Hello

[Christophe]

Hi all,
Long time lurker and thought that it's about time I introduced myself. Usual story really, bought a classic car and very quickly realised that I either need to learn to weld or get a bigger bank balance... So I've booked myself onto a 4 day MIG course with CBWS in June and now trying to decide which MIG to buy.

Here's a photo of the project. Don't be fooled by the shiny photo - It looks great from a distance but is in serious need of rust repair in all of the usual places and was only sat alongside a collection of local classic cars. It's very much not show-worthy at this stage!

 

[addjunkie]

I had one of those in the early 80s, when I was considering a career change to hair dressing. It needed welding then. Good fun though. 40 years later to still only need a bit of welding its doing ok.

As for which mig to buy….whats your budget?

 

[Christophe]

I've been going back and forth for weeks on this. On one hand I'm under no illusion that I have the skills to justify anything beyond the most basic of units, but I do like the idea of a long warranty and good support from a local supplier. So right now it's a toss up between the BlackLine 200 from Rally Design, an Autostar 160 or the R-Tech 180 for its 5 year warranty.

I'm budgeting around £500 - £600 for the MIG welder and then another £100 or-so for gas, mask etc.

 

[tigdlo]

£100 or-so for gas, mask etc.

Spending a bit more on a larger bottle of gas will be much better value in the long run, even the first bottle will be cheaper per litre of gas.

 

[RWD3M]

The R-Tech 180 will be more MIG than you'll ever need and good advice from @tigdlo re gas.

I have had a Cebora 130 for the last 30 years or so and I've restored a GT6, Morris 8 and a Rover SD1 Vitesse, amongst many other car repairs, and i've never found it wanting.

I'd recommend getting a true colour, auto-darkening mask. They are now relatively inexpensive and will make a huge difference. It might also be advisable to get one that can take a cheater lens (your mask supplier can advise you on this)!

By the way, where was that picture taken?

 

[Christophe]

That's my current thinking on the R-Tech. I could buy cheaper, in fact half the price for the BlackLine, but R-Tech are only an hour or so from me and in fact Oxford Welding Supplies are a supplier and only 10 mins down the road, so I figure the warranty and peace of mind more than justify the added cost.

Good shout on the gas bottle. There's a Hobby Weld supplier down the road from me, so I was planning to head down there and see what they recommend.

 

[Christophe]

Currently playing find the solid metal/how much of this am I going to need to cut out.

 

[RWD3M]

Daft question, but I take it you are aware that pretty much every panel for the Spitfire is available new from BMH in Witney?

 

[Christophe]

Very much not a daft question. I had no idea they existed and certainly not so close! Thanks for the heads-up!

Just spotted your question about where the photo was taken. Assuming you know the area, it's at Wood Bros Gin Distillery. They have a classic car night on the second Friday of every month.

 

[RWD3M]

Very much not a daft question. I had no idea they existed and certainly not so close! Thanks for the heads-up!

Just spotted your question about where the photo was taken. Assuming you know the area, it's at Wood Bros Gin Distillery. They have a classic car night on the second Friday of every month.

You might want to consider membership of either the TSSC (Triumph Sports Six Club) or Club Triumph (which I am a member of), if you haven't already, they are a great source of spares, info and advice.

Here are a couple of links:

Home

www.clubtriumph.co.uk

The Triumph Sports Six Club

The Triumph Sports Six Club. The Triumph Classic Car Club that warmly welcomes all International Triumph enthusiasts

www.tssc.org.uk

I should clarify, BMH make them, mostly on original tooling, but they are sold through places like Canley Classics, Rimmer Bros. etc.

Canley Classics

Canley Classics - The Triumph Spare Parts and Accessories Specialist

www.canleyclassics.com

Rimmer Bros British Automotive Parts and Accessories

Parts & Spares for Triumph, Land Rover, Range Rover, Rover, MG, & Jaguar - Fast delivery worldwide - PayPal & PayPal Credit available - British car experts - 01522 568000 - 1-855-746-2767

rimmerbros.com

Abingdon MG Parts Ltd - British Motor Heritage Limited

Abingdon MG Parts Ltd991 Wolverhampton RoadOldburyWest MidlandsB69 4RJ Telephone: 0121 544 4444Email: info@davidmanners.co.ukWeb: www.abingdonmgparts.co.uk Makes and Marques:MG and MG Midget, […]

www.bmh-ltd.com

Good luck with the resto, and remember, we like pictures, lots and lots of pictures!

 

[RWD3M]

Just spotted your question about where the photo was taken. Assuming you know the area, it's at Wood Bros Gin Distillery. They have a classic car night on the second Friday of every month.

Thought it looked familiar, I was at Brize for a few years.

 

[Christophe]

Thought it looked familiar, I was at Brize for a few years.

Ah, so probably back when that was a mushroom farm?

 

[addjunkie]

That's my current thinking on the R-Tech. I could buy cheaper, in fact half the price for the BlackLine, but R-Tech are only an hour or so from me and in fact Oxford Welding Supplies are a supplier and only 10 mins down the road, so I figure the warranty and peace of mind more than justify the added cost.

Good shout on the gas bottle. There's a Hobby Weld supplier down the road from me, so I was planning to head down there and see what they recommend.

When looking at gas, look at both the volume and the pressure. The smaller hobbyweld bottles are only 137 bar. Wheres as the other non rental options SGS from various auto factors are 200.
Id be buying the 5 year warranty too, on the machine. They do have a good name for customer support too.

 

[Christophe]

When looking at gas, look at both the volume and the pressure. The smaller hobbyweld bottles are only 137 bar. Wheres as the other non rental options SGS from various auto factors are 200.
Id be buying the 5 year warranty too, on the machine. They do have a good name for customer support too.

Good advice, thanks. I take it that the pressure difference is important?

 

[Barking Mat]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[RobCox]

Good advice, thanks. I take it that the pressure difference is important?

Twice the pressure equals twice the gas!

 

[addjunkie]

Twice the pressure equals twice the gas!

Simplistically put, correct assuming the temperature remains constant.

https://www.sgsgases.co.uk/find-a-distributor/

 

[doubleboost]

Welcome to the forum .
If you go for the R Tech MIG
Get the new 181 .
The built in settings will make your life much easier as a novice welder .

 

[Christophe]

Simplistically put, correct assuming the temperature remains constant.

https://www.sgsgases.co.uk/find-a-distributor/

Thanks! Quite a few dealers near me.

 

[Christophe]

Welcome to the forum .
If you go for the R Tech MIG
Get the new 181 .
The built in settings will make your life much easier as a novice welder .

I did look at the 181 but the nerd in me wants to learn "properly" and I wondered if the extra setting might be cheating? But as you say, maybe I should accept that being a novice means I need all the help I can get!