mig for a beginner with a few projects in mind

[jasongtr]

hi there, i appreciate there are many of these threads but please send some advice this way too.

I'm looking for a MIG welder to be capable of general car welding and up to around 5mm steel.

i need to weld some 4-5mm stock to make a frame work against the car chassis rails and do some stitch welding to strengthen the shell, along with some minor repairs.

i can get the welding i need done by someone i know but figured id rather spend the money buying a welder and do it myself, obviously i would practice on something other than the final car.

budget would prefer to be under a £1000 to buy all i need, including mask, a range of clamps etc.

ill be welding 99% of the time indoors and would need to be 240v mains supply.

what do you suggest and also what ones to avoid.

i can get the gas from supplier i know

many thanks in advance

 

[ukracer]

Get intouch with R-tech and they will sort you out with an unbeatable deal that includes 2 years warranty where they pay for any repairs parts and carriage. Not bad confidence in their equipment.

 

[cumbriasteve]

A nice budget to have, as mentioned R-Tech have a good reputation but my personal choice for the work you mention would be a Portamig 215.

It obviously is 240v and it may or may not require a dedicated supply, usually above 130 to 150 amps will require such but I never had a problem with my Portamig 235 using it at 75% power and occasionally full power for short runs.

 

[jasongtr]

cheers, i did look at the portamig 215 - did seem to cover all the bases

 

[ned]

i bought this recently, i looo ooo ooo ve it.

http://www.weldequip.com/ifl-170-mig.htm

generally, its made pretty simple, = go to the weldequip webshop attached to this forum, and look at or buy from, there. I got the impression, that all of the products on the page are well screened, and wouldnt be there, if they were junk.

I read for days and weeks, and thats my conclusion.

After buying from weldequip, I think the guy who runs the shop is a legend, it was a positive experience.

 

[jasongtr]

fired an email off to weldequip so once they are back in after new year ill be ordering a portamig 215

 

[Wallace]

fired an email off to weldequip so once they are back in after new year ill be ordering a portamig 215

I used my 215 today on a repair I have been dreading, fresh 1.5mm to cleaned up pitted 1.5mm and the job went better than expected due to the lower current settings. I'm not trying to put you off, are you aware of the waiting time from ordering?

 

[jasongtr]

yes I'm ok even if its 2 months, I'm still stripping the car down, so the welder will be with me before i need it anyway

 

[jackjosh]

I have a Portamig 185, it is superb

 

[jasongtr]

so the portamig 215 turned up today, 30mins after the kit from weld equip with the torch/spares (i bought) and the 0.6mm wire, only things i need now are the plug (dodnt even consider id need to put on one)

but what i need to know is where to get a gas cylinder key thingy, square type one. Are there any diy places that will sell them like wicked etc, could do without going to the local BOC place - if it matters its a Y sized argoshield bottle from BOC

 

[Paul.]

Any welding supplies shop will sell spindle keys, or you could get one online, http://www.tooled-up.com/product/bu...oductlisting&gclid=CPa6i4-XuLwCFdShtAod7k4A0A


Edit; or even better http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DF-Spindl...576?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27cb2dbfa8

 

[jasongtr]

CHEERS, just bought one off ebay as it goes, be here monday they say, if i find a place on my travels tomorrow ill buy another one so i can start blowing holes on saturday

 

[weldequip]

CHEERS, just bought one off ebay as it goes, be here monday they say, if i find a place on my travels tomorrow ill buy another one so i can start blowing holes on saturday

I'll bung you one in the post tomorrow Jason, be with you Saturday morning

 

[jasongtr]

what a star, many thanks

 

[Paul.]

It never hurts to have a few keys around, they have a habit of wandering off when your backs turned, mine are chained to the necks of the cylinders,

 

[jasongtr]

very true, hopefully mine won't as theres only me - but if its chained at least i cannot lose it and blame someone for nicking it

 

[Wallace]

Chain it to the machine!

 

[jasongtr]

i have gone to use the portamig today and can't help thinking theres something missing, the 5kg reel slides onto the spindle but theres a big angle for the wire to go to the wire feed - am i missing the adapter for the 5kg reels?