Help needed picking a mig

[Madforwelding45]

Hey guys I'm new here. I need help picking a mig. It for general farm repairs plus making gates and railings and general fabrication. I'd be welding any where from exhaust pipe up to 15mm steel. If a few migs in mind . A swp 280/4 jasic mig 250 . Unimg 252 histrike . All advice welcome. Love the site.

 

[Munkul]

Hi do you have 3 phase electrics, or single phase only? Ideally go 3phase if you can, you get more machine for less money (in general).

Have a look at Oxford/Tec-arc machines, made in Britain, well priced and generally well regarded on here.

 

[Madforwelding45]

Hello I have single phase only . I have look at them but it takes too long to get them here in Ireland. I'd be looking at waiting a month

 

[TechnicAl]

Hi do you have 3 phase electrics, or single phase only? Ideally go 3phase if you can, you get more machine for less money (in general).

Have a look at Oxford/Tec-arc machines, made in Britain, well priced and generally well regarded on here.

Agreed
https://technicalarc.co.uk/

 

[Madforwelding45]

What would be the max steel thickness for a 250 amp mig

 

[TechnicAl]

You could do your 15mm but a butt weld would need a prep...chamfered edges

 

[Madforwelding45]

I know this is off topic now but I need a good stick welder too any advice

 

[TechnicAl]

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forums/portamig-oxford-tec-arc.37/

you could look through this to get opinions

 

[oilcooled :)]

I bought the 410 oxford on single phase serious machine worth every penny. Great value for money and duty cycle, that swp 280 I had one it was a horrible plant.

 

[Memmeddu]

I know this is off topic now but I need a good stick welder too any advice

It's everything related to your budget
But something that can run 3.2mm 7018 should be good enough
I have a cheap inverter unit 250A , I'm very pleased with it , but I had to replace various things like the ground clamp and electrode holder (not the cables) and the power cord , because they was very low quality ...
But I've run 4mm rods with it , I'm repeating very happy with it.
But according to your budget (jasic isn't cheap ) you would probably like to go for an high end unit
Here in Italy a Fronius Transpocket 150 costs something around 600 euros , and it's at the top of my personal "I would like to have" list .
If you need portability , relatively speaking portable because it's an heavy option ...
You could consider to buy an used engine driven welder , they are usually better than any kind an cost inverter welder , you can use them everywhere less than than closed ambients .
You have just to fill the fuel tank ,check the oil level start the engine and weld
I have a small engine driven , not the smallest but enough portable I got it for 350 euros

 

[Munkul]

I hate to say it because I don't like Jasic as a company... but the Jasic MIG 250C will do MIG and stick, and it'll probably do both really quite well. Unless you need a toaster sized stick machine for portability?

The small Jasic 160 stick welders are really good for most types of rod, we still have one in our workshop.

 

[Gareth0123]

I know this is off topic now but I need a good stick welder too any advice

Go for the R-tech 250-1 240 volt Single phase, 250 amp mig/200 amp arc, takes all sizes of wire reels, has a built in spool gun socket, standard 3 year warranty with an option for two more additional years and Interest free credit option.

Had my R-tech 250-1 for just a little over 5 years now, it migs up to 16 & 20mm round bar with ease and 20mm M/S plate with multi passes for me, but spends most of its time welding 8mm and 10mm thick M/S without a single issue and it has laid down 180 X 15kg reels which is 2.7 tons of A18 x 0.8 wire. It has also laid down a fair amount of 1mm A18 wire, some stainless wire and about 4kg of extremely expensive mig brazing wire
I only occasionally use the arc facility but when I do it lays down 2.5, 3.2, 4 and 5mm rods with ease.

I've refurbished several GP telehandler and Drott 4-in-1buckets with it, built 3 custom telehandler buckets, made new gates and cattle chutes, repaired existing feed rails and gates in cattle crew yards, manufactured all of my stocked products and most of my bespoke projects with it over the last 5 years, although my R-Tech 200amp Tig is being used more and more for the less than 3mm thick light weight bespoke work these days and that is through preference and not the machines ability.

 

[Madforwelding45]

The rtec seems to be a good machine . Have you had any issues with it at all

 

[Burdekin]

A lot of the Rtech machines have gone up a lot so there's better options these days but the 250-1 still looks well priced for the spec.

 

[Madforwelding45]

Would the frounis transsteel 2200 be worth a look or the essab rebel

 

[Memmeddu]

Would the frounis transsteel 2200 be worth a look or the essab rebel

Them are both high end machine , but just don't stick with only two brands
Look out also for kemppy

 

[Madforwelding45]

I suppose it's really down to what I want do I want a big 300amp mig. Or do I buy a machine like the transsteel . And do most of my heavy welding with mma. Or maybe buy a top end mma welder and then something like a kemppi minarc mig 200 for lighter welding

 

[Burdekin]

I have a Portamig (made by tecarc), they weld really nice and are UK made. Electrics inside are basic so no problem fixing that side of things if things break, but they are transformer so heavy machines. Fine for wheeling round the workshop but not portable. If looking for a 300amp machine I'd go the Portamig/Oxford/Tecarc route myself. They are good quality, British made machines with excellent aftermarket help if required.

https://www.weldequip.com/portamig-hd-mig-welders.htm

 

[Munkul]

Would the frounis transsteel 2200 be worth a look or the essab rebel

If I had to have a single portable 240v machine for MIG and stick and no budget restriction, it would probably be one of those two.

Others to consider - GYS multipearl 200-4 xl; Parweld xtm 200i

These are all in the 200 amp class though, whereas you started out looking at 250amp machines with a bit more oomph?

 

[eddie49]

For completeness, have to mention the Paton 250 Amp inverter MIG/Arc:
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/paton-welding-machine.94286/
and also the Phil Weeks "Warrior" range:
http://www.warriorwelders.com/warrior-mig-welders/