Another what mig would you recommend?

[pabrown]

I am after recommendations for a MIG welder, I had been thinking of a hobby type (clarke?) but after reading this forum I am beginning to wonder if that would be good enough.

I would like to be able to do thin stainless & some aluminium welding, I would need to do some occasional autobody work but main project involves fillet & butt welding of 4mm thick RHS & also a small amount of 10 dia. bar.
I am assuming the 10mm bar wont be a problem as I can use multiple passes but I would need to be able to do the 4mm in 1 pass.

I have only used stick welders before so not really conversant with MIG’s at all.
I am thinking that I would need a large CO2 bottle due to ammount of welding or gasless?

 

[weldequip]

If you decide on the Clarke I would be looking towards the top end; 230TE.
Whilst the smaller models would do 4mm you would be working on or near the top setting all the time; bit like running a Mini at 80mph all the time, it'll do it but not all day long. Aluminium welding also requires some guts to be able to do successfully, you could quite easily blow a Rectifier on a small machine trying to do any amount of Aluminium.
Also forget the gas-less; no good for stainless or aluminium. You want agronmix for mild/stainless steel & pure argon for aluminium,
weldequip

 

[pabrown]

That's way larger than I had been looking at (165TE) does that run off a ring main circuit or do I need a powerstation.
Any other choices than clarke at them prices or are we talking £100's more?

If the aluminium is a problem then won't go there.
So argon mix gives better welding than CO2, is it easy to get hold of in larger bottles?

 

[weldequip]

The 165TE will do 4mm but, as I said, you would be working at capacity all the time (the manufacturer's claimed thicknesses tend to be a little optomistic).
The 230TE has 6 power settings & you can run it up to number 4 from a 13amp fused plug, above that you will need a 16amp supply; this is true of all machines, whatever make.
Clarke are the best of the bunch in the mid-range price bracket, Butters (depending on model) a step up & then you start to get into your premium brand stuff, such as Murex, ESAB, Kemppi, Migatronic, Lincoln, Portamig etc.
Argonmix is by far the best shielding gas to use & can be obtained nationally through BOC gases (TEL:0800 111 333).
weldequip

 

[pabrown]

I can't see a 230TE on the MM website only 220TE or CL 230TEC, I will have a look in my clarke catalogue at home.
What models of Butters are worth looking at & what models from Murex, Portamig etc. & what prices are we talking about.

 

[weldequip]

The 230TE is now called the 230TEC, same machine, just with a different handle & wheels. The Butters 181 is a decent machine (much better than the 1800 version), any of the Murex/ESAB range & I can send you Portamig details if you PM me your email address.
weldequip

 

[ziggy]

The 165TE will do 4mm but, as I said, you would be working at capacity all the time (the manufacturer's claimed thicknesses tend to be a little optomistic).
The 230TE has 6 power settings & you can run it up to number 4 from a 13amp fused plug, above that you will need a 16amp supply; this is true of all machines, whatever make.
Clarke are the best of the bunch in the mid-range price bracket, Butters (depending on model) a step up & then you start to get into your premium brand stuff, such as Murex, ESAB, Kemppi, Migatronic, Lincoln, Portamig etc.
Argonmix is by far the best shielding gas to use & can be obtained nationally through BOC gases (TEL:0800 111 333).
weldequip

Well i have just gone from a clarke 151te to a clarke 230tec. What a difference in machine's. Smoother does not seem to take everthing out of the machine like the hobby machines. Got a boc bottle saturday argosheild universal.Can't believe how good the welds are different from the co2 crap.

 

[pabrown]

Thinking of going for the portamig 181, can't stretch to the 211 but isn't much more than 230TEC.
Can you go and collect the large bottles from BOC or do they deliver (do you need to keep them stood upright)?
Do you rent the bottle & pay to get it filled?
What size bottles can you get?

 

[weldequip]

They do indeed deliver but if you have a local branch nearby I would go & collect as they charge £31.25 +Vat for delivery! (if you order just one bottle or a dozen).
They are on an annual rental basis:-
'W' Size (full size industrial):£75.45 per annum
'Y' Size (approx.half size):£56.25 per annum
'X' Size (smallest portable):£44.05 per annum
Although the full size industrial 'W' will fit on the back of the machine you should find the 'Y' size is adequate for your needs.
You can contact BOC on TEL:0800 111 333
weldequip

 

[pabrown]

So what else do you need to get started apart from gas, welder, welding wire & steel to weld?
Do I need to get hose for the gas?
Do you need replacement / different tips?

 

[weldequip]

Nowt.
Gas hose, regulator etc. is supplied with the machine. Just add wire & gas and you're away. I normally throw in a couple of spare tips to get you started.
weldequip