New and need a mig

Drains · Jul 13, 2011

You owned a SIP, Engineer? That's why you dont like "DIY" welders. Fair enough, they're rubbish. As for the rest of what you say regarding DIY stylee welders, that's mostly rubbish too. I've said before, stick to talking about what you know - and we all know that most 3 phase sets are better than DIY sets, but that's not much use to those without 3 phase is it? Am I repeating myself?

Oh, yes, and not everybody has the time to find good second hand pro single phase sets, and some people want a guarantee. I'll be quite honest - I agree with you - if I were shopping for a good single phase mig set I'd find the biggest one I could, secondhand, in a reputable make, like Murex or somesuch. But I wouldn't slag off everything else as that would be unhelpful as well as being bull****.

There is a forum here full of people with good experiences with many machines, and bad experiences with a very few particular types. If you had trouble with sets other people found good, all I can say is a bad workman blames his tools.

Engineer, if you carry on on this tack you will only get shouted down. Good advice is welcome. You're obviously capable of giving that, so why don't you try?

Engineer · Jul 14, 2011

I will accept 100% that most DIY type MIG sets sold today probably dont come with very poorly made plastic wire feed mechanisms, and micky mouse torches, so are likely to be far better than the rubbish from SIP and Cebora I owned many years ago.

Personally though I buy tools that are fit for the purpose intended by me, so am still using the Murex Mig set I bought 25 years ago, but can see that lots of people cant be bothered to search around for a good used pro machine, and will probably find a new generation DIY set fine for their applications.

PTvor · Jul 14, 2011

Engineer,

There's a bit more to it than that. It's my observation that some people naturally prefer a new cheap item with a guarantee to a second hand item designed as a top quality unit in the first place. It's just the way they are. The idea of buying something such as a Stihl chainsaw in need of TLC for £40 and spending £50 on spares when they can buy a new cheapy for just over a hundred is a lunatic idea. Fix the Stihl properly and it will probably outlast three cheapies and be more pleasant to use. If you had to pay someone to fix the Stihl, it would make no sense.

People vary a lot in their confidence and ability to fix things. The idea of spending £300 on a welder and then finding it has a circuit board fault two months later is a nightmarish thought for many.

Engineer · Jul 14, 2011

Personally I always try to buy tools that are fit for purpose intended. Has worked well for me, and I would not hesitate to buy something like a used British made welding set or lathe, over brand new Chinese/Eastern European/Italian tools with a guarantee.

As the DIY MIG sets have improved a great deal over the ones I owned way back though, probably a good choice for anyone who feels having a guarantee is important.

Neilg7777 · Jul 14, 2011

Thanks for the replys I have been reading a lot and the only thing that bothers me is I want to do (need to do) my spring hangers and i no thats diffrent fom doing the panels so the mig has to be cappable of doing both. I may have a guy coming to do my spring hangers which would be great as i am not sure i could do it and then i would be looking for a welder just for panels. I dont mind second hand and if the spring hangers get done i can wait to see if a mig comes up for sale near here so i can see it first
Many Thanks Neil

If my offer for the spring hangers does not come off anybody on here want to help me out lol :whistle:

Wozzaaah · Jul 15, 2011

Engineer said:
Which Pro sets have you owned, which dont perform far better than the DIY ones you mention? Way back when, I owned an SIP and Cebora 130, which in terms of quality could be compared to a modern day Chinese "mini lathe"..............not that great!

Sooo.....just the two then. :whistle:

No Clarke? No sealey? Yet you state ALL the budget sets are rubbish.
I think that just proves that you mostly talk out of your @rse. :rolleyes:

Me, I've owned a cebora 130, it lasted me for many years. I needed a bigger machine so bought a Butters 211 and yes, I can't deny that it was a league above the Cebora but it cost me over £500 so I'd expect it to be. A Portamig 361 was my next upgrade, cost me an arm and a leg but it was worth it.
But....I also set up a Clarke 160tm for a forum member and can honestly say I was extremely impressed with it as are most people who buy them.

Neil, getting back on topic, if you spot a potential purchase, ask us first before shelling out, there's some really dodgy old rubbish for sale out there.

Engineer · Jul 21, 2011

Not owned a DIY type MIG set for many years, and from the rave reviews on here I would imagine the shoddy plastic wire feed mechanisms, and very poor quality torches that made the sets I had very difficult to use, are now a thing of the past, so performance is much better than the sets I had way back when.

gavuk · Jul 21, 2011

Engineer said:
Not owned a DIY type MIG set for many years, and from the rave reviews on here I would imagine the shoddy plastic wire feed mechanisms, and very poor quality torches that made the sets I had very difficult to use, are now a thing of the past, so performance is much better than the sets I had way back when.

The SIP wirefeed have got worse over the years,the snap-on's are the same as they were years ago ,I think ,the sealey and snap-on I owned had a plastic wirefeed ,so does the thermal arc I own now ,never had a problem with my sets?..the torches have always been cheap but "are fit for purpose"

I had to wait a long time to find a reasonable upgrade for my sealey ,for most people starting out with a small budget a working 240 volt semi-pro or pro machine would still be too much money ,and a difficult find ,I scan ebay and freeads on a regular basis,have you got somewhere different to look? ,i'm sure the members here would love to know :whistle:

....If the OP had a bigger budget ,you would have seen different replies,however at Neils budget I still believe clarke ,sealey or snap-on represent a good compromise ,many members never having upgraded....can so many be wrong?

jonnyBMX · Jul 21, 2011

i have a siegen 150a welder works a treat.. then again this is the one up from the 130.. my dad has always told me.. buy the best u can possibly afford.. as a student it was the best at the time.. but now im looking into spending a bit more..

clarke and meant to be good... maybe the 130 turbo?

gavuk · Jul 21, 2011

Good to hear you are getting on well with the seigen Jonny ,we haven't had many reports good or bad on the yellow seigen Sealey units ,hence my reluctance to recommend them ,they do seem to sell quite cheap though.If they work well and spares are readily available that may well change :clapping:

...

octo0072000 · Jul 21, 2011

wire feed

gavuk said:
The SIP wirefeed have got worse over the years,the snap-on's are the same as they were years ago ,I think ,the sealey and snap-on I owned had a plastic wirefeed ,so does the thermal arc I own now ,never had a problem with my sets?..the torches have always been cheap but "are fit for purpose"

I had to wait a long time to find a reasonable upgrade for my sealey ,for most people starting out with a small budget a working 240 volt semi-pro or pro machine would still be too much money ,and a difficult find ,I scan ebay and freeads on a regular basis,have you got somewhere different to look? ,i'm sure the members here would love to know ....If the OP had a bigger budget ,you would have seen different replies,however at Neils budget I still believe clarke ,sealey or snap-on represent a good compromise ,many members never having upgraded....can so many be wrong?

Wire feeding at a bit of a angle Gav is that how it should be or for a reason??? :whistle:

gavuk · Jul 21, 2011

I was waiting for someone to spot it... :ashamed:

.....I find it feeds better through the cheap plastic wirefeeder,to be melted by the shoddily made alluminium windings :laughing:

....and I didn't have an adaptor to run a 5kg wire instead of the 15kg,works spot on even with the lump out of the side of the holder,still using 5kg wire in the same way :laughing:

octo0072000 · Jul 22, 2011

gavuk said:
I was waiting for someone to spot it... .....I find it feeds better through the cheap plastic wirefeeder,to be melted by the shoddily made alluminium windings ....and I didn't have an adaptor to run a 5kg wire instead of the 15kg,works spot on even with the lump out of the side of the holder,still using 5kg wire in the same way

don't worry works for you that's what it's all about my 5kg reel is held in with a big nail
see my album note the nail
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/album.php?albumid=1261&pictureid=6015

gavuk · Jul 22, 2011

octo0072000 said:
don't worry works for you that's what it's all about my 5kg reel is held in with a big nail

Nice one ! :clapping:

.....as you say it works thats all that matters ,and i don't chance a huge reel of wire going rusty in my garage ....

New and need a mig

Drains

Yeah, nah.

Engineer

pre-moderated

PTvor

Member

Engineer

pre-moderated

Neilg7777

Member

Wozzaaah

The wizard of woz

Engineer

pre-moderated

gavuk

artful-bodger

jonnyBMX

Member

gavuk

artful-bodger

octo0072000

Member

gavuk

artful-bodger

octo0072000

Member

gavuk

artful-bodger