good second hand big mig machines

[BrokenBiker]

can anyone reccomend a few good mig sets yo look out for on the second hand market. Looking for around 200-250 amps, single phase, good for both car body stuff and also heavier fabrication of tooling and lifting equipment.

at this point i am even considering taking on a project that needs wiring or parts replacing providing it is worth the money in the long run.

 

[wheresmejumper]

I meant to reply to you other thread.there are a few options if youre open to them.
keepin an eye on ebay for something like an eland mig, newer ones are called classic mig 200.i had one a while back, every bit as good as a portamig, without being well known so go for cheapish.
Or go a different route, I think you have a parweld inverter? Sell and get something like a thermal arc fabricator with 200 amps.mig stick and tig.
or what pop up also are constant current/constant voltage mig feeders.plug it into your inverter and have stepless control of the power.newarc, miller, thermal arc and licoln make them, no doubt a few more do to.thermal arc one sold for around £150 last week I think

 

[BrokenBiker]

i am considering selling the stick welder in order to get a bigger mig as i don't really need the stick welder, especially if i had a mig that was just as capable.

not sure how i feel about the 3 in 1 units, seems like more to go wrong although in probably just being over cautious

 

[Paul99]

I spent getting on a year, on and off, keeping an eye out for a decent second hand mig 200amps+ for sensible money and in the end just gave up and bought a new TecArc. If you have three phase then there seems to be no shortage of decent gear for not a lot of money but single phase wise there was very little in this corner of the UK and what there was ended up going for silly money. Maybe you'll have more luck than I did though. As for Eland mentioned above - no doubt their not as big a household name as the rest but I was under the impression they are held in very high regard and are quite sort after - you would be a very lucky guy to stumble across one of them going cheap - I can only recall seeing two crop up on ebay in all the time I was looking and they went for big money. Good luck with your search

 

[BrokenBiker]

ive found a 400 amp eland but its way too expensive and frankly too big for me at the moment.

 

[wheresmejumper]

I dont know how far youd be willing to travel, or where most places are, but theres a few machines on egay.
you are lucky that you have a mig already, and a stick plant for heavier stuff, so you can probably wait for the right deal right place?

 

[BrokenBiker]

yeah in in no rush, willing to travel reasonable distances for a good solid machine, say 100 miles each way. If it wasn't for the need for thin stuff i would just buy a big oil filled arc welder but that would bring me back to just doing hobby stuff again.

there are a few sets on gumtree too but all a bit of a trek for what could be crap machines.

i don't mind waiting and saving for a portamig but the problem with that is in crap at saving large amounts and usually find something else to buy in the mean time

 

[fizzy]

Well I may get shot down in flames for this but
How about a Clarke? I have a 230TE which I had for £350 from the returns section of machine mart. Never been used! The torch is crap - the earth lead is crap. Replace both of those and it isnt a bad machine. I run off a standard 13amp plug and have been welding 10mm steel on full power. Never had it cut out on me. Borrowed a mates Butters and no difference to be honest.