MIG Welder for Track Car Project

[Turbo Quattro]

Afternoon Chaps, thought I would run this by the forum before getting the Visa out. I have been welding lots of stuff with TIG but all new shiny metal, mostly stainless so happy day's but I'm about to embark on my first car restoration, I've had a trial go with the TIG and as I expected its too dirty despite my efforts to clean the weld areas, I found it especially bad when attempting to stitch weld the panel seams, it seems the paint & kak between the panels is too much for the TIG to tolerate and tends to pop molten metal at me! (tested on spare old panels!)

So the obvious answer is get a MIG. I have been reading lots over the weekend, most google searches bring me back here, lots of good info and experience so hopefully you can make this a bit simpler for me.

I need a MIG that can weld the thin panels of a car for repairs, stitch weld the chassis and also have enough grunt to possibly weld 3mm plate & 3mm CDS tubing for the cage. I intend to use a refillable BOC cylinder for the gas not those disposable things. I have narrowed it down to either the Clarke 160TM @ £290, or do I push the boat out and get the Portamig 185 @ £579!?!

Is the portamig twice the machine? Will it make welding the car up a doddle compared with the clarke? I've only ever used big 3 phase Cebora rigs, they were awesome, made it real easy to lay good welds, so thats my MIG experience and I don't want a machine that will fight me the whole way and make the project a tedious ball ache, I enjoy welding so want something that just works, crap machinery will just get fixed with a hammer in the end!

So will the clarke work out alright or will I just smash it up, christ since I wrote all that I think I've made my mind up! Either way your comments & experiences would be gratefully received.

Andy

 

[troppo]

I dont know the machines myself (different brands etc down here in aus) but i was given some good advice years ago, always buy the best you can afford and always plan for bigger/thicker/stronger than you need now.
So get the best you can afford, maybe even look into decent second hand machines, you could get a bigger one for the same price.
Cheers
Troppo

 

[wellyweld]

Would always advise to get the best you can afford within reason. The Portamig is made in York & will outperform the Clarke, don't sell Clarke so not in best position to judge. However for that money, my feeling is that somwehere down the piece quality will be compromised.

I know it's a shameless plug but the same makers of Portamig also make us a range called Britarc & it might be worth you checking out the BA161. Certainly in spec & may be a bit cheaper.

 

[octo0072000]

new welder

if you are used to big 3 phase mig i would go with the portamig
the build quality is better wire feed etc etc
the Clarke is a good mig also but more aimed at diy market the portamig goes down to 15 amps unlike the Clarke at 30amps i think
like anything you pays your money and takes your choice talk to weld quip ask his advice he sells both at good rates he is also over your way i think
http://www.weldequip.com/

 

[Turbo Quattro]

Thanks for the swift repsonse peeps, it all helps. As far buy the best you can afford, i could drop £1K+ if needed but I guess I just want a setup that will get the job well and without resorting to fixing it with the hammer out of frustration! I thought the Portamig would be the one to go for, I have been looking on the weldequip website, maybe a phonecall is the way forward then. I will also check out the Britarc stuff as well, a try before you buy would be fantastic, I would know instantly which one I wanted!

 

[octo0072000]

Thanks for the swift repsonse peeps, it all helps. As far buy the best you can afford, i could drop £1K+ if needed but I guess I just want a setup that will get the job well and without resorting to fixing it with the hammer out of frustration! I thought the Portamig would be the one to go for, I have been looking on the weldequip website, maybe a phonecall is the way forward then. I will also check out the Britarc stuff as well, a try before you buy would be fantastic, I would know instantly which one I wanted!

Teck arc is another name as well made by guess who in york if you buy from them in lots you have a mig called whatever you want

 

[Turbo Quattro]

Hmm thats why they all look the same! Just different colours lol. There are some small variances in the functionality as well though, turns it all into a bit of mind field really. The PortaMIG goes down to 15 amps, the rest don't seem to, how important would this be in this application?

 

[troppo]

Hmm thats why they all look the same! Just different colours lol. There are some small variances in the functionality as well though, turns it all into a bit of mind field really. The PortaMIG goes down to 15 amps, the rest don't seem to, how important would this be in this application?

depends on what your welding, tinfoil?

 

[octo0072000]

for car body work 20 25amps is good my only goes down to 30 and is OK if you use" thin metal technique" if i had the funds i would go with the portomig for the low amps

lots of threads on portamig just search
try this one
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=26908

 

[Turbo Quattro]

I will be patching up my strangely very rotted Audi S2 coupe, appears there is some bad repair work done in the past! I would also like to stitch weld the panel seams to increase the chassis stiffness and maybe get brave enough to cage it. I haven't even thought to measure how thick the original metal work is!

Im leaning heavily toward the Portamig, seems to be exactly what I need if not a bit overkill but if it cuts down on the frustration factor the project as a whole will progress more swiftly and I will be a happier camper!

 

[slimjim]

The clarke will work fine but

you will yearn for a model with a eurotorch connection and a 4meter torch lead as in my opinion the clarke leads are to short.

myself I went for the portamig 215, and its a great machine and well worth the extra, pop over to Cockermouth if you want to have a try

 

[octo0072000]

I will be patching up my strangely very rotted Audi S2 coupe, appears there is some bad repair work done in the past! I would also like to stitch weld the panel seams to increase the chassis stiffness and maybe get brave enough to cage it. I haven't even thought to measure how thick the original metal work is!

I'm leaning heavily toward the Portamig, seems to be exactly what I need if not a bit overkill but if it cuts down on the frustration factor the project as a whole will progress more swiftly and I will be a happier camper!

normal car body panel work is 0.8 mm to 1mm land rover discovery are 1.2 mm chassis rails maybe 1.5 to 2mm or there about land rover chassis about 3mm ish

 

[Turbo Quattro]

The clarke will work fine but

you will yearn for a model with a eurotorch connection and a 4meter torch lead as in my opinion the clarke leads are to short.

myself I went for the portamig 215, and its a great machine and well worth the extra, pop over to Cockermouth if you want to have a try

Well I've spent a bit of time reading through lots of threads on the forum here, it seems there are lots & lots of people that upgrade from there clarkes/sealey/draper MIGs to these portamigs, that speaks volumes to me. I even asked one of the fabricators at work what they recommend and without prompting he straight away suggested a Portamig from weldequip! Very kind of you to offer a go on yours and i would bite your hand off if I wasn't so busy all the time but thank you kindly all the same.

normal car body panel work is 0.8 mm to 1mm land rover discovery are 1.2 mm chassis rails maybe 1.5 to 2mm or there about land rover chassis about 3mm ish

I will measure some panels tonight, it will be interesting to see just what they used on these old Audi's, there damned heavy beasties. I will let you know. Still in the middle of stripping out the wiring & remaining interior before the welding can commence, look away if your squeamish lol.

 

[Turbo Quattro]

Portamig 185 ordered from Weldequip, now just have to wait it out! Will organise a cylinder from BOC in the meantime.

Thanks for everyone's input, it always helps to get anothers opinion on things. I might start a project thread for the crusty demon rebuild as i will no doubt require some further advice.

 

[Michael Bugle]

Hi Turbo Quattro,

Do you not want to stick with Cebora? I would always stand by them, great quality and reliable!

 

[Turbo Quattro]

Hi Turbo Quattro,

Do you not want to stick with Cebora? I would always stand by them, great quality and reliable!

Hi Michael,

The Ceboras I've used were at my previous employers, I have looked at the Cebora range as well as everything else. At the end of the day the PortaMIG machines seem to have a great reputation also and a proven track record welding car chassis's with there low amperage settings not to mention there made in England which is a rare thing these days and I'm all for supporting British manufacturing

At the end of the day I'm just looking for a good machine that will get the job done and I'm sure the Portamig will more than meet my expectations.

 

[rosco454]

Portamig 185 ordered from Weldequip, now just have to wait it out! Will organise a cylinder from BOC in the meantime.

Thanks for everyone's input, it always helps to get anothers opinion on things. I might start a project thread for the crusty demon rebuild as i will no doubt require some further advice.

Good choice,I have a portamig 215 and its a great bit of kit.Nice project as well by the way,keep us updated on how its coming along.

Cheers Ross.