another mig question !!!

[brinky]

Hi all,
New on here, have been reading a while since getting a project beetle to restore for my daughter ( got 5 years to do it )
I have read the tips on mig welders but having never welded before am finding it all a bit confusing.....
What do people think about a Sealy Mightymig 170 with euro torch?
Is it suitable?
I dont want to spend too much incase I'm no good at it !!!
Thanks

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum, if you have never welded before then it is nearly certain you won't be any good at it, following the tutorials on this site, asking questions and practicing can change that and allow you to enjoy your project.

If I was in the market for a hobby machine, I would be choosing a Clarke gas/no gas, even the 90 and 100 amp machines will manage the beetle with ease.

I am not saying the Sealey is rubbish...just my preference with what I have learnt and read on here.

 

[brinky]

Thats confused me more
The buyers guide on here recommends 30-130 amp ????
thanks for the advise though, more to think about....

 

[shenion]

Hard to say on the Sealey, even the user manual does not say the minimum current.

30A or less as a minimum setting. Cheap welders tend to have a smaller range. 130A will do most chassis repair.

I started with a Clarke 130EN and it worked great. I did want higher power though so traded up for a big Miller (used.)

 

[cumbriasteve]

Thats confused me more
The buyers guide on here recommends 30-130 amp ????
thanks for the advise though, more to think about....

With a hobby set 30 amps is about as low as you normally get, more expensive machines such as Portamig go down to 15 amps, however there are many people using a 30 amp machine to restore cars.

The maximum setting only becomes an issue for thicker material, not really associated with normal car restoration.

A 30 to 130 or 150amp machine is a nice size to have for around the house work, for only car work the lower setting becomes the main issue.

I should imagine a top amp of 130 would only be required if the beetle chassis is getting on for 3mm, most of my repair work was on Austin, Ford etc and the chassis was nowhere near that.

Hope that has de confused you.

 

[brinky]

So Clarke seems to get the thumbs up... I have seen a sip with 25-150amp... Worth considering ????

 

[cumbriasteve]

So Clarke seems to get the thumbs up... I have seen a sip with 25-150amp... Worth considering ????

I had a SIP, one of the older models...I think the wifes washing machine would have managed a better weld, not sure how good the newer one's are.

If it's going to be a Clarke then the 150 amp is one of the most common, it has that extra power for when you decide to make and weld something you don't yet know you want to

 

[Robotstar5]

I had a SIP, one of the older models...I think the wifes washing machine would have managed a better weld, not sure how good the newer one's are.

Marketing opportunity for Hotpoint welders?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Marketing opportunity for Hotpoint welders?

Sore point actually, couple of years ago I left a car touch up pen in shirt pocket, tried for a week to convince her that white with a hint of BMC Tahiti blue bras were all the rage

 

[brinky]

Glad to see this forum is like all the others I use, nothings taken too seriously

 

[brinky]

Just to clear things up... I'm now looking for a washing machine welder and a blue bra !!!!

 

[ChrisJohnsSculpture]

The Clarke MIG welders are pretty good for the money and the mid-range ones, around 150A will cope with most jobs you're ever likely to come across in a hobby workshop perfectly adequately.

If you're definitely serious about welding then it's definitely worth looking at the next price bracket up eg R-Tech and PortaMIG around the £600 mark but if you just want a decent jobbing welder for odd jobs then a Clarke will be fine but for the relatively small price difference it's definitely worth going for the higher power models.

 

[steveo3002]

ive got the clarke 90 used with gas , id happily say it would do all the bodywork jobs on a beetle

granted it wont do thicker metal , so if you plan to be doing land rover chassis thickness consider a bigger set up

also allow some extra funds for a auto darkening helmet as theyre a fantastic help to a newbie

 

[Robotstar5]

Just to clear things up... I'm now looking for a washing machine welder and a blue bra !!!!

Must be Tahiti blue though

A Clarke 135TE would do what you want and won't break the bank, check out Weldequip shop (top of page)

 

[brinky]

Ok, Clarke it is then, might go for a 150 though, Thanks

 

[Robotstar5]

Ok, Clarke it is then, might go for a 150 though, Thanks

Careful which model you buy, some appear to be more powerful but cheaper, they are the ones built down to a price. e.g a 180 is cheaper than a 150 but build quality isn't so good.

 

[brinky]

A 151te, and get a regulator for bigger gas bottles