Complete beginner - advice on mig welder

[Phil_D]

Hi guys, new user here.

I'm currently working on restoring an old Honda CB750 and have been paying for a welder to do some seemingly minor work which has been surprisingly expensive. As I now need to have a couple of brackets welded on I'm looking to just buying my own welder and learning to do it myself.

The range of thickness I'll be likely working with is 1.6-3mm but I suppose it would be good if I could do slightly thicker for potential future versatility. It will only be hobby use.

From what I've read so far a MIG welder would suit my needs and be quite flexible in use, but I'm not really sure what I should be looking at in the specs when I compare different models.

I'll be using it probably exclusively in doors off a standard 13a plug

Does anyone have any model suggestions that may be suitable? I'm happy to buy second hand too if that means getting a better unit.

Cheers!

 

[Phil_D]

Forgot to mention my budget, £200 would be ideal which looks like it puts me firmly in the Clarke range.

I hear machine mart occasionally have no VAT sales, that means something like the Clarke mig151en turbo would come in there or thereabouts

 

[gaz_moose]

plenty of threads on here on this subject, search is your friend here.

 

[Phil_D]

Yeah that's a fair one, spent an hour reading through some info online and actually the Clarke 151en seems like it would do the trick.

How often do the machine mart VAT free offers come around?

 

[Cobbler]

There are VAT free vouchers around at the moment, I've just been sent one, but it says only for use in the Gloucester store. They must be getting wise to them being passed around if you come up to Gloucester, your welcome to it.

They normally email them to me, I don't know why they posted one. The email ones you can pass on as they don't specify a store.

 

[Phil_D]

There are VAT free vouchers around at the moment, I've just been sent one, but it says only for use in the Gloucester store. They must be getting wise to them being passed around if you come up to Gloucester, your welcome to it.

They normally email them to me, I don't know why they posted one. The email ones you can pass on as they don't specify a store.

Was there yesterday but not going to be up that way for a while :/

Do you just sign up to their mailing list to get them?

 

[Cobbler]

I think so, if you buy something they want your email address & that seems to trigger them. If possible don't buy their wire, I've not had a problem with it as I buy branded wire when I need it, but I hear the quality is inconsistent.

 

[angellonewolf]

dont for get the extras

small gas bottles are expensive 6 mins of welding gas before running out

boc deal seams to be the way to go on here £80 ish gets the bottle for a year and £35 ish to fill

add the grinder gloves eye protection

welding mask

not having a go please dont take it as that but there is a reason welders charge as much as they do im rubish at welding and only realy play at it yes i can stick 2 pieces of metal together that will hold but setting up a job and start welding to make it look good and passing welding standards take experince

i know how to plaster im not a pro but very good diy with all the tools and it took me half a house(2 years) to get to a good standard and im still slow get the job done and looks great i done a 5x4 meter ceilling and its flat but ive been welding for 3 years and still cant say it looks good

 

[Phil_D]

dont for get the extras

small gas bottles are expensive 6 mins of welding gas before running out

boc deal seams to be the way to go on here £80 ish gets the bottle for a year and £35 ish to fill

add the grinder gloves eye protection

welding mask

not having a go please dont take it as that but there is a reason welders charge as much as they do im rubish at welding and only realy play at it yes i can stick 2 pieces of metal together that will hold but setting up a job and start welding to make it look good and passing welding standards take experince

i know how to plaster im not a pro but very good diy with all the tools and it took me half a house(2 years) to get to a good standard and im still slow get the job done and looks great i done a 5x4 meter ceilling and its flat but ive been welding for 3 years and still cant say it looks good

Yeah I'll look at getting a proper regulator from weld equip. I've already got a decent grinder and cut a lot of sheet metal and flat bar for my various projects, got some PPE too so will only really need a mask and gloves.

I tend to take up new skills relatively quickly and like working with my hands. I'm aware that it'll take a while to learn the trade but if I don't take the plunge I'll never be able to do it.

 

[angellonewolf]

I tend to take up new skills relatively quickly and like working with my hands. I'm aware that it'll take a while to learn the trade but if I don't take the plunge I'll never be able to do it.

thats how i started and wish you luck keeping at it will help no end and the vids on the site are good they got me to where i am now

keep on the scrap untill you get what to need every time on a motor bike the last thing you want if something falling off when you doing 60 miles an hour

 

[gaz1]

i started the same way and ive been here since then

sometimes i get the welds spot on others not a chance 1.6mm can be done with practice ive done it with gasless but prefer the gas and wire route

started with a clarke myself done me proud over the years

id say boc deal for practice if you can get a load of practice welds done in a year if not the hobby deal can be better but once you hit 2 bottles the boc deal is better

i went through 3 bottles was heading for my 4th in a year

the clarke 151en will do both uses gas and gasless

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig...GS-010110151&gclid=CKb7qYKOr9MCFccp0wod-OkItg

or the 150te gas model used machine

worth looking at this post

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/first-attempt-at-beads-on-2-5mm-steel.72191/#post-980711