Is this a good welder?

[Steven Rowan]

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Hi everyone, I’m completely new to welding and recently started my c&g course at Leeds college of building MIG I’m only a few hours in on the night class, but I’m hooked.

in an ideal world I would look for employment and progress my skills from there. But the climate is tough and the no real experience is going to kill my chances of even getting through the door. I have read many threads from people in my boat and I want to be different so I’m not on here moaning it’s rubbish in 6 months.

my plan is simple. Buy a weld kit, buy some steel and make a few projects, help people locally and so on. Get it all documented pictures and the like and then start applying. Issue is I’m still unsure of the requirement for a home set up.

the attached document is my amazon basket other than an angle grinder and PPE is this all I should need? Will the welder run off of my house outlet or am I going to need a generator?

thank you all in advance. Any guidance appreciated

27 Leeds.

 

[Benterrier]

Welcome to the forum. Your choice of welder has good reviews on the Amazon website, they're all good if they do the job and don't breakdown! At least there appears to be a contact if you have any problems.
My advice would be to use your local welding supplies.
With what you have in your basket MMA stick mode welding would be first to and easier place to start. Get yourself some clean 3mm - 12mm scrap mild steel from your fabrication shop and give it a blast.
Your choice of flux core wire wouldn't be the best place to start. Budget for gas mig, far easier and better results.
I have never tig welded so can't comment but your intended machine would do basic Lift Tig I expect.
This forum is a great place to seek advice more friendly advice will probably come your way. Best regards

 

[skotl]

I'd echo what Betnerrier says. TIG is probably a bit ambitious to start with, especially lift TIG, so I'd start with stick and try out the MIG too.

Actually - starting with stick is probably the way to go. Once you have the basic technique down then MIG should be pretty straightforward.

You'll need gloves, too - pretty much anything on Amazon should do.

Others might suggest (as I have for others, too) that you look for a secondhand named-brand machine but if you're genuinely starting out from scratch then a brand new machine with a warranty is probably better.

...make a few projects, help people locally and so on...

Finally - be really sure of your capability before doing anything for anyone else. Even a "gentleman's agreement" won't cover you from any kind of public liability if what you make fails and injures someone.