Cheapo stick welder

[thinfourth]

I am considering a cheap stick welder for sticking stuff together outside.

It needs to be

1 Cheap
2 Easily portable
3 Reliable
4 able to run off a 240V extension lead
5 cheap

Don't need it to be a high amps job as anything heavy will get tacked together dragged into the workshop and i will get the proper welder to weld it.

 

[matt1978]

How cheap is cheap? You can get a buzz box from Aldi for under 50 quid.

Defo not somthing I'd buy but if it's cheap your after.....

 

[thinfourth]

Just how bad are the £50 aldi buzz boxes?

I'm not going to be doing anything big with it just sticking brackets to stuff and tacking up before i full weld something in the workshop

 

[shenion]

The cheap ones are ok for simple stuff.

Stay away from ones under 110A and ones that don't have an adjustment knob (just a high low switch).

They take a lot of current so they will need a real good extenion that won't drop the voltage.

An inverter will be more efficient and portable but the cost will not be real cheap.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I used a cheap buzzbox for many many years, a fan cooled one is better and some decent rods.

They are no way as nice as an inverter and take a little while to get used to but they do the job and some of the trailers I made over 20 years ago are still earning their keep.

It will also help if you get an autodarkening helmet, no more stabbing around with the electrode in the dark, a cheapo off Ebay is about £24, also leaves you a free hand to rest the welding arm on...makes a big difference.

 

[rich r]

The current Aldi one (now they're not Omega Wolf rebrands) is actually not at all bad. Just be aware that although it goes up to 160A, you'll only be able to go up to 115A (3.2mm rods) if you put a 13A plug on it. Ideally you need a 32A feed for full capacity.

I've been learning to weld with one and it's not let me down yet.

However, they only have them in stock for one week, twice a year. So it depends how long you want to wait.

Clarke do a very similar one for not much more money. See if Machine Mart have any offers on.

 

[thinfourth]

I'll cheap an eye on aldi then

Its just as a second outdoor machine as indoor i have a nice lincoln electrical 185 MIG which is lovely

 

[PTvor]

I think the last time Aldi had those welders as a special, was the end of last year and they were £35.

 

[BrokenBiker]

I think the last time Aldi had those welders as a special, was the end of last year and they were £35.

it was, i bought one and run it off the cooker socket in the kitchen and a lead i made in work from 4mm 3core cable. deos quite a nice job for a cheapo

 

[rich r]

Aldi rods have been known to be variable in quality, however the box I got have all been consistent and easy to use. I do wonder if the demise of Omega Wolf and the switch to the Austria supplier (Walter W.. something) has led to an increase in quality. I will of course switch to Murex or similar once I've used them up.

I've been running mine off a 13A plug, but this weekend am converting to a 16A supply. Ideally they want a 32A supply, but if you don't need to use 4mm rods you can get away without.

 

[Renllek]

Depends what you class as low amps, I have just bought one of these - http://www.cromwell.co.uk/OSA2792000K

It has a max of 80a but for light work its been a pleasure to use so far and has run really nice with the 2.5mm Oerlikon Fincord M's that i use, much much much better than the SIP buzzbox it has replaced

ITs tiny too, about the size of 2 video tape boxes side by side and only 2.5kg

Including delivery it come in at £92..........cant really grumble at under £100 for an inverter

 

[thinfourth]

I like that.

But why does it come with a free pooper scooper?

Well i assume that is what the black plastic thing is

 

[shenion]

That looks nice.

I'd want one up to over 100A though to run 3.2mm rods. Most i use is 2.5 though.

A lot more portable than my 750lb beast

 

[maz0]

I got my Aldi arc welder out the box for the first time since I bought it last night. First attempt ever at welding in general. Very capable little machine. I don't imagine my welds were up to much but I joined two pieces together and couldn't break them apart. Those rods disappear fast when your having fun though!

 

[PTvor]

That looks nice.

It looks pretty much the same kind of deal as the Harbor Freight 80amp inverter.

Some people love 'em.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bujvEHMcnEE

But he's switched loyalties to a 140A inverter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=rTnosz0DSTs

 

[rich r]

I got my Aldi arc welder out the box for the first time since I bought it last night. First attempt ever at welding in general. Very capable little machine. I don't imagine my welds were up to much but I joined two pieces together and couldn't break them apart. Those rods disappear fast when your having fun though!

I tried 4mm rods (at 150A) on mine for the first time yesterday as I've now put in a 16A supply. Certainly a huge amount of heat and power going on there! Very easy to strike the arc, and it was very stable and controllable. Slag peeled off on it's own on a couple of my stringers too. Did a nice horizontal fillet and a couple of verticals which were OK, but not as neat as my 2.5mm or 3.2mm ones. I think I'm not moving upwards enough or moving sideways fast enough, as I'm building up way too much filler in the middle 'whipped over' gap. Practise, practise, practise!

I'll go back to 2.5mm rods for general welding, but it's nice to know that it'll do 4mm if I need to.