Help the new man

[abo]

Hi there, i've only just joined your knowlegable forum and hope you can Help me?
I'm on the start up page of welding and my aim is to make some patio furniture, small tables and chairs, hanging baskets etc. I would think nothing thicker than round 5mm ( chair legs ) 3-5mm flat stock for the rest. I'm a woodworker trying to do something different.
I have a £500 budget as i know what cheap tools can do..........
If you old hands had it what would you buy from todays market?
I look forward to your comments

Steve.
p.s. thanks to Wozzaaah for his input and suggesting this new thread.

 

[Wozzaaah]

No probs Abo, new topics within existing threads can so easily get overlooked. I'll just repost what I replied in in that other thread for reference....

£500 will get you a very respectable machine. The sort of stuff you mention won't involve long runs so duty cycle isn't really an issue. A portamig 181 would be well within your budget, so would a Butters AMT 1800 or a Sureweld Monomig 181. All are 180ish amps, all have similar duty cycles but the portamig has the added advantage of having a lower minimum setting than the others so better for thin bodywork.

 

[abo]

lower minimum setting

Thanks for that, am i right in thinking the lower minimum setting is also needed for thinner gauge metals?
steve.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hehe, just me and you Steve . Thought by starting a new thread we might get you a few more responses . Yes, the lower the better for thin stuff, most 'hobby' and 'semi-pro' migs have a 30A minimum setting, some go as low as 25 or even 20A and the bigger stuff tends to start from 40A. Weldequip would be the man to speak to, send him a PM telling him how much you want to spend and see what sort of package he can put together, I think the Portamig 181 comes out at under £500 and lots of owners on here swear by them, that has a low of 20A. Might be worth stretching your budget a tiny bit more and treating yourself to an auto-darkening mask too. (or get someone to buy it for Christmas )

 

[abo]

Thanks wozzaaahh, i'll give weldequip a call and see what he says. I'll report back when I get sorted.

steve.

 

[irondarren]

Add to your list of bits, a nice pair of welding guantlets, not expensive, but saves burned hands