My first mig welder. Help please

[SplitBusVanatic]

Hi guys.
I've been lurking on here for a while.
Thought I'd post finally.

I'm near to Finishing up the welding on my VW Splittie Campervan.
http://www.vwkd.co.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3936&sid=3d2f1b2628dc47713aa76f349078b36f

I've been doing a lot of chassis and panel work over the last couple of years.
All mig.
My cousin has a light engineering business. So I had access to his stuff.
Murex and another welder I can't remember the name of. Would it be ""e.p."" ?
Anyway. They both had a seperate wire feed. And loads of settings.
I'll get a picture up ASAP.


The workshop has moved premises and the ""e.p."" welder left behind is banjaxed.
I think it's about €600 quoted to fix it.

The thing is now. I need a welder now to finish up.
It's mostly underneath I need doing on the bus. Chassis and such.
I'm thinking about €400 is my budget.
And I reckon a low amp setting of about 50ish and a top setting of about 300amp.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm no expert at all)

My cousin says to ensure to get a welder with a Euro Torch Fitting.
And a good brand. As to ensure spares etc.

So.
At €400. I'm asking a lot. It'll obviously be a second hand machine.
I'd hope to get bottle and regulator with that.
Getting a decent branded machine is difficult though.

What is a SureWeld Hi Strike 310 like ?
Anyone used these ?
http://www.sureweld.net/images/Hi-Stike Compact Range.pdf


Are they a rebranded Italian cheap brand. ?

Now I'm in Ireland. So I'm limited to buying on this island.
So pretty much anything in the UK is too far for delivery etc.

It's a great forum ye guys have here.
Very helpful.
Thanks in Advance.
D. C.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum
50 amp lower setting may be a little high for vehicle restoration and 300 amp is a total beast, 30 amp to around 150amp is the most common for vehicle work and a few machines go lower still.

There are a few on here from 'over the water' who found courier costs were not too bad from the UK, think I remember one that was about 20 euros for a MIG, can't remember which machine though

400 euros is roughly about £350 at the last exchange rate I knew, that would get you a new Clarke 150 but as you mention there is still the gas etc to sort.

Hopefully some of the 'local to you' guys will come along who may have more knowledge what's available oer there.

 

[SplitBusVanatic]

Thanks For the reply Steve.
I guess 50amp may be a little high for sheetmetal.
I'd like to get a welder that will tackle most jobs and still be worth selling on again.
I suppose I'll keep an eye on things locally first to see if anything worthwhile turns up.

Anyone know which Migs to avoid.
Wolf, SIP are what not to buy, i have seen so far in threads here.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I think the one you mention in your post is a Chinese make, some of these are ok but others appear not to be, coupled with dodgy backup and costly returns with any breakages.

If you are certain you intend to part with it and not continue welding then personally I would be looking for the cheapest I could find that would do the task you have intended for it.

Probably looking like a decent used semi pro machine is your best bet, however there is probably many people seeking the same, that means cheap won't come into it but also means you could probably recoup your spends with little loss if any.

Murex Esab Lincoln Portamig etc, your budget may limit your chances though.