My First Welder!

[tomgb]

Just picked up this welder from a used tool shop for £75 with a bit of persuasion. I was looking at the GYS smartmig 162 but it's a lot of money to me right now.

Seems fairly clean assuming it's an old welder. I got this to learn, it's useful and I have an MX5 which will eventually need welding and an old fiesta which needs welding. I plan to undertake some projects as well.

I have not much idea about this welder but I need to sort out gas for it. I should be able to get hold of pub Co2 but deciding between that and a mix.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum:

Good price and I would imagine by the looks of it that's it's original spool of wire, it looks a bit rusty, if it is feed some off back to shiny or buy a new spool, you will ruin your liner.

I have used co2 and it's ok, certainly better than gasless but not as nice as mixed.

 

[tomgb]

Welcome to the forum:

Good price and I would imagine by the looks of it that's it's original spool of wire, it looks a bit rusty, if it is feed some off back to shiny or buy a new spool, you will ruin your liner.

I have used co2 and it's ok, certainly better than gasless but not as nice as mixed.

Thanks, I think it was a good price as I couldn't get anything like this new and this one is made in Italy if thats better than China. The spool is quite rusty, whats the safest way to remove it without damaging the liner?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Just take off the tension and pull the wire back through, it should slide out easily.

 

[norlander]

Start with fresh wire and new liner would be my shout. Also I would check:

that the polarity is set up properley for the wire you are going to use

and the roller is the right one for the size of wire you will be using, the previous owner might not have done all that and got frustrated with the welder.

Have a read through here, lots of good info: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/mig.htm, how to stuff and some manuals etc.

 

[tomgb]

Start with fresh wire and new liner would be my shout. Also I would check:

that the polarity is set up properley for the wire you are going to use

and the roller is the right one for the size of wire you will be using, the previous owner might not have done all that and got frustrated with the welder.

Have a read through here, lots of good info: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/mig.htm, how to stuff and some manuals etc.

Would changing the liner on a welder as old as this be a mission? I have no idea where to find parts and I couldn't even find a manual for it online anywhere.

 

[norlander]

Would changing the liner on a welder as old as this be a mission? I have no idea where to find parts and I couldn't even find a manual for it online anywhere.

If its Sealey, the fittings might be fairly standard .

Run some new wire through and have crack at a few learning beads first when you get your gas. If all goes well, that gets you welding and sticking metal together and you can put liner change to the bottom of the to do list.