Hi guys, I'm looking to buy a MIG welder, mainly for car body repairs/restoration.
I've currently got a TopWeld 160 Arc welder, and been using my mates SIP gas-less Mig for several jobs/brackets round the garage etc. The gas-less is easy to use, but splatters a lot, and isn't great on thin steel.
I've been doing some research, and it looks like I would really want:
- Gas Mig with regulator for Argon/CO2 mix big bottles (not disposable)
- Potentially the option of Gas-less, but not really essential.
- 130-150 amps. Not too worried about thicker steel, as the TopWeld 160 seems to do that OK.
- Lowest setting of around 30-40 amps for thin car steel?
- Needs to run on good 13A supply (through an RCD).
Budget is really £300 for the Welder, all setup with Reg ready for gas welding (excluding the price of the gas/bottles).
General internet consensus is that Clarke are the way to go (suprised by that), rather than SIP.
I was looking at the 135TE Turbo @ £300, but that will need converting to proper Gas bottles (just regulator needed?).
Another option seems to be the MIG151EN Turbo Gas/No-Gas @ £265, but that will need converting to Gas (not sure what's required for that?).
Another option - a friend has offered me an SIP 150amp MIG with regulator (for larger bottle Ar/Co2) for £80. I've read nothing but bad reviews on these, with wire feed issues etc. But, is it worth trying for the price difference? As a novice, would it prevent me learning properly, having to workaround wire feed issues etc.?
I've currently got a TopWeld 160 Arc welder, and been using my mates SIP gas-less Mig for several jobs/brackets round the garage etc. The gas-less is easy to use, but splatters a lot, and isn't great on thin steel.
I've been doing some research, and it looks like I would really want:
- Gas Mig with regulator for Argon/CO2 mix big bottles (not disposable)
- Potentially the option of Gas-less, but not really essential.
- 130-150 amps. Not too worried about thicker steel, as the TopWeld 160 seems to do that OK.
- Lowest setting of around 30-40 amps for thin car steel?
- Needs to run on good 13A supply (through an RCD).
Budget is really £300 for the Welder, all setup with Reg ready for gas welding (excluding the price of the gas/bottles).
General internet consensus is that Clarke are the way to go (suprised by that), rather than SIP.
I was looking at the 135TE Turbo @ £300, but that will need converting to proper Gas bottles (just regulator needed?).
Another option seems to be the MIG151EN Turbo Gas/No-Gas @ £265, but that will need converting to Gas (not sure what's required for that?).
Another option - a friend has offered me an SIP 150amp MIG with regulator (for larger bottle Ar/Co2) for £80. I've read nothing but bad reviews on these, with wire feed issues etc. But, is it worth trying for the price difference? As a novice, would it prevent me learning properly, having to workaround wire feed issues etc.?