Longhorn6120
Member
- Messages
- 268
- Location
- Kent, UK
Hello all. Brand new member here looking for some advice on where to start as a novice welder.
I've never done any welding of any kind before, but have a couple of classic cars that need some work and also a very holey Transit van I can practice on. I'm not looking to become a pro nor to start building wrought iron gates or fences or anything like that - I just need a good hobbyist MIG/stick that will glue body panels together as well as my zero experience will allow. I'm well aware that nothing beats experience and am prepared for the countless hours practice I need to put in to get even vaguely proficient, but I also want to make sure the kit I get is of a good enough quality to know the only weakness is my technique (40+ years playing guitar taught me you don't need top quality gear, but it really does make the learning process easier ). I would prefer a machine that runs on a regular 13A plug, but would consider a 32A outlet if the benefits are significant.
So I need to buy a welder. I've been looking at both the Rohr and Blackline welders (which look like the same machine with different badges)* on eBay and Amazon and they seem to offer good bang for buck and the 3-in-1 (gas/gasless/stick) design appeals to me. They look like generic Chinese-built machines which I have no problem with, but if there's anything better out there for the same kind of budget then I'm all ears. I know I'll need to buy gas, regulator, wire, etc. and I'll need to factor those costs in, and I'd like to be all in for no more than £500 if I can, so the Rohr 250 at £329 is looking tempting.
I've done a fair bit of research over the last few days and just when I think I'm settled I see something slightly more expensive and think a few quid extra won't hurt, and before I know it I'm up to £1000+ which is way more than I want to spend on a machine that I doubt will get 10 hours use a year. So I go back to the Rohr 250, sniff around a bit more and the whole loop starts all over again .
So guys, what are your thoughts? Any love or hate here for the Rohr 250 that will help with the decision making? Or is there something better I'm missing that you can recommend?
Many thanks in advance.
*I say they look the same, but the Blackline seems to require a 32A outlet which I'm not crazy about, but then it's about £100 cheaper, so...
I've never done any welding of any kind before, but have a couple of classic cars that need some work and also a very holey Transit van I can practice on. I'm not looking to become a pro nor to start building wrought iron gates or fences or anything like that - I just need a good hobbyist MIG/stick that will glue body panels together as well as my zero experience will allow. I'm well aware that nothing beats experience and am prepared for the countless hours practice I need to put in to get even vaguely proficient, but I also want to make sure the kit I get is of a good enough quality to know the only weakness is my technique (40+ years playing guitar taught me you don't need top quality gear, but it really does make the learning process easier ). I would prefer a machine that runs on a regular 13A plug, but would consider a 32A outlet if the benefits are significant.
So I need to buy a welder. I've been looking at both the Rohr and Blackline welders (which look like the same machine with different badges)* on eBay and Amazon and they seem to offer good bang for buck and the 3-in-1 (gas/gasless/stick) design appeals to me. They look like generic Chinese-built machines which I have no problem with, but if there's anything better out there for the same kind of budget then I'm all ears. I know I'll need to buy gas, regulator, wire, etc. and I'll need to factor those costs in, and I'd like to be all in for no more than £500 if I can, so the Rohr 250 at £329 is looking tempting.
I've done a fair bit of research over the last few days and just when I think I'm settled I see something slightly more expensive and think a few quid extra won't hurt, and before I know it I'm up to £1000+ which is way more than I want to spend on a machine that I doubt will get 10 hours use a year. So I go back to the Rohr 250, sniff around a bit more and the whole loop starts all over again .
So guys, what are your thoughts? Any love or hate here for the Rohr 250 that will help with the decision making? Or is there something better I'm missing that you can recommend?
Many thanks in advance.
*I say they look the same, but the Blackline seems to require a 32A outlet which I'm not crazy about, but then it's about £100 cheaper, so...