New to MIG Welding

[M8KWR]

I know this question has probably been asked many times, but i will ask it anyway.

I am about to start a project which will require me to learn MIG welding; as i am about to start to build a car chassis.

But what is the best (in budget) welder to purchase.

I am thinking about spending 200-250 (inc VAT and delivery).

But what is the best brand, features to look for.

Also i am slight confused about gasless MIG welding, and the disadvantages, so I am thinking a gas one is better (or one that could do both, so a least i can try)

Many thanks for any advice in advance, and look forward from hearing from you all.

 

[Dangle_kt]

clarke do a few welders in your price range, 150, 160 amp machines should cope with a car chassis (depending on what it is...locost 7 by any chance?)

Gasless wire is wire that has a flux wrapped round it, it mean that instead of piping the sheilding gas round the weld pool, the flux shields the pool with the correct inert gases.

Gasless wire is meant to be better if you are welding outside as the shielding gases can't blow away as easy, but the wire is MUCh more expensive per KG, and apparently the results arn't quite as neat.

 

[M8KWR]

I am going to be welding in a garage, so would keep the wind out, and i would prefer a neater looking weld.

I have had 2 7 type cars in the past and wanted something different, so I have decided to build my own car from scratch.....

If I had a large budget then what amp welder would i be best getting?

 

[storm monkey]

I'm planning a similar project, using a VW Passat drivetrain in the rear, mounted to a 1.8T. The engine in the Passat is mounted quite far in front of the wheels, so should get the weight in the right place, and the 1.8T is very well supported in the tuning industry, and can be modified to make 450hp, although I think 250 will be more than enough.

As for the welding, I got hols of a Clarke 150TE from Weldequip, which should do the job. Only comment I would make is please do not use the chassis project to learn to weld. Make sure you are proficient before you make any chassis joints, as the last thing you want whilst pushing the handling of your new toy will be for the welds to start to give. A seemingly strong weld that stands up to a beating with a hammer may still fail very quickly under low level fatigue loads. I see this often at work, even with very neat robotic welds. Try a few other projects first. A welding cart is always a good start, and there are designs on this forum. Once you've built a few other things, tried some test joints and cut them up to see how good they are, then you should be good to go.

Phil

 

[M8KWR]

I was planning on making a cart for the welder and a table at the bottom of my garage...

I need to make 2 chassis anyway, the first would be a test mock up, so i know everything fits before i finalise the design and measurements, and then that would be used to make the overall design of the body.

I was planning on using a toyota mr2 mk1/2 (haven;t decided yet) as the donor - to try and keep the costs down.

It is something that i am currently reading up on, i would recommend the kimini.com website, i have brought the book, which is a very good read so far - which is opening my eyes to many things i knew about and didn't

The only other thing i think i am confused about is the CO2 gases, and which is the best to use. The small cylinders, how long do these last for on average (or hours of welding time approx), i can guess this may depend on the settings you are using...

 

[Wozzaaah]

Good idea to make a mock-up chasis, it will save a lot of hassle if things don't quite fit right, especially as you're pretty much designing it yourself.
60 litre disposables last approx 7 mins of continuous welding so if you have a lot of welding to do (which you have) they're really not practical. Try adams gas or gasman for small volume non-rental refillables, both are members on here adamsgas has a website and both be contacted via the forum. Adams gas deliver and gasman relies on a network of local agents so he'll tell you where your nearest one is.

 

[M8KWR]

I will need to make jigs for the wishbones and chassis, so need to get it all right, and do not want the gas to run out half way through, that would be annoying.

Many thanks for all your advice, surperb.

 

[tom37]

I would first off like to say I think this forum is absolutly Great!!!

I found it just by chance and love it. I read on 3 other forums, but I seem to spend more time here. After reading the post here I feel like you all treat everyone equal. Some forums make a person feel like a doe doe bird for even asking a question.

Any ways since I am in the Midwest U.S. and I dont know, so If I may ask. What is a type 7 car?

Again the site is great and thanks.

 

[storm monkey]

Take a look here

There are many companies that make kit cars based on this form, but the original was the Lotus 7. I'm not too hot on my 7 history, but I think the design was sold to Westfield many years ago, and has has changed little since. They are great cars to drive, giving a very raw experience, with excellent handling and acceleration, but limited top speeds (they have the aerodynamics of a brick!). There great on UK roads, but I'd feel a little nervous on driving one in the US, as they are rather low down, and easily missed! Lots of the kits are still based on 70's and 80's cars, which are getting more rare these days. There is a swing now to motorcycle powered 7's and rear engined kit cars, as most donors these days are front wheel drive.

Hope this helps!

Phil

 

[M8KWR]

I used to own a westfield, and before that i build a locost 7, basically a caterham rip off.... but i do prefer the westfield's.

Caterham brought the design from lotus (or so i believe), then the first westfield was said to copy the caterham (x lotus 7) too much, which went to court, and then they had to change some things, and then westfield is basically the 2nd largest to caterham in the UK. There are lots of other manufactuers of 7 style kits like robin hood, quantum, stuart taylor, MK Engineering.

You can buy a book from haynes which tells you have to make the chassis (unsure what is it actually called) and all bits; the book used to be called "Build a sports car for £250" by colin chapman - which was always never going to happen

This is my first time using the fourm myself and i have found all the advice very helpful, and since i have not even picked up a welder ever, it does not scare me, as i think (well hope) any problems i have i will get good advice, and not people saying you should give up and try your hand at something else.