Getting myself MIG welding equipment.

[Screech]

Hey guys.

I've done a little bit of welding in the past, but nothing major. But it's now time to get all my own equipment as i've just built myself a garage/workshop where i'll be re-building a mini.

I've been keeping an eye out on eBay for used units, and almost bought a SIP mig welder last week, and although the one I used before was a SIP, i thought i'd have a quick google search to see if it's any good, and it's a good job I did. So I didn't buy it.

To be honest, i think i'd rather buy new. I'd like to get it from my local welding shop, as they are very helpful and even put on free hands on welding demos, BUT.... I wasn't expecting them to be as expensive as they are.
Budget isn't too much of an issue, if it means getting quality, then i'll wait another month and do a bit more overtime to pay for it.

Although i'm mainly going to be doing car bodywork with it, i'd like to have one that can do some thicker stuff if it comes to it, but i don't want to compromise the lowest setting, will that be an issue?


Any help and advice will be appreciated.


Cheers

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

If you insist on buying from your local welding shop, it would be worth finding the cheapest online price for a particular machine and seeing if your local supplier can match/beat it.

 

[Shedendman]

That local welding shop wouldn't be in Lancing would it?

 

[Screech]

It depends who's asking...

 

[skotl]

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Mig_Welder


And welcome, by the way

 

[Shedendman]

Thats just answered my question
X2 what that bloke up there^^^^^^ just said

 

[Screech]

Sorry if I'm being dumb here, but you e lost me

 

[Shedendman]

You say you've just built a garage/workshop whats your leccy outputs 13amp sockets,if so your going to be limited by what welder you get for fab work,your now looking at 16/25/32amp supply ,if its mainly car bodywork you want to do then your fine on 13amp.
Also forget the welder,have you thought about the other little things just as important,IE gas,masks,gloves,all your cutting gear,god the list can go on and on.
My advice get what you need for that mini and over time work up to bigger stuff at a later date.
As Tiggy said,shop around

 

[Screech]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Size and weight is a bit of an issue, I've got to drag it around the garage and have a little space to it to sit under the bench.
Now I've seen those, I think saying budget isn't really an issue may have been a mistake. I didn't really visualise spending quite that much on one.
I think someone said on another post about buying all the other tools too, which is true, I've still got lots of other things to get, so don't want to spend all on s welder but have nothing to use with it!
I do want a decent welder but at the same time I don't want a piece of junk!

I'm still confused as to what r-tech welding has to do with a welding shop in lancing..?

Cheers