Mig welders SO Many on the Market. What is Good????

[Vaughan]

Hi All

I am looking at getting a new mig welder but when I went to the shop to see what there is out there WOW way to many. I have been looking at single phase. I NEED YOUR PRO HELP what is best on the market? Item i have looked at are: Thermal Arc Fabricator 200 / Xcalibur Eurostar 225Amp single Phase Mig Welder / ESAB Caddy mig C200i / CEA Smart mig M20. List is way to big but to me these looked like the best out there in my price range and for QC. Just what one is best and what is a no no?

Please HELP me decide?
Thanks everyone
Vaughan

 

[matt1978]

Hi Vaughan,

What do you primarily want to do with the machine? Are you limited with your 230v input supply? What is your max budget?

 

[Vaughan]

I want to weld fabricate trailers and truck parts so any thing from 0.5mm to 5.0mm steel. Yes I am limited to 230v and my budget is 700

 

[cumbriasteve]

Check out the 235 amp Portamig, many of us own a Portamig and they get a lot of praise, as do the Esab's.

 

[Premiershipman]

With that range of thickness wouldnt you be better with a mig and and arc to cover everything ??

Maybe a portamig for the thin stuff and a tec-arc arc welder fro the thicker stuff ?

 

[Vaughan]

I have an ark inverter all ready to do the heavy jobs. Just need a mig with a euro torch. And need a good one that will last the work. Not sure of the brands in the UK and there are so many.

 

[Vaughan]

Porta mig has to be built to order just been on there web page. They not a big company ether hmmm wondering.

 

[Vaughan]

I have to go to work now but please keep me posted
thanks all

 

[rtbcomp]

Porta mig has to be built to order just been on there web page. They not a big company ether hmmm wondering.

I wouldn't let that worry you.

Many members on here have them and I can't recall any problems.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=37


Moved thread to the "Buying a Welder" forum.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Porta mig has to be built to order just been on there web page. They not a big company ether hmmm wondering.

A lot of products are made to order by small independant firms, often to a much higher standard than mass produced, they can adjust easier to the components market without the massive cost of changing production line tooling and jig modifications.

I have had my Portamig for over a year now and it has been 100% perfect, it is a robust well made bit of kit, offering the important basic features to produce excellent results with ease.

In all fairness though, there will be many other sets doing exactly the same, we all comment on what our own experience has been with what we own or have owned, my previous sets were Wolf and SIP, which were low quality hobby MIG's so no comparison really

 

[mike os]

if I was looking for a new mig the portamig would be first choice in this price range based on the many happy users here

 

[bigtip]

Hi Vaughan, i have very recently bought an Oxford Migmaker 200 from MigTigArc for £624 or thereabouts with torch and reg. Only used it a few times so far and only on 2mm stuff but it seems a well built machine and has pleased me with it's smoothness. The wire spool and feed mechanism is on top rather than on the side which i didn't know before i bought it but i like it because it's easier to access and use to keep an odd tool or two in.
There are so many Portamig owners on here who all seem dead happy with their machines, and i nearly bought one myself, that you probably can't go too far wrong with one but the Oxford is just another option. What i really wanted when i was trying decide between the two was a review from someone who had used both machines but it's hard to find someone who has.
i think what put me off the thermalarc fabricator was the minimum amps was not as low as i wanted, if i remember correctly.

 

[Vaughan]

thanks all for your advise

HI all

Thanks for your advise on welders. Yes I guess I was looking for someone who has used or knows what the comp welders are like. I guess I will just have to try one to ten out and see myself what is best. Maybe go to a few welding places and see what they use and give it a try. Thanks again all

 

[Vaughan]

now we talking looking at the Oxford 200-1 mig with Reverse polarity function for running gasless wire, spot weld timer added. not sure if 'Big tip ' had the same added?
Sounds and looks like a good welder. I have also heard the name and used one last month. Thanks big tip Dude

 

[Vaughan]

hmmm the wire feeder is built in on the one I am looking at????

 

[bigtip]

i haven't got the spot timer or reverse polarity but i probably won't need them much.

the wire feed is built in...it's not a separate unit on the 200.

 

[Vaughan]

Hi Just got a great deal from http://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk on an Oxford welder. I will let you know when I get it and will post a rev on it. I think all the people who got portamig have not looked around much at the market.

 

[Vaughan]

PS price was 599. including Vat as ad on the web page and they are very helpfull and know what they are talking about. I would recomend them to anyone.

 

[bigtip]

only thing is you have to buy a torch and reg on top of that price which is alright if you've already got one.
i spent weeks researching the oxford, the portamig (and the MTA which is the same but badged for MTA) and the thermal arc but there isn't much in the specs that really separates them. Portmiggers would say the slightly better duty cycle and slightly lower minimum amps is the thing and i think the thermal arc at 30amps min is a bit high and that's what put me off it in the end. The oxford is only 20 amps min which should be plenty low enough and it looks better than the portamig!