Gas or not Gas

[geo362]

Hi Having just joined thy forum i would like some advice on what to buy and use in my wee workshop,having recently retired i would like to do repairs and refurb car trailers, gates, seats etc, and generally muck about with metal,considering a gasless mig would this be a good good idea and what size would i need for this purpose.
Thank youall in advance

 

[philsmin]

I've welded gasless for years without issue, you can get good results just takes practice.

Gas will give a neater looking weld and less spatter, but you need a bottle, disposables are expensive and larger bottles often require rental.

What I would do is buy a mig that can do both, clarke do a good few dual machines, i'd be aiming for 130amp+

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'd be aiming for 180+ for that sort of work, buy anything smaller and you'll soon regret it.
Regarding gas vs gasless, I'd go for gas any day, far less messing about and if you're doing a fair bit, though you'll pay extra for the gas you'll save some money on wire.

 

[cumbriasteve]

An idea of what you see as a reasonable budget would help members to advise, for gates etc I would suggest 180amps minimum unless you are doing the lightweight stuff.

Your plans are similar to what I am doing in my early retirement and I have a 235 amp machine, does all I want with ease.

Gasless certainly works ok but gas is nicer, if you find an independant supplier its not too costly these days, my large bottle is working out at just over £1 a week for gas and hire, although of course I am not welding full time...just as a hobby.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I need to type faster

 

[geo362]

Thanx for your reply and hope you are enjoying retirement,regards to budget i was looking to spend £200/250 on one,also you suggesting gas is it better to go with Co2 for the type of work i want to do.
Ta!

 

[Wozzaaah]

Not a chance! You'll need to at least double that if you want a decent quality new machine.
For that sort of money you may be lucky and find a half-decent used machine but you'll have to be very careful, there's an awful lot of rubbish for sale out there.
Your budget will only get you the cheapest of the cheap if you want to buy new so you'll be stuck with a rubbish wire feed, very poor duty cycle and a machine that you'll struggle to sell again if you ever decide to upgrade.
Buy right, buy once.

 

[geo362]

Not a chance! You'll need to at least double that if you want a decent quality new machine.
For that sort of money you may be lucky and find a half-decent used machine but you'll have to be very careful, there's an awful lot of rubbish for sale out there.
Your budget will only get you the cheapest of the cheap if you want to buy new so you'll be stuck with a rubbish wire feed, very poor duty cycle and a machine that you'll struggle to sell again if you ever decide to upgrade.
Buy right, buy once.

thanx wozza,could get my hands on a clarke 150te for approx275, 6months old good working order what do u think,respect ur veiws
Geo..

 

[Wozzaaah]

Not really powerful enough unfortunately.
You'll be running it flat out a lot of the time and aside from the fact you may damage it by doing so, you'll soon get frustrated when you have to keep stopping to let it cool down once the thermal cutout has tripped.
Honestly Geo, put your money towards something bigger and better, I guarantee you'll soon find a lot more things to do with it than you currently have in mind and you'll be grateful of the extra power.

 

[keith19]

As Wozzaaah says, if you're doing a lot of heavy gate and trailer work you will need something heavier that the 150te, unless time is no problem.

I do some occasional fence and gate work with a 150 Amp Clarke, fairly lightweight stuff up to 4.0 mm, and as long as there are no long runs, and I allow time between welds, the Clarke is okay.

For anything over 4.0 mm I use an old stick welder, picked up for £25 s/h, and this copes pretty well with the heavier stuff. It doesn't make the prettiest job (Or perhaps that's just me!), but working gates and fences aren't often looked at too closely. So long as it's a strong job, is all that matters.

So if you are really stuck on a lowish budget, get the Clarke if you think most of your work will be below 3-4 mm, and learn to stick weld for the heavier stuff. It takes time and determination to learn stick welding, though, and it's better - and quicker - if you can find someone nearby to learn from.