For a variety of reasons I've decided to have a look at welding and have done the usual reading round on the web, and this forum in particular, so I do have the usual questions but I suspect that the main one has already been well answered.
It's only hobby diy and nothing major: a few projects, e.g. frames for solar panels, some playing with wind turbines. I would have thought typically steel in the 1 - 2 mm range (certainly within the 4mm quoted for these machines) and perhaps thinner sheet - and I suppose the obligatory car bodywork.
And the general consensus seem to be a small Clarke welder - under £300 definitely, bearing in mind the necessary extras my budget wouldn't go to anything more. But I am confused by the sheer number of models that they have in that range - is there any reason ? I spoke to a helpful chap in MachineMart and it seems that some variety is the place of manufacture: China and now Italy. Looking at the various specs. I would have thought that the 100 or 110 would suit my requirements, does that seem reasonable ?
But...is there any benefit in getting a no-gas version, even if I use it mainly with gas ? I'm just wondering about the greater flexibility of being able to run without gas - mind you the fluxed wire is fairly expensive etc.
Of course I still have to find the steel - here in west Wales there seems to be the one supplier, Dyfed Steel, who I must speak to and check their terms.
thanks in advance
graham
It's only hobby diy and nothing major: a few projects, e.g. frames for solar panels, some playing with wind turbines. I would have thought typically steel in the 1 - 2 mm range (certainly within the 4mm quoted for these machines) and perhaps thinner sheet - and I suppose the obligatory car bodywork.
And the general consensus seem to be a small Clarke welder - under £300 definitely, bearing in mind the necessary extras my budget wouldn't go to anything more. But I am confused by the sheer number of models that they have in that range - is there any reason ? I spoke to a helpful chap in MachineMart and it seems that some variety is the place of manufacture: China and now Italy. Looking at the various specs. I would have thought that the 100 or 110 would suit my requirements, does that seem reasonable ?
But...is there any benefit in getting a no-gas version, even if I use it mainly with gas ? I'm just wondering about the greater flexibility of being able to run without gas - mind you the fluxed wire is fairly expensive etc.
Of course I still have to find the steel - here in west Wales there seems to be the one supplier, Dyfed Steel, who I must speak to and check their terms.
thanks in advance
graham
