Neewbie

[Iain Chalmers]

Hey all,
Looking for the best option around the £200 mark for a Mig welder.

I would also like the opinion of you all if it would be better to go arc or mig I have done both and it goes without saying mig is by far the easier... I do have some very small tacks to do which is why I was inclined to go Mig.....but open to more knowledgeable opinions.
I am only looking for it for hobby purposes..

It would help if it had low amps capability.

 

[the snooper]

welcome to the forum, to get a better opinion it would be helpful if people knew what you intend to weld

 

[F124nny]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Richard.]

Think your question is been answered here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/200-budget-mig.70239/unread
Welcome by the way

 

[Iain Chalmers]

Hey thanks for having me dudes...



I would actually like to get a quality unit if possible. I don't want to blow the bank.. but would stretch further as far as £400

1/ I would like to have welding in my skill set.

2/ I don't plan to do massive amounts of welding initially, but if I get my business idea off the ground then I would be making art deco items and doing railing/gate repairs initially.. I know someone in the factoring of properties and also a gallery owner who is looking for craft stuff

3/ My father in law recommended Telwin as a brand but I see they are pricey.
PPE is mentioned heavily here what's the deal with them and manufactured where?

4/Is there anywhere tradies can get a discount?

the snooper
planning to weld plastic... what da think i'm planning to weld......
more specifically, no more than 5 mm plate steel and box tubing. Spot welding, tac welds and and very small gauge 3mm wire for lamp shade frames if that is feasible with out blowing/melting it to pieces????

 

[mpats]

PPE is mentioned heavily here what's the deal with them and manufactured where?

PPE is Personal Protective Equipment. So your gloves, lid (easiest is an autodarkening for learning) mask, jacket etc. You don't need to spend huge amounts on each but it soon adds up if you have to buy everything. Also Other miscellaneous tools you may need, pare of cutters or mig pliers, angle grinder if you don't already have one.

 

[Richard.]

planning to weld plastic... what da think i'm planning to weld......

It was actually a decent question that snooper asked because it can have a big effect on the type of unit needed.
Car body work and exhausts etc require a unit to have a good low power setting (30 amps minimum or an inverter set are useful here)
Heavy gage needs the ability to get into spray transfer
You might want to start welding really thick stuff but only have a 13 amp socket. In which case a multiprocess unit giving you the option of MMA would be useful.
From your description a 160-180 amp unit would suffice up to 5mm plate welded properly.

 

[the snooper]

Hey thanks for having me dudes

the snooper
planning to weld plastic... what da think i'm planning to weld......
more specifically, no more than 5 mm plate steel and box tubing. Spot welding, tac welds and and very small gauge 3mm wire for lamp shade frames if that is feasible with out blowing/melting it to pieces????

In that case your on the wrong forum, arc is no good and mig is the way to go arc is terrible for thin stuff

 

[Iain Chalmers]

It was actually a decent question that snooper asked because it can have a big effect on the type of unit needed.
Car body work and exhausts etc require a unit to have a good low power setting (30 amps minimum or an inverter set are useful here)
Heavy gage needs the ability to get into spray transfer
You might want to start welding really thick stuff but only have a 13 amp socket. In which case a multiprocess unit giving you the option of MMA would be useful.
From your description a 160-180 amp unit would suffice up to 5mm plate welded properly.

:-) I was only jesting BTW I thought that would come across.. not trying to be a dick. just for the record.........

 

[Iain Chalmers]

PPE is Personal Protective Equipment. So your gloves, lid (easiest is an autodarkening for learning) mask, jacket etc. You don't need to spend huge amounts on each but it soon adds up if you have to buy everything. Also Other miscellaneous tools you may need, pare of cutters or mig pliers, angle grinder if you don't already have one.

Thanks appreciated...

 

[Parm]

Hey thanks for having me dudes...



I would actually like to get a quality unit if possible. I don't want to blow the bank.. but would stretch further as far as £400

1/ I would like to have welding in my skill set.

2/ I don't plan to do massive amounts of welding initially, but if I get my business idea off the ground then I would be making art deco items and doing railing/gate repairs initially.. I know someone in the factoring of properties and also a gallery owner who is looking for craft stuff

3/ My father in law recommended Telwin as a brand but I see they are pricey.
PPE is mentioned heavily here what's the deal with them and manufactured where?

4/Is there anywhere tradies can get a discount?

the snooper
planning to weld plastic... what da think i'm planning to weld......
more specifically, no more than 5 mm plate steel and box tubing. Spot welding, tac welds and and very small gauge 3mm wire for lamp shade frames if that is feasible with out blowing/melting it to pieces????

You'll be very lucky if you can get the whole kit n caboodle for £400 to weld 5mm plate, spot welding and the thin lampshade wire also

 

[Iain Chalmers]

In that case your on the wrong forum, arc is no good and mig is the way to go arc is terrible for thin stuff

Hope I didn't ruffle any feathers...
Which forum would I require??
any further info on which model might suffice as a good all round machine....reliable, durable, good circuitry, good feed motor,
and if you can relate any other info that would benefit me it would be greatly appreciate.....

 

[the snooper]

Hope I didn't ruffle any feathers...
Which forum would I require??
any further info on which model might suffice as a good all round machine....reliable, durable, good circuitry, good feed motor,
and if you can relate any other info that would benefit me it would be greatly appreciate.....

the plastic welders union you need something lowish for the thein stuff around 30 amps but you may struggle to the top end you want with your budget but that said if you prepped the joints on the thicker stuff you could get away with it or buy a cheap arc welder for the thicker stuff

 

[Iain Chalmers]

appendix
I have auto dark helmet
gauntlets
jacket already purchased
I have an old pair of biker jeans I plan to use as well

Just the machine I am after....

 

[Iain Chalmers]

Fina comment for the day looking at the products site, would the
GYS SmartMIG 162 suffice for my needs

 

[Parm]

What are you planning to weld ?

Would be useful to state as it may help refine suggestions.

I foolishly bought my first mig unit thinking its a welder and will weld anything. How wrong was I !

Now after several years I have a a decent (ish) hobby mig, Clarke 135 TE and a bad boy oil cooled stick machine. Now I understand the limitations of what they can all do the stick machine sees the most action

 

[the snooper]

start a thread on gys smart mig opinions and you may get the feedback / experience you require from owners which will be better then opinions from people that havnt used them