Considering My Options

[Dal]

Hello All,

As you will no doubt notice I'm new to your world, so hi!

Any ways I have been reading through various threads for the last hour or so and to be honest most of it goes straight over my head. So rather than searh for an answer I thought I'd just ask.

I am looking for a welder that will do both steel and Aluminum for motorcycle projects (resesigning frames, swing arms, engine repairing etc) and most of it is aluminium. This is for home use only! I don't want to spend a fortune as this is only a hobby.

So to the question which welder and how much bearing in mind all of the above.

TIA
Dal

 

[irondarren]

Your obviously looking at a mig unit to do the work, TIG is far better for alluminium but an AC/DC tig is around £1500 upwards. A small clarke type mig unit, might be your best bet, it depends on your budget

 

[Dal]

What features should I look for?

I'm sure you must get bored with these types of questions so sorry in advance

 

[irondarren]

Dont worry about the questions thats what the forum is here for to share knowledge, and ask questions.

first question is how much are you willing to spend, then it become easier to recommend a machine, and how thick would the thickest you want to weld be.

 

[Dal]

Thickness of the material no more than 5mm as far as budget is concened I don't really know

 

[irondarren]

for 5mm you need to be looking at around 180amps possibly a little more if your budget will go that far. 200-220amps would be excellent giving you more than enough power

 

[Dal]

So should I be considering something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WELDER-MIG-MA...yZ113743QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have to say it looks a little overkill for my project.

That price would be + a lot of other parts. Gas bottle and Gas, Regulator of some description and of course the aluminum wire. This is probably gonna be way to much for a hobby!

 

[irondarren]

Something similar to that would be fine it won't be over kill. Bear in mind if you are buying off flea bay, you have to consider what warrenty you get. The one for the link is from a seller in Italy, what happends if the machine breaks down

 

[Dal]

So what would a UK supplied machine be (price wise)?

 

[irondarren]

try here for idea's www.migtigarc.co.uk/MIG_Welder/mig_welder.html

 

[Dal]

Looking at the prices and putting things into perspective, I think I will just farm jobs out. Theres no way I could ever make up the savings by buying my own machine. It's far hobby work after all.

 

[irondarren]

about £200 odd gets you a little clarkes machine, look here
www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/diy-mig-welders

 

[Dal]

But that's only a 150 I thought I needed a 180?

 

[irondarren]

you can get away with a 150amp if push comes to shove, it just means you have to prep all your joins. possibly will have to do a root run and then a couple of filling passes, rather than being able to do it in one hit

 

[irondarren]

check out the forum, setting calculator. I believe the 150amp clarke machine has 6 settings and lowest power is around 30 amps and highest is 150

www.mig-welding.co.uk/calculator.htm