Bluemig imig-165

[peter devereaux]

Hi i have been looking for a budget welder to carry out some repairs on my car so most of the welding will be on car thickness material. I have come across these on the internet and was just wondering what peoples thoughts were as it seems a very reasonable price.
http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/Mig-Welder-iMig-165.html

Have also seen the below any thoughts would be appreciated i would like it to last.

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Mig_Welder/Mig_Welder_R-Tech_IMIG180

http://www.unitedwelding.co.uk/ther...e-230v-ce-for-mig--tig--arc-welding-168-p.asp

http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/MIG_Welder/IFL_i-Tech_MIG150_Mig_Welder/ifl_i-tech_mig150_mig_welder.html

 

[BrokenBiker]

i would avoid the bluemig purely because the add say it is fan cooled for longer duty cycles, but fails to state what the duty cycles actually are. a lot of people like the r-tech units, search youtube for doubleboost. he is a member on here that has done a very indepth review of the 180 mig, and the 250 as well

 

[Wozzaaah]

Duty cycle is shown under "more info".

 

[BrokenBiker]

so it is. looks fairly poor for an inverter. 35% @ 130A whereas the r-tech is 35% @ 180A.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Plenty good enough for car stuff though.

 

[BrokenBiker]

well yeah, but how many of us have thought, I will only ever weld this type of metal and then end up wishing we had bought a bigger machine when we want to fabricate something heavier. when I started welding I only thought I would ever weld 2mm box section and 2mm plate. less than a fortnight after getting my first welder I was looking to try and weld 5mm plate to 3mm box and the welder just couldn't cope.

if however it is only ever going to be used to maintain a car, why not look at something like a Clarke 151

 

[daleyd]

well yeah, but how many of us have thought, I will only ever weld this type of metal and then end up wishing we had bought a bigger machine when we want to fabricate something heavier. when I started welding I only thought I would ever weld 2mm box section and 2mm plate. less than a fortnight after getting my first welder I was looking to try and weld 5mm plate to 3mm box and the welder just couldn't cope.

if however it is only ever going to be used to maintain a car, why not look at something like a Clarke 151

On balance and considering they are similar price I'd prob go for the imig over the Clarke, it's lighter, better amp range (20-165 vs 30-150), infinitely variable speed/volts and it's got a euro torch connection and dinse Earth lead.

The only advantage I can see the Clarke having is its a transformer so less to go wrong.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'm as guilty as anyone for "wasting" money on an expensive machine.
I bought a 220A Butters mig as it claimed it would weld what I needed it to.
It would, but not for long.
Soon realised my mistake, joined this forum and spent some serious money on a 360A Portamig.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I'm as guilty as anyone for "wasting" money on an expensive machine.
I bought a 220A Butters mig as it claimed it would weld what I needed it to.
It would, but not for long.
Soon realised my mistake, joined this forum and spent some serious money on a 360A Portamig.

we have all done it with something or other. this is why im holding off buying a mig, as I know if I don't buy at least a 250 amp machine I will be looking for another one not long after

On balance and considering they are similar price I'd prob go for the imig over the Clarke, it's lighter, better amp range (20-165 vs 30-150), infinitely variable speed/volts and it's got a euro torch connection and dinse Earth lead.

The only advantage I can see the Clarke having is its a transformer so less to go wrong.

the other advantage I can see to the Clarke is that is a known reliable unit, with many people on here using them and liking them, there is a world of knowledge here if something does go wrong, and as you say there is less to go wrong in the first place.

if I was going to buy an inverter (which I do plan on doing) I would want to see/read reviews, hear from people that have used them (by looking at forums like this one) and then taking their experience on board before deciding. the bluemig from what I can tell is a fairly unknown brand, which likely means it is a cheap Chinese unit with a new badge. granted the r-tech migs are all Chinese too, but I believe they do their own assembly over here and simply use Chinese parts to keep costs down (maybe wrong)

 

[daleyd]

we have all done it with something or other. this is why im holding off buying a mig, as I know if I don't buy at least a 250 amp machine I will be looking for another one not long after



the other advantage I can see to the Clarke is that is a known reliable unit, with many people on here using them and liking them, there is a world of knowledge here if something does go wrong, and as you say there is less to go wrong in the first place.

if I was going to buy an inverter (which I do plan on doing) I would want to see/read reviews, hear from people that have used them (by looking at forums like this one) and then taking their experience on board before deciding. the bluemig from what I can tell is a fairly unknown brand, which likely means it is a cheap Chinese unit with a new badge. granted the r-tech migs are all Chinese too, but I believe they do their own assembly over here and simply use Chinese parts to keep costs down (maybe wrong)

That's a fair point I suppose, I think I'd feel fairly confident about being able to repair something if it did go wrong as I work with electrical gear in my job, whereas a lot of other people wouldn't necessarily feel the same way. (I wasn't knocking the Clarke by the way, I just thought the bluemig had some good points for the money, though as you rightly point out its obviously built to a cost)

 

[BrokenBiker]

I think I'd feel fairly confident about being able to repair something if it did go wrong as I work with electrical gear in my job

sir, there is a Renault waiting for you somewhere to take that confidence and throw it out the window. only joking, I know exactly what you mean. I view certain things in the same light, if I can most likely fix it if it goes wrong, or make it better if it goes wrong then I may be more likely to buy it on the off chance, but as you say, a lot of people may not be confident in opening it up to have a look, let alone start pulling bits off and replacing them which is the main reason I would go for the r-tech as from what I can gather their aftersales is second to none

 

[daleyd]

I said I was able to fix things, not that I was Gandalf the wizard!! I'm not touching your Renault. Ever!

 

[BrokenBiker]

I said I was able to fix things, not that I was Gandalf the wizard!! I'm not touching your Renault. Ever!

I didn't mean my Renault, the only electrical faults on that was due to it not being water tight. water had got in through a window seal and messed about with the sensor in the drivers door for the keyless entry. its fine on a dry day, but when its raining I have to use the fob. everything else is purely mechanical. and I still haven't managed to stop it moving side to side when I put my foot down or lift off. it also now feels like there is a weight transfer at the front when going around a fast-ish left hander but everything is tight and as it should be so im ignoring that for now

 

[TheWeldersWarehouse]

Hi i have been looking for a budget welder to carry out some repairs on my car so most of the welding will be on car thickness material. I have come across these on the internet and was just wondering what peoples thoughts were as it seems a very reasonable price.
http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/Mig-Welder-iMig-165.html

Have also seen the below any thoughts would be appreciated i would like it to last.

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Mig_Welder/Mig_Welder_R-Tech_IMIG180

http://www.unitedwelding.co.uk/ther...e-230v-ce-for-mig--tig--arc-welding-168-p.asp

http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/MIG_Welder/IFL_i-Tech_MIG150_Mig_Welder/ifl_i-tech_mig150_mig_welder.html

we have all done it with something or other. this is why im holding off buying a mig, as I know if I don't buy at least a 250 amp machine I will be looking for another one not long after



the other advantage I can see to the Clarke is that is a known reliable unit, with many people on here using them and liking them, there is a world of knowledge here if something does go wrong, and as you say there is less to go wrong in the first place.

if I was going to buy an inverter (which I do plan on doing) I would want to see/read reviews, hear from people that have used them (by looking at forums like this one) and then taking their experience on board before deciding. the bluemig from what I can tell is a fairly unknown brand, which likely means it is a cheap Chinese unit with a new badge. granted the r-tech migs are all Chinese too, but I believe they do their own assembly over here and simply use Chinese parts to keep costs down (maybe wrong)

Hi, my name's Graham, I'm in the technical dept at The Welders Warehouse.
I can confirm that ALL our BlueMig's are designed and manufactured in Europe, NOT China, I have visited the factory myself. The manufacturer has been producing welders since the 1960's and manufactures for many European (inc UK) brands. They were the manufacturer of Butters Migs, prior to Butters going out of business a few Years back. We chose them to manufacture for us because of their reputation for build quality and machine performance. A Product Test win in Sept 2015 issue of Land Rover Monthly for the BlueMig 150T supports this.
I hope this clears up any uncertainty about origin.