Car restoration mig

[Neckieman]

Haven't done any welding of any consequence for 30+ years but now have a car to rebuild.
I have been searching around and while money is not unlimited I prefer to buy quality tools if possible.
Looking at the Portamig 165 at the moment but also considering the Oxford 180-1.
While some advice is that these are more than I actually need for a simple car restoration I would prefer to buy better than I need than struggle.
I assume that these machines, from my reading of the forum, are more than good enough but is the oxford worth the extra 40 quid or so to me?
Any opinions not already stated elsewhere would be welcome.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I had a Portamig and could not fault it, I would have liked to compare an Oxford to it though, apparently from what I have read they can be a bit smoother.

So if it was my money then I would be buying the Oxford I think, it has a touch more top end power to boot.

 

[Burdekin]

I have the portamig 210 (I think is the model) and it welds nice. Only issue is it's size but if you have space round the car then it's a good choice.

 

[pedrobedro]

I have the portamig 210 (I think is the model) and it welds nice. Only issue is it's size but if you have space round the car then it's a good choice.

Get a long torch and space round the car will not be an issue.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Haven't done any welding of any consequence for 30+ years but now have a car to rebuild.
I have been searching around and while money is not unlimited I prefer to buy quality tools if possible.
Looking at the Portamig 165 at the moment but also considering the Oxford 180-1.
While some advice is that these are more than I actually need for a simple car restoration I would prefer to buy better than I need than struggle.
I assume that these machines, from my reading of the forum, are more than good enough but is the oxford worth the extra 40 quid or so to me?
Any opinions not already stated elsewhere would be welcome.

I welded cars as a job for 10 years, and found the most useful feature on the MIG I had (Murex), was wire feed pulse. This allows amount of heat going into the job to be set very precisely, and makes for faster neater welding, and greatly reduces chances of burning through on thin/rusty material.

 

[Neckieman]

It looks like it is the Oxford then, will get it ordered in the next few days once all the dealers come back to work. Now I just need a source of gas for it now.........

 

[Paul G]

I'd go Oxford.
Reason?

For a given voltage setting there's a perfect wire feed rate.( OK, sometimes a little voltage bias, sometimes wire speed bias. )

The more voltage steps there are within the range of the welder the more potential settings we have to choose from.
The more choice, the more likely we are to find one that's just right for the type of joint and material thickness.


My Lincoln 210 has 8 steps, 15.5v to 23v, so roughly 1v apart.

I'd love that to be 16 steps, 0.5 volts apart.


Cheers
Paul G

 

[Kent]

Intersetingbthat they both come frontier same manufacturer
Plenty of nice car mig plants about

 

[Neckieman]

Intersetingbthat they both come frontier same manufacturer
Plenty of nice car mig plants about

Tom from Welding Supplies Direct is doing me a good deal on the Oxford 180-1
Should have this sorted out in the next few days and get it on the way.
Just need to sort out gas now and buy some panels to start work, once I learn how to mig weld, my last experience was 30 years ago on stick!
I did have a small sip some years ago but never got it to work well, only now reading this forum do I realise it probably wasn't all just my own incompetence.
This is what is going to be worked on...............

 

[Neckieman]

Luvverly, Oxford 180 arrived today and is now all assembled, will get a bottle of gas at the weekend and start playing. Certainly is a solid heavy beast and looks the part.........

 

[Bigjoe]

Ooh not jealous at all! I shall wait for a review

 

[Neckieman]

Picked up the gas today and just had a quick go trying it, much better than the SIP I had years ago and couldn't get to work...........
Pics of the set up and the test plate I just tried it on seeing if it worked and playing with settings. Turned it on and tried a couple of short runs at various settings then a single join in 4-5mm plate.
So not everyone asks about a welder and doesn't come back when they get told they will have to spend more than £50 to get some decent kit........
Pics of welder and each side of the test plate, for a first attempt for many years they will bear some improvement but don't look that bad to me as I tuned it going along........maybe everyone else will disagree!

 

[Burdekin]

Nice toys. No excuses now that you have great kit. ;-)

 

[Shedendman]

JEALOUS....................... of course not

 

[Fife]

I see they sell these on eBay and are cheaper than on the oxford website. Can a even better price be had if you phone them?

 

[Neckieman]

I see they sell these on eBay and are cheaper than on the oxford website. Can a even better price be had if you phone them?

Tom Morrow on this forum did me a really good deal on this machine, I am sure he wouldn't mind another sale.......

 

[Rosscoe]

I'll need to talk to him and see what he can do.