looking for a mig welder

[simon holland]

hi im looking at buying a mig welder i was going to buy a wolf 140 from amazon for £165 but after doing a search i found this site and not many good reviews about them im looking to spend a few hundred on one for occasional car repairs due to owning 2 morris minors and 2 landrovers dont mind weather its new or used what are peoples reccomenations
thanks si

 

[Robotstar5]

Welcome to the forum, Clarke machines get good reviews on here or a Portamig if your serious about welding

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I have a Portamig 285hd can't fault it

 

[simon holland]

would this be any good http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wolf-Mig1...ltDomain_3&hash=item4172f11814#ht_2308wt_1327

 

[Exuptoy]

I'd steer clear. Pile of poo!

There is a second hand, hardly used Clarke 151 for sale on the late bay website for £250 ono (List price £311) Nowt to do with me and don't care if the mods see fit to removing the link. If it were me I'd try the seller and remind him that on a vat free night you could pick that up for £259 brand new and try to get £50 off.

http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/clarke-151te-turbo-mig-welder-excellent-condition.23885/

 

[simon holland]

I'd steer clear. Pile of poo!

There is a second hand, hardly used Clarke 151 for sale on the late bay website for £250 ono (List price £311) Nowt to do with me and don't care if the mods see fit to removing the link. If it were me I'd try the seller and remind him that on a vat free night you could pick that up for £259 brand new and try to get £50 off.

http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/clarke-151te-turbo-mig-welder-excellent-condition.23885/

whats the vat free night and wheres that at 259 as if its a good welder i might aswell buy a new one thanks si

 

[penfold]

MachineMart have promotional 'VAT free' days; go to their website and order a catalogue. I'm not sure if they add you to the mailing list when you order a catalogue or if you have to buy something; best phone up and ask.

 

[simon holland]

what about this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/CLARKE-MIG-...qid=1367876150&sr=1-19&keywords=clarke+welder

 

[oddball90]

If you are going to repair land rovers you would need more power, at least 150 amps.

 

[normspanners]

If you are going to repair land rovers you would need more power, at least 150 amps.

-----x2

 

[simon holland]

right bought a clarke 135 turbo from machine mart, can i get bigger bottles for it or do i have to stick to the disposables and whats the differance between the different disposable gasses think there co2, argon, co2 argon mix
thanks si

 

[Wozzaaah]

So after all that you've just ignored all the advice in this thread then!

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

135 is a bit light on power for the thicker stuff

 

[simon holland]

it wont get used that much and it can be used on a 3 pin plug with no problems as the landrovers are on galv chassises its only my one moggy i need to weld so 3mm is the biggest ill be doing

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

if your only going to 3mm it will be fine, yeh u can convert to using a refillable gas cylinder, you want Co2 or an AR/Co2 mix, the mix is better

 

[simon holland]

thanks if i do use it alot a can always buy a better one at a later date

 

[radhew]

Evening gents,

Hope you dont mind me butting in this interesting thread... I am in the market for a new MIG, we have a 15 year old SIP 195 (crappy wire feed, but it goes(after a fashion)) which is just about on its last legs.

For heavy stuff I use our old oxford 3-phase MMA jobby so just need it for the routine agricultural fabriaction work, typ. 5-6mm; max 10-12mm. The portamigs seem to get good reviews - what do the lads doing serious welding think of them? I tend to always use 0.8wire and argoshield universal.

Any thoughts, or should I be upping the budget.

Thanks
Dave

PS great forum.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I have a portamig 285, its a good bit of kit, min setting of 25A so good on thin stuff too, and will weld 10mm no problem
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=40280
built to last available in 1 phase or 3 phase

 

[radhew]

Thanks Jim,

It was a bit of regular/serious user feedback I was after before committing.

Cheers
Dave