As the title suggests Im looking for advice on what mig welder to buy. It will be used for a bmw e30 project rebuild over the summer which includes repairing floor pans, wheel arches and so on. Farm machinery repair would be another job in my small farmyard workshop. Basically welding anything from thin car body sheet metal to box/angle iron. I notice the mig inverter welders don't seem to have a big fan base on the forum. From reading the spec on the sip 180 60% duty cycle on full power seems excellent when compared with the traditional mig welder. Ive been welding a few years now using arc but just want a machine thats more universal. http://www.jebbtools.ie/sip-migmate-p194-180-amp-mig-inverter-welder
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wheresmejumper
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First things first, you are moving Down to mig, not up, from arc.lets get that straight.
It is a lot of money for a machine that hasnt really a reputation of any kind, as its only out a few years.
for the same price you could get a 2nd hand kemppi 180 or 200.lighter, would be easier to weld better with, and very easy to switch from steel to stainless or aluminium.
I owned one for a while, and was simple to use.id buy one again without having to think too hard about it.
sip are budget machines, but do a job.how long itll last for nobody knows
It is a lot of money for a machine that hasnt really a reputation of any kind, as its only out a few years.
for the same price you could get a 2nd hand kemppi 180 or 200.lighter, would be easier to weld better with, and very easy to switch from steel to stainless or aluminium.
I owned one for a while, and was simple to use.id buy one again without having to think too hard about it.
sip are budget machines, but do a job.how long itll last for nobody knows
Sidewinder
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Definitely down from Arc to MIG! 
Thanks for the replys. Would a sealey mig welder be an inferior product aswell? Im basicaly looking for a welder with a decent duty cycle for a similar price. There dosnt seem to be too many Kemppi mig welders on ebay second hand and the new price is just over budget for me. Have R-tech a good reputation for reliability? A few suggestions would be great. thanks
Sidewinder
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I gave away an SIP MIG a few years ago a 130 model of some sort, not worthwhile doing anything with IMHO.
Jim Davey
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They cost more (inverters) and often can't easily be fixed when they break, this scares a lot of people off, especially if they don't weld often enough to justify the benefits of an inverter machine.
Personally I think they're brilliant and unless there was a very compelling reason to by a traditional transformer type machine I'd always opt for an inverter.
Personally I think they're brilliant and unless there was a very compelling reason to by a traditional transformer type machine I'd always opt for an inverter.
norlander
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norlander
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I would not get hung up on duty cycles for what you want to do, hobby/diy blokes don't often push a machine to its limits.
Inverters have been around a bit now, having used inverter sets for a while I would always go for an inverter.
But anyway, Clarke kit seems to very well thought of.
I have just returned to mig (GYS162) and the feature I convinced my self I needed was a euro torch-turned out to be a flippin good move in my case on day one!!.
So my limited experience input is whatever you choose, consider euro torch.
Inverters have been around a bit now, having used inverter sets for a while I would always go for an inverter.
But anyway, Clarke kit seems to very well thought of.
I have just returned to mig (GYS162) and the feature I convinced my self I needed was a euro torch-turned out to be a flippin good move in my case on day one!!.
So my limited experience input is whatever you choose, consider euro torch.
pedrobedro
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It's not up or down and you don't need to move, you are allowed to use either or both processes as the arc will still be there for the jobs you can't do with the mig and vice versa for the thin jobs that arc is too much for. Get the best you can afford, I have had a Kemppi minarc mig180 for a few years now and it still works fine and welds easily on really thin steel using .8 wire and co2 gas. The torch makes no difference to anything apart from availability, the Kemppi torch is fixed and is among the best I've ever used. The feed is the part that makes the machine.
norlander
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I changed my damaged euro torch in about 10 minutes, repaired the damaged one which now is spare with a Teflon liner if I want to try Ali.
Having said that, had no problems with the fixed torch on my old Clarke mig-but then it never got damaged and needed changing.
Agree on feed mech- one of the reasons I went with Gys.
Jan
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My second (third? fourth?) hand SIP Migmate 130 is running excellent beads on silly thicknesses of mild. All it took was to add the feed roller mod, replace the torch liner with a steel one and make sure that all the push-fit electrical connectors were free of corrosion. Including some new consumables, Dinz connectors to make it work gasless, gauges, hoses, etc. it still stands me at less than £150. Other than considering a move to TIG - as well as MIG and stick - I can't see me replacing it in the foreseeable future. Can't speak for the new inverter ones, but I think it's right that if anything goes wrong with them you'll be looking at serious costs for parts alone - which might not even cure the problem!
Horses for courses. Each has a place in your welding repertoir.
Horses for courses. Each has a place in your welding repertoir.
wheresmejumper
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Theres a kemppi 180 on ebay for £550.if it was me id send him an offer of 500.
norlander
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I forgot to say -you mentioned universal in your post, I've been running my new mig on 0.9 gasless (can't afford gas set up at the moment) and I'm impressed-last time I used gasless was 14 years ago and it was pretty poor, but I was welding in a fairly stiff breeze today no probs, and its producing welds something similar in appearance to stick-14years back I was laying down bird poo.
I managed to knock up a box out of 1mm sheet with it on 0.9 gasless-I suspect anything thinner would be difficult though.
I reckon it will do 5mm no probs-probably thicker so as you have probably worked out mig should be very handy for you.
Good luck in finding a machine.
I managed to knock up a box out of 1mm sheet with it on 0.9 gasless-I suspect anything thinner would be difficult though.
I reckon it will do 5mm no probs-probably thicker so as you have probably worked out mig should be very handy for you.
Good luck in finding a machine.
wheresmejumper
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The good thing about buying an old cheaper sip 130 or clarke etc is you will get to know how to setup and dial in the machine and replace all sorts of parts, without ever causing too much damage to your pocket if/when you fup something.
