out my (very) old stick welder.