New member and mig welder for light to medium agricultural use

[david2011]

Hi everyone

I live and work on my farm and from a young age ( im only 25) have been able to weld, currently have lovely Oxford oil cooled and Triangle arc welders. Love arc welding and great on the farm. I have for the past been making lots of metal sculptures from odd agricultural metal parts and are fed up chipping the slag off all the time. Especially in awkward places.

So im now looking at getting a gas mig welder. It needs a good amp range, as the sculpture parts might be 7mm thick or solid! none live wire feed. I'm not concerned on weight or size, its going to be on trolley and pulled round the workshop. Currently the arc welders operate off a three phase.

I have only just started looking are looking to spend in the area of £500 after tax. Im unsure if i should buy new or get an older model but better equipped second hand. Not into purchasing something like this on e-bay, like to see it. Would love to purchase a mig Oxford but to expensive for what i need.

How do people rate machine mart for commercial / agricultural welders. To me it looks a bit like halfords and im unsure if what they sell would survive a heavy work life on a farm. Has anyone bought one from them for similar use? Especially

Also is three phase welders a a lot more expensive, is there any advantage to having one? apart from the electricity bill point of view.

If anyone has any advice for choosing a descent mig welder for light to medium agricultural use it would much appreciated.

 

[Engineer]

A used 3 phase industrial set would be your best possible option, but if you are not wanting to buy from Ebay, then it might be difficult to find something like this for reasonable money.

I would advise forgetting about Machine Mart as prices are high and after sales service pretty much non existent.

A 3 phase set which works perfectly but is tatty looking, can sometimes be found on Ebay for around £200, but if thats not an option try your local welding dealers, as they sometimes have used 3 phase sets taken in PX or possibly an ex hire machine.

The other option is a new single phase set, but this will mean you are restricted to around 200amps, which is fine for lighter work, but will mean a lot of prior prep is going to be needed for heavier material.

 

[cumbriasteve]

An alternative to the Oxford Mig and I think also a little cheaper is the Portamig 235, will do most of what you want I should think and it's also a good heavy quality, well built machine.
Will require an upgraded supply if welding on the top range or fuses will go, I run mine on 13 amp but most of my welds are less than a few inches at a time.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Oh and welcome to the forum

 

[Hitch]

Used 3phase machine will be the boy.

You shouldn't need to go to the top of your budget to get a used 3ph 250a Mig. Theres plenty about.... ebay is a good place to start though. I know you said you don;t want to, but i think youd be silly to rule it out completely.

Buying a used machine from a dealer, you could be paying a lot extra for them to give it a squirt or silicone spray and a new torch.

 

[Engineer]

Shame the OP doesnt want to buy from Ebay as there is a 330A Lincoln with remote wire feeder for £450, not very far from him listed currently! Dealer price for something like this is probably going to be nearer £800, but not sure personally whether the squirt of silicone spray and new torch is something I would want to pay £350 for.

 

[david2011]

wow, thats one serious mark up for what they do, but your all defiently right i would be an idiot not to look at ebay. That lincon does look good and defiently what i need, will start looking at ebay more now. cheers guys

 

[octo0072000]

testing times

what ever you buy test it out first
do not take anybody's word that it works ok test it first or don't buy it
if necessary take a bottle regulator,big extension lead
(caravan hook up cables are 16amp with blue plugs fitted)
and helmet gloves grinder bit of scrap metal so you can test it out if the seller won't let you test it walk away
with fleybay just ask the questions and you want to view test it out etc