Gasless MIG or not?

[markh3565]

Well the trusted old SIP Ideal 120 is finally on the way out – needs a new board and other obsolete parts – BOC have just sent out a letter explaining a price increase for this year - so lets not go there. I’ve pretty much broken the back of my major welding project on my car; however I don’t want the expense of bottle rental and its time to for me to renew the rental for another year

So my question is (having travelled through the forum on gasless welders but still can’t make me mind up) are they really any good compared with say pub co2 on a conventional mig?

If so which model – all on here seem to like Clarke for value for money – my mate has a 160 Clarke inverter which is a cracking piece of kit – again not looking to spend a huge money – but can’t see me not wanting to weld something in the future??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated on gasless welding

Regards, Mark

 

[Endacy]

I have tried gasless (a SIP welder though) and gas with CO2 and then argon mix. I now have a Clarke 151TE which is brilliant, especially compared to the SIP. I couldn't do gasless, it worked but made a horrible mess mostly, I have no doubt it *can* be good, but I couldn't do it.

My vote is certainly for a Clarke welder - with gas.

The difference between CO2 and an argon mix is noticable but if all you can get cheaply is CO2 then go for it, it's just a little less neat is what I noticed. I am lucky in that there is a local gas supplier who is cheap and does lifetime bottle rental, no contract, so proper gas for me is the same price as CO2.

Why don't you get a gas clarke welder and try it with CO2 and Argon disposables to see what the difference is like between the two?

 

[Alistair]

my vote is for a clarke also, again i use a 150 TE and its a great little machine and worth every penny. if your welding this stuff definately go for argon mix over co2.