mig welder to learn on

[madbarkingdog]

Hi guys, been looking on this site for some time, tutorials are excellent on here, and you all seem such a good bunch throught i'd join.
Nearly a year ago i brought myself a mid life crisis Morris Minor to do up/modify. I have a good friend with i think is an ERP210 mig welder, which with his skill has done some of the work. As the machine is set up how he likes it and he can only spend a few hours a week/fortnight/month on my car, i can only watch. So like every newby on here, what would be an ideal mig to learn on. The car is in my carport(so outside) not garaged. Mainly using 1.2mm/1.5mm plate apart from 3mm/5mm plate for bulkhead mods and engine mounts (mates mig will be used for these). Sorry gone on a bit, just want to get started. Cheers. Clive

 

[chunkolini]

A Clarke 130/150amp welder is about the best for starting out with.
Quite cheap and they have a good reputation for being easy to get the hang of and reliability.

 

[zzr1200]

Clarke are good cheap reliable machines (330.00GBP new), ask yourself how much are you able to spend on a machine?

If your going to use the machine for other cars/projects later on and have a larger budget available, I would consider buying a better machine to start with.

I bought a cheap mig machine years ago, then about 2 years later I purchased a EASB Compact 160 which I've owned/used for the past 25+ years.

Buy a new quality machine first time if you can afford it and save money in the long run.

 

[steve.h]

I would agree qith ZZR, I wanted to learnto weld, because I wantedto and no other reason. I spent ages reading and contemplating Iended up spending twice as much as I had planned to and bought a Portamig 215. I have to say it is brilliant, although I have not used anything else, I wanted to be sure if anything was wrong with my welding that it was me not the machine, also it has future proofed me a bit as this mig welder should last me years. I do not see myself buying a new mig welder, maybe an arc and a tig when funds permit, just so I can learn to do them both.
I would buy the best you can afford as once you learn you will not put the torch down, you will dream up things to repair or make, it never ends....
HTH
Steve.h

 

[madbarkingdog]

thanks guys, totally agree, will mainly using it for car work. Was looking at the clarke welders as they seem to get good reviews. should have about £350 to spend. To be honest, bit scared to buy secondhand as i dont have enough knowledge on migs yet. thanks again. Clive

 

[KemppiFrog]

Welcome to the site..
The key bit if using it for car work is the low amps setting. Around 25 or so seems to be the norm. 30 or more tends to depress with blow through. Using 5mm for bulkhead mods? Doubt that there was any thing that big in the original car.
Drove a restored traveller not long ago, a delight. The current designers could learn a bit. Just the brakes......were a bit feeble! Bit like the Mini I learned on.
KF

 

[steve.h]

Just for refrence the portamig being far more expensive than your £350 budget does go down to 15 amps, ovbiously this is much better for car stuff than the average hobby welder, it is like many people sayand what swung it for me is to future proof yourself, dont be kicking yourself in a years time because you didnt spend the extra. I am still very happy with my portamig.

 

[madbarkingdog]

well would you believe it just won a clarke 150te on ebay for £27.
It may need a bit of work, but guy sounded honest enough,needs regulator and wire, possibly a new liner,but there not to dear. I will be using the bigger bottles (co2/argon?), so will get my mate to check the mig over then start on moggy. Regarding 5mm plate, using it to strengthen bulkhead as fiting zetec engine. picking mig up thursday evening.
IF? all goes ok,can start practicing on Sunday. thanks very much for all your welcomes and advise. Clive

 

[mw3hgd]

I think its the same with welders and everything else. Buy the best you can afford. I started off buying a couple of smaller ones (Clarke and sealey) and wanted to upgrade again within a couple of weeks. Now have a Murex Tradesmig and it does everything I could ask of it.