Help choosing mig welder

[Ben88]

So i'll be looking to buy a portable gas mig welder 240v (£500ish) for doing cars an other work maybe a few gates if it would be possible on 240. Ive only used 3 phase so dont know the capabilties of the 240 would 6mm be possible? wanting best duty cycle i can appreicate any help cheers

 

[cumbriasteve]

When you state portable, does that mean you want to be moving it from the workshop to other work areas on a regular basis.

I owned a Portamig 235 for gates and railings, also an excellent machine for car bodywork, the range starts close to your price but it's not a machine you could easily lift into a car without the risk of back trouble.

The Oxford are virtually the same machines and may have slightly more electrical refinements.

You may find on a normal plug it will trip above 150 amps and you need to uprate the supply, it would still be 240v.

If you do require true portability then you should be looking at the inverter machines, you still have a bottle of gas to contend with though so gas mig and portability is never really an easy solution.

 

[overload]

Lorch M-pro 252 is a good choice. http://www.waspsupplies.com/lorch-m...machine-240v-from-wasp-supplies-ltd-826-p.asp

 

[cumbriasteve]

Lorch M-pro 252 is a good choice. http://www.waspsupplies.com/lorch-m...machine-240v-from-wasp-supplies-ltd-826-p.asp

I think £1300 is a tad over the op's budget of £500

 

[overload]

I think £1300 is a tad over the op's budget of £500

Oops. Didn't see that!

 

[addjunkie]

Firstly does your 500 include the regulator and gas as well. If so itll bring you down to roughly 400 for the machine or increase your budget to 600.

Migs are not really that portable a bottle of gas is quite heavy, and using the daft little disposables is a farce. If your are going to be lugging it around in and out of vans etc, a transformer machine is heavier but less to go wrong and easier the fix than an inverter machine.

 

[Jim Davey]

GYS Smartmig 162 or 182 is a good buy. I'd go for the 162 if space is at a premium and leave the wheel kit off. Or if space isn't an overriding concern go for the more conventionally sized 182 and take advantage of 15 kg spools and a sensible bottle platform.

 

[Ben88]

Yes i'll be on the move with it 50% of the time mainly weekends to start with, dont expect gas in with it but earth,mig gun & regulater would be great, on the price note i may think about spending a bit more if its worth it like i do like the looks of the Kemppi minarc evo 200 anyone used this before, it says its runs from a 16 amp supply will that keep tripping the electric as i assume it'll be 13 amp plugs im using. Thanks for the fast replies guys

 

[Jim Davey]

Kemppi gets good feedback, other contenders at that money are the Speedtec 200 from Lincoln.