best welder for £600?

[jeff.]

looking for a new mig welder, only use will be for car body repairs /landrovers etc..

which is best new welder for around £600 and under ,

which is best out of these lot?,

thanks

looking at a porta mig 180 -
http://www.weldequip.com/portamig-mig-welders.htm

http://www.weldequip.com/swp-mig220.htm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mig-Welde...777?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5d33a54199

 

[Dev]

Portamigs seem very well regarded (on this forum especially) and have a lower minimum amps which should make bodywork easier. In the same circumstances as you I bought the SWP because I could get it locally in the event of any problems and the higher amps was of more interest to me than the low.

I don't know anything about the Sealey.

 

[slimjim]

well I am very happy with my portamig 215, you will probably find that they are all decent machines,

If I remember correctly the sealey has half the number of power adjustment, 6 I think, the others have 12, lack's plug in earth lead as well, but the most important bit that's missing is back up when things go wrong, I am as tight as they come, but liked the fact that if something breaks, parts will be available and the manufacturer can be found.

 

[steve.h]

Its a portamig for me too, I have had mine for about 18 months now, what a lovely piece of kit, I have a 215 as well, wouldnt change it for any of the others.

 

[hussy]

i have run a sealey powermig3500 3ph for 3 years now, never had any problems with it, removeable wirefeed is a big bous when welding in roll cages etc as you dont need to worry about the machine moving and dinging the car if you pull for torch lead etc.
can run it way low for welding thin sheet or can have used it for canal boat repairs welding 15mm plate.

buy the most powerful you can as you wont run the machine overly hard that way and from personal experiance 3ph if you have it in your shop is a nicer setup to weld with.