Buying a welder

[fireman1749]

and I need to know what to buy. I am looking at ones on ebay. this is one i was looking at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=170133283118&rd=1&rd=1 i need to know if anyone thinks it will weld up to 1/4" or 3/16" steel (5 or 6 mm)

 

[shenion]

That is a no-name Chinese welder. At 125A it is barely enough for 1/8" I also bet it is nowhere near its rating.

For 1/4" you will want an 180 amp unit. With beveling the weld, you can use a 130A MIG.

You are looking in the wrong area on ebay. You need to look at Business and Industrial -> Manufacturing and Metaworking -> Welding Equipment and Supplies. Home an garden will have nothing but cheap stuff from box movers. that will not supply spare parts or consumables.

The best value for inexpensive welders is Clarke. I have a 130EN and it works great. If you need to do 1/4", then go for the 180EN.

That is also a flux/gasless welder. Ok, but messy and hard to use on bodywork. You probably want a gas version.

Look at Clarke welders sold by weldingdepot. That is who I got mine from and they are the main dealer in the US and have all the supplies online.

 

[ian of fev]

clarke defenetley ive owened a few in my time and at the moment i use a clarke 135 te turbo set up on argon c02 great little welders for the money would recomend for first time use