Dilemma

[AllanF]

Some time ago I posted a thread, https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/welder-for-an-old-bloke.125225/ but circumstances changed and I didn't buy a welder.
I now have some welding to do, I'm sure a simple stick machine would be suitable for this job. Of course, when look for a machine, I come across many combinations of MMA, mig, Tig, etc. it would be good to learn something else as well. I read a point recently where someone said that if they learnt Tig, they would only require Argon rather than mixes for mig. This is my dilemma, should I go for MMA, MMA + mig, MMA+Tig.
Any comments would be gratefully received.
Allan

 

[MetalMonkey]

Depends a lot on what you want to weld.
Tig is a versatile process, especially AC, but it has a high barrier to entry in terms of cost and skills.

I would suggest a multiprocess mig/stick machine would probably be the best bet, it will be cheaper and easier and likely cover most things a DIYer wants to weld at home. It will give you Mig for most things and MMA (stick) for heavier stuff.
Mig with gas is nicer and would be my first choice, but you need to weld inside or in a sheltered area - otherwise you could look at fluxcore or stick.

 

[BrokenBiker]

if you dont need to weld aluminium, then get an inverter mig and a bottle or gas for it...you are covered for everything from thin body work to thicker stuff with the stirck side of it...

if you do need to weld ally, then you can still do that with a mig, but you need the pure argon now aswell, which then cant be used for regular mild steel so in that instance to stick to 1 welder and 1 bottle you would need an ACDC tig and pure argon, but tig can be a faff for some things where mig just makes sense so it really comes down to what you want to make/weld

 

[AllanF]

Many thanks to you both. Although I would love to weld aluminium, I can see exactly what you mean. Actually, writing my first post had started to head me down that path. My next question was going to be, could I use an Argon/co2 mix with a mig spool gun. I believe you have answered that question.
I need to start looking for a good box with MMA and mig to buy, recommendations are, of course, welcome.
Allan

 

[tom2207]

buy a simple stick welder , a cheap one and have a play , then after a few months of learning to stick stuff together decide what you want to do ,,, a box of rods and a stick welder will get a lot done ,,, if you buy wise , ie second hand , you can either throw it under the bench as a back up , or sell it and get your money back to either invest in a better machine , or to never weld again , all you will be out is the price of a box of rods

 

[AllanF]

If I go for a small stick welder or a stick/mig, how many welding amps are possible on 13amp supply? At present I don't need to go above about 3mm material thickness. Again any recommendations would be appreciated.
Allan

 

[tom2207]

I wouldnt go for a combi welder ,,, just a simple stick , you will get an old 140 amp set transformer based for 70 quid off gumtree local , allow for an auto mask a grinder a pair of safety glasses and a grinder , few discs and a box of 7018s 2mm or 2.4 and your up and going for 150 quid
and trust me , its all down hill from there

 

[julianf]

Work out what you want to weld and buy a welder to suite that.

To some (very minimal) extent you can (kind of) weld anything with anything, but, realistically, just buy the technology aimed at what you're wanting to do, and life will be so much calmer.

 

[tom2207]

lol ..I just followed the link in the op ,,, back to 2022 ,,,, and I said the same thing then too ,,,, epic

 

[Smallfry]

If I go for a small stick welder or a stick/mig, how many welding amps are possible on 13amp supply? At present I don't need to go above about 3mm material thickness. Again any recommendations would be appreciated.
Allan

No experience of welding aluminium myself, but do a lot of unprofessional MIG and have two machines.

However, I bought myself a little Parweld inverter stick welder to butt weld some 10mm. I didn't want to lug the heavy MIGs around.

It did a great job. I was actually gobsmacked how this tiny little lightweight machine coped with this. Works on a 13 amp plug, and produces 110 amps max.
Only thing I didn't like was the mask that was supplied with it was absolute sh*te.

I did vee out both sides of the weld, though, and used Magmaweld rods, which I find are great for the inexperienced. Easy to spark up and give a "soft" arc, and seem to be very forgiving.

 

[BrokenBiker]

If I go for a small stick welder or a stick/mig, how many welding amps are possible on 13amp supply? At present I don't need to go above about 3mm material thickness. Again any recommendations would be appreciated.
Allan

I run a 200amp ACDC tig and a 250amp mig off a 13 amount supply...through an extension lead at that...both inverters and both the cheaper end of Chinese so no actual way of knowing the final output current but they weld pretty hot, but my 195 transformer mig would also run flat out on 13 amps too and would blow holes in 3mm when set too hot so I'm inclined to think it was putting out at least 160 with 0.8mm wire

3mm should be fine, even if you had a 250 amp mig that tripped the breakers at full power, you don't need anywhere near full power for 3mm.

Personally I would mig weld 3mm, stick welding is doable though, I use 2.5mm rods, but 2mm would be better. Will admit, ive never welded with anything smaller than 2.5mm rods, my first experience of welding was trying to weld overhead sticking a Corsa exhaust back together with a 2.5mm 6013 and an ancient 90 amp buzz box...didn't go well

 

[AllanF]

Thanks for all of your help so far. After giving it a little more thought, the first work I'll be doing will be some light weight angle, probably around 2mm. The consensus appears to be that mig will be better for this.
Allan

 

[BrokenBiker]

Thanks for all of your help so far. After giving it a little more thought, the first work I'll be doing will be some light weight angle, probably around 2mm. The consensus appears to be that mig will be better for this.
Allan

Get an inverter and you have already got the MMA covered as well...

Not sure what your budget is, but even the cheap inverters will do stick welding, my 250 amp mig was only around 300 quid

 

[tom2207]

Thanks for all of your help so far. After giving it a little more thought, the first work I'll be doing will be some light weight angle, probably around 2mm. The consensus appears to be that mig will be better for this.
Allan

yes it will ,,, but I wouldnt buy a gasless welder ,,,, if you must buy a small mig , make sure it will take gas too , you will soon grow out of gasless welding

 

[tom2207]

Get an inverter and you have already got the MMA covered as well...

Not sure what your budget is, but even the cheap inverters will do stick welding, my 250 amp mig was only around 300 quid

good point my Rohr was less than that ,, and it welds well , they are of course bust now , but the same unit is available as a hitbox or wanhunglo or gofukiu or something like that

 

[BrokenBiker]

good point my Rohr was less than that ,, and it welds well , they are of course bust now , but the same unit is available as a hitbox or wanhunglo or gofukiu or something like that

It's the hitbox I've got...now I've realised it reverts back to ally mode when powered off I'm getting to grips with how it welds and it's doing everything it says it will so can't complain.

Playing with the tig today though on some stainless while I'm waiting for brundles to pull their finger out and deliver my steel

 

[tom2207]

It's the hitbox I've got...now I've realised it reverts back to ally mode when powered off I'm getting to grips with how it welds and it's doing everything it says it will so can't complain.

Playing with the tig today though on some stainless while I'm waiting for brundles to pull their finger out and deliver my steel

mine hasnt got a tig on it ,, just stick and mig ,,, but its cheap and cheerful ,,, I may just bung a roll of gasless wire in it for bad days ,, then again I do tend to reach for my rouge 160 , it does really well at the end of an extension lead doing farm gate hinges and the likes ,,,, and I dont really mind if it gets a bit muddy

 

[BrokenBiker]

mine hasnt got a tig on it ,, just stick and mig ,,, but its cheap and cheerful ,,, I may just bung a roll of gasless wire in it for bad days ,, then again I do tend to reach for my rouge 160 , it does really well at the end of an extension lead doing farm gate hinges and the likes ,,,, and I dont really mind if it gets a bit muddy

My mig has a lift tig feature, but I haven't got a valved torch to try it but assume it would work fine but as the tig welded ris smaller, lighter and easier to set up for tig I would use that anyway

 

[Mark 5]

It's the hitbox I've got...now I've realised it reverts back to ally mode when powered off I'm getting to grips with how it welds and it's doing everything it says it will so can't complain.

Playing with the tig today though on some stainless while I'm waiting for brundles to pull their finger out and deliver my steel

I looked at your Hitbox from posts yesterday, for the money they look ok.

But my Plasma has to have a built in compressor, I think a couple of the Hitboxes did but no longer available--and within my budget.

Its why the Parkside is so appealing.

 

[tom2207]

I looked at your Hitbox from posts yesterday, for the money they look ok.

But my Plasma has to have a built in compressor, I think a couple of the Hitboxes did but no longer available--and within my budget.

Its why the Parkside is so appealing.

if your doing mostly angle ,a decent grinder and a thin cut off disc will get a lot done .