GYS SmartMIG 162

[Supernube]

Hello all. I was avised to start a thread on the GYS SmartMIG 162 (Available from Weldequip) and see what people's opinions are on this welder.
So anybody that owns one or has used one please feel free to tell us all your stories ...good or bad.
Im thinking of getting one as my first ever welder..for a few projects this summer.
Im pretty much sold on the GYS already but would still very much appreciate your opinions.
Thank you
Daniel

 

[reidser]

All depends on what your welding really. http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=40311

I was advised "your better to be looking at it, than for it"

Hense why I went for a Portamig 215.

Cheers

Reidser

 

[Supernube]

All depends on what your welding really. http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=40311

I was advised "your better to be looking at it, than for it"

Hense why I went for a Portamig 215.

Cheers

Reidser

Yeah I like the Portamigs reputation but I just cant go that high..I have a limited budget unfortunately

Thank you

 

[madkayaker]

I fancy trying one but haven't yet. Steve doesn't sell rubbish I have seen gys kit in local eng merchants and it looked well made

 

[Supernube]

See now Im already feeling doubtful again cos of the mention it wont weld 5mm very well...I thought it would cope with that ?
Its one of those things where you can read too much about it and end up more confused than when you started
Ive never even welded before...Im probably going to use it very rarely and yet I still want the best welder in the world lol...arghhhh ...somebody just give me a PortaMIG pleeeeeeease

 

[reidser]

I had a lot of emails back and fore to Steve and I'm sure he could cut and paste his replies to me as I had the same thoughts/issues.

Essentially the steer is the GYS is working at the top of it's range on 5mm and will do it on short bursts but not for a prolonged period.

To quote Steve, " an old mini will do 100mph but it wouldn't do it all day"

I just decided that I didn't want to buy twice and that the Portamig suited my requirements better.

I'd guess you've done all the research there is to do and it's now a question of spend the money and get a machine that will comfortably do the job or save some money, spend less and own a machine that is less capable for your requirements.

Obviously you have to factor in how much you are going to realistically use it which I understand is a bit of an unknown at the moment.

Very difficult I know. I also factored in residual valves in my decision.

Reidser

 

[Supernube]

Very difficult I know. I also factored in residual valves in my decision.

Reidser

Ummmmm ....what are residual valves ?

 

[keith19]

Supernube, how often do you think you will be welding 5mm steel?
The times I encounter it now, doing just hobby welding, is maybe ten or twenty minutes welding time in every year.

Don't worry about the GYS managing it if it's only occasional 5mm work, you can prepare both sides and make two or three passes. When you're experienced enough, of course.
Even my Clarke 151 can do that, with preparation. But usually I just get the old buzz-box arc welder out, and that will tackle pretty well anything in thicker steel that I've come across, with far less effort than a mig.

But if you figure you'll be using your welder on 5mm steel maybe every week for an hour or two, or more, then you have the choice of shelling out for something big and new like a Portamig, or getting a good s/h workshop welder designed to run at 180 - 200A all day. For both of these 5mm will be a doddle. But they won't come cheap, and may be outside your budget, just as they'd be outside mine.

The budget answer is to do what many of us on here do who maybe only hobby weld heavier metal now and then, and not for a living.
Just get a decent mig like a Clarke or that GYS, that will cope with most of what you'll be welding, like from car bodywork up to 3 or 4mm, and then pick up an old cheap buzz-box arc welder, and gradually teach yourself a new skill.

It's easier if you can learn at college evening class, or have somebody local show you the ropes, but it's quite possible to learn by yourself if you persist, and you will get plenty help on here. A lot of guys buy a buzz-box, think they will learn it all in a day, and then sell the m/c off cheap because they can't crack it. Because they never really tried, or had no help or encouragement.
So there's always cheap arc welders going for anything from £30 to £50 if you look around. It's old school, it's a bit tough to get started, but it works. If you go this route, let us know and the guys on here can advise on the better makes, Etc.

 

[Supernube]

Thanks Keith....To be perfectly honest I dont actually know how much 5mm I will come across...but I am sure I will.
My need for a welder came from my son wanting me to make him a drift trike out of an old BMX ...he saw a video on You tube and that was it.
So I started looking for a welder for that sort of thing...hence why I started out wanting a hobby type welder...Clarke 100...then a Clarke 150...then started to read about welding and welders more and more and found many people saying that wont cope with anything thicker...should I need or want to.
So then I started looking for a 180 of some make ..all second hand...then I spoke to my Cousin who is a welder ..and he advised "buy new".
So then the price for the 180 + amp welder obviously went up so then I REALLY started reading up because I couldnt justify the money... I also started asking myself do I really need a more powerful welder ...what will I use it on.
I want to buy a welder once thats all...so IF something comes up thats a little thicker..I have enough welder to do it.
Like that saying.."its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it" or something like that.
I think Im going to just keep looking and reading up and hopefully by the time I get the money together I will know what I want.
Im going to look on ebay now for a cheap Arc welder...any tips or advice on a make size power etc ?
Thank you
Daniel

 

[Supernube]

pick up an old cheap buzz-box arc welder, and gradually teach yourself a new skill.

Hello again...what sort of Arc welder should I be looking for please ?
I am about to spend the evening looking at them ..reading about them and sadly watching videos of them being used on You tube lol.
Is it the same basic thing as a mig as far as amps / thickness is concerned or do they perform differently ?
All questions I will no doubt know the answers to by the time I go to bed but I would like the opinions of people with experience.
Thank you
Daniel

 

[Supernube]

Just thinking actually ...maybe Im being a bit stupid now....now !! lol
Im about to buy two welders....the £350 GYS and now an Arc welder thats bound to cost me what.. another £100 ?? ...thats putting me in the realms of the PortaMIG ...and I think thats man enough for the 5mm + is it not ?
Im going to carry on watching Kevin Caron on you tube...and check back in a bit.
Im sorry to keep going on....just rather mention things on here than not ya know.
Thank you
Daniel

 

[PTvor]

Thanks Keith....To be perfectly honest I dont actually know how much 5mm I will come across...but I am sure I will.
My need for a welder came from my son wanting me to make him a drift trike out of an old BMX ...he saw a video on You tube and that was it.
So I started looking for a welder for that sort of thing...hence why I started out wanting a hobby type welder...Clarke 100...then a Clarke 150...then started to read about welding and welders more and more and found many people saying that wont cope with anything thicker...should I need or want to.

Seems like a slippery slope towards having a three-phase supply installed and seriously expensive synergic MIG welders with water cooled torches, just in case.

So then I started looking for a 180 of some make ..all second hand...then I spoke to my Cousin who is a welder ..and he advised "buy new".

Who buys his gear, or is he self-employed and it's all worked out through the business? There's lots of new rubbish out there.

Go round to the local garage and ask to have a look at their welding gear. Odds are it's a Migatronic or similar they've had for years and the new equivalent is a bit short of a grand. They were never too bothered about the cost and if they sold it working they'd have no bother getting £400.

So then the price for the 180 + amp welder obviously went up so then I REALLY started reading up because I couldnt justify the money... I also started asking myself do I really need a more powerful welder ...what will I use it on.
I want to buy a welder once thats all...so IF something comes up thats a little thicker..I have enough welder to do it.
Like that saying.."its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it" or something like that.
I think Im going to just keep looking and reading up and hopefully by the time I get the money together I will know what I want.

Sometimes you just have to make a decision. You seem inclined toward the Gysmi. Weldequip sells it, so it won't be crap. It will have a s/h value.

Im going to look on ebay now for a cheap Arc welder...any tips or advice on a make size power etc ?
Thank you
Daniel

Loads of threads on here about arc welders. Buzz boxes, oil coiled and inverters. A whole subject in itself.

However, since you want to weld up bike frames and only think you might want to weld 5mm steel, I'd concentrate on the MIG and keep an eye out for an arc welder rather than worry about a MIG which can do that. Keith19's advice was good.

Last time I was in Aldi there were a few of their 160A buzz boxes for £30 remaindered.

If you are patient on ebay things turn up which are for local collection only so the price is depressed, or for some reason there isn't much interest in.

 

[Supernube]

Thank you PTvor for the advice.
I have never used a welder before and Im already thinking about buying two different types...maybe you are right...go for the GYS ...learn on the drift trike build and go from there.
The GYS does seem like a good welder for the novice...with the electronic controls (nobody mention them failing please lol)
Im so stressed out

Thank you

 

[keith19]

You don't need to feel stressed about the GYS electronics failing, I don't think we've had any reports of that on here. More reports of the (Shhhh!) Portamig's electronic control boards failing, and that isn't very often. Most under guarantee, and quickly repaired by the company. A small percentage of all electronics are going to fail now and then, over time, whether it's in cars, factory machinery, or hobby welders. The important thing is whether not they can be replaced or repaired easily and cheaply.

PTvor is absolutely right about the order of doing things: get yourself a mig first, do plenty of practice so you get the feel of handling the torch, read up and watch movies and learn all you can as you go along, and just keep an easy eye out for an arc welder. Don't go looking for one. They come along on their own eventually, and you'll be amazed at how cheap they are. Mine was £25 s/h, a little Italian CEA 126, but it does everything efficiently and welds thick metal my 150A Clarke won't even look at.

Don't think of spending anything like £100 or more on one, that puts you in the s/h oil-cooled class of arc welder, much superior to the buzz-box, but very heavy and big on space. You would have to be doing plenty of heavyish welding every week to need one of those. Or be an enthusiast with plenty of room

 

[PTvor]

Thank you PTvor for the advice.
I have never used a welder before and Im already thinking about buying two different types...maybe you are right...go for the GYS ...learn on the drift trike build and go from there.

Don't forget that with the GYS you are not out of the woods with £350. There's the gas conversion kit, another £50. Gas, even pub gas. Wire, angle grinder and discs, an auto dark helmet, clamps. This stuff isn't that much and some of it lasts for years, it all mounts up though and makes £350 look a bit optimistic.

The GYS does seem like a good welder for the novice...with the electronic controls (nobody mention them failing please lol)
Im so stressed out

Wimp. Reverse engineer 'em and learn a new skill. Of course that will involve microprocessor development kits, ICEs and lots of other fun stuff.

 

[Supernube]

Ive just seen an Arc welder on Ebay that says "230/410 voltage" ....does that mean I cannot run it from normal household electric ?
Or would I need one of those Transformers to run it through ?
And if so...what transformer am I looking for please ?
Any advice will be very much appreciated
Thank you
Daniel

 

[PTvor]

It means you can run it on a heavy (32A or at least a 16A) single phase supply or a light three phase supply.

A transformer or single to three phase converter would do no good because you are still limited by the amount of power you can get out of a 240V supply.

With a 140A/160A single phase buzz box you tend to be blowing 13A fuses at around 130A. With a 200A buzz box you'd have pretty much the same limitation so there'd be a section of the current range you couldn't use, without a heavy current supply.

 

[Supernube]

It means you can run it on a heavy (32A or at least a 16A) single phase supply or a light three phase supply.

A transformer or single to three phase converter would do no good because you are still limited by the amount of power you can get out of a 240V supply.

With a 140A/160A single phase buzz box you tend to be blowing 13A fuses at around 130A. With a 200A buzz box you'd have pretty much the same limitation so there'd be a section of the current range you couldn't use, without a heavy current supply.

Thank you ..but I just dont understand what you are saying. I dont get the electrics quoted...at all.
PLEASE ..if possible to...can you simplify it...pretend Im an idiot
Thank you
Daniel

 

[madkayaker]

Are we all sitting down .


Right Ivy Watts is a powerful lady


Or I (current)=Watts\voltage. (There is a bit more todo with power factors and harmonics but lets leave that for now)


If a machine gives two voltages like that is means it can be run on different voltages with different levels of input current. So it will draw more current on 230V than 400v (220-240 depending on the chosen market is all the same as is 400-415v)


So simple example my stick welder will run on 230V or 400V (both classed as single phase) and will draw 32A on 230V or 16A (ish) on 400V

 

[madkayaker]

If you post a link to the welder (or pm me if it a bid item and you want to avoid advertising) and I will tell you how feeble running at go e would be