New welder

[chimp]

Hi, i'm new to the forum and sorry for another newbie "which welder" question.
I've found lots of useful info on here but just wanted to confirm a couple of things before i make a purchase.
My history - I've had a fair bit of experience in Mig & Tig welding. Worked as a Tig welder for 2 years making flexible stainless hoses. 10 years in the motor trade restoring old VW's which involved heaps of Mig welding. Learnt arc at college but only dabbled with it since. The last 15 years running a building company, so not so much welding.
I've always owned a welder, the last, which i've had for about 20 years is a Murex 151. It's been a brilliant welder but has had it's fair share of problems and i've had to make quite a few repairs. It's packed up again so i'm looking to upgrade it.
With work now we fit a lot of steels often needing to weld on a cleat or 2 or a flange involving on-site welding. Steels can be 6-10mm thick. My murex has never been up for that so always pay top dollar to get someone in.
We have a workshop where i occasionally will knock up a gate or handrailings, repair tools, occasional welding on cars/vans. I've still got my BOC account with a bottle of argoshield.
My question is, would an inverter welder suit my needs now. I've not got any experience of inverter welders.
I'm toying with the Thermal Arc 181i 3 in 1 and the R-tech i-mig 180, i thought about the SIFweld mts 200 but it's a bit more than i want to spend really. Are the multi process welders any good? It looks like as a MIG it is suitable for my needs. How would it perform as MMA? Would it be suitable for welding 6-10mm steel plate to steel beams. The TIG on the Thermal Arc would be just for very occasional use.

Thanks for reading, any input would be much appreciated.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Welcome to the forum
P.S. Where does your user name come from?

 

[kelvinjouhar]

I have the Thermal Arc 181i, and I am very pleased with it. My use is for hobby-type stuff, and nothing structural . You are obviously much more experienced than I am, and it sounds like you are maybe considering structural use - I would say 6-10mm MIGHT be a bit more than that machine can handle.... I bought mine from Andy Doe at Rapid Welding and I am sure he would be able to give you a more informed opinion. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Plenty on here will recommend the 3 in 1 machines as being very good. It sounds to me like that may be a good choice for you, as you clearly need a MIG for some jobs.
For the thicker 6-10mm stuff I would think you'd be better using MMA most of the time, 180 ish amps isn't good for 10mm steel. 140 amps on MMA, on the other hand, is able to do that with a few passes if you think you would be able to pick it up well enough to do a good job. As you've spent time doing TIG I'd expect you ought to be capable of getting the hang of MMA.

 

[daleyd]

I have one off the RTECH 3 in 1's (MTS210, similar to the TA 181 machine, but retch don't seem to sell this model any more?), and as above you look to have much more experience than me, but for my needs (Occasional tinkering with angle/box section and the odd bit of car bodywork etc) its been great.

I've dabbled with Tig, it's OK and perfectly usable, though obviously not as easy to use as one with proper HF start. The Mig and stick functions are great though, and the ability to swap between the 2 in one machine is a godsend for me as I don't have the space for 2(or3) separate machines.

So far its welded up an external roll cage for a Defender off roader, a load of pens in a friends stables, as well as quite a few other smaller jobs. I would say the stick side should cope with that thickness with decent prep and as long as your supply can handle it (may be pushing it if its on a 13 amp plug).

 

[Jim Davey]

Get over to Pro-Weld in Plymouth and ask Paul or Phil for a demo on an EWM Pico Pulse 180. Use the mig side for the metal up to 5mm and the stick for everything else.
I'd offer you one myself but not on their patch as we're friends.

 

[chimp]

Thanks for your replies gents...I've not heard of Pro-weld in Plymouth, i couldn't find a website so will try to get down to Plymouth to check out the EWM. I had a quick google for the Pico Pulse 180, does it sell for about 2k? Bit more than i'm looking to spend really.

I'll check out the R-tech 3 in1 too...

 

[Kent]

The size of MIG you talk about isn't up to structural. Get an MMA set, the issue you will face though is then the power supply not allowing enough grunt from 13amps- perhaps if you have a larger AVR type genny or get an engine driven plant? 13amp supply will limit you to something like 120 amp or so which means 3.2mm rod and associated penetration limitations so multi bead welds inverter or not and nothing real thick

The only other thing worth considering is pre-heating as this can dodge a lot of amps on the thicker stuff, with associated practicality issues though

 

[Richard.]

Gonna say if the SIF weld is above budget then the EWM is a bank breaker. Worth it though in my opinion. If your limited to a house hold supply then you definitely need an inverter and if your max is 10mm from that household supply then you need to go mp machine so you have the mma facility. The ones you mentioned RTech thermal arc should fit the bill. I have no better suggestions.

 

[Jim Davey]

Depends on the package, if yo just want the machine for mild steel and you don't need the alu roller and liner kit or the TIG torch I expect you'd be able to get down to about 1,500-1,600 depending on how good your haggling skillz are.
Well worth a look though as its a peach of a machine that will work anything else you look at if similar amps into the ground.
Most of mine go out to mobile steel fabricators and they all say it's the best machine they've ever used for its size.

 

[Kent]

Gonna say if the SIF weld is above budget then the EWM is a bank breaker. Worth it though in my opinion. If your limited to a house hold supply then you definitely need an inverter and if your max is 10mm from that household supply then you need to go mp machine so you have the mma facility. The ones you mentioned RTech thermal arc should fit the bill. I have no better suggestions.

One should check out the IP ratings of those two plants, Rtech seem to usually only be rated IP21 when I looked and IP23 for many other brands

 

[Jim Davey]

IP23 on the Pico and really thick all plastic outer casing that is very tough but flexible so it's almost impossible to break. (Door removed to show construction more clearly)

 

[Richard.]

^^^^ very valid point if your planning on outdoor use.

Jims right if you can source the cash for a pico then I doubt you'll find a comparison. I've used some of the slightly older EWM products in the past and they are a force to be reconned with. At my last place of work we had a triton 220 amp acdc Tig which was an unbelievable unit. I'm determined this year to try the tetrix

 

[Jim Davey]

I'm demoing one of those tomorrow, and I put another out on the hire fleet last week. Cracking sets.
Going to place an order for 6 Picomig 180s to re-stock as the ex rentals are all selling off fast.

 

[Richard.]

IP23 on the Pico and really thick all plastic outer casing that is very tough but flexible so it's almost impossible to break. (Door removed to show construction more clearly)

I'd love one of those Jim. I'd probably buy a used one to make the outlay more bearable. Like I say topic aside if your gonna fresh up on your hire products send me a pm with your best price on an ex hire. I'll be interested.

 

[chimp]

Something i hadn't thought of but will certainly bear it in mind!...

 

[Jim Davey]

It's £950 for the last one ive got, it's got about 20 months warranty left to run, but it's on offer to two people already and going out on a hire this afternoon for a week so first come first served im afraid.

 

[matt1978]

Good price that is Jim for a great machine, I bet that will soon get snatched up

 

[Richard.]

It's £950 for the last one ive got, it's got about 20 months warranty left to run, but it's on offer to two people already and going out on a hire this afternoon for a week so first come first served im afraid.

Fair enough. If you do get another at any point send me pm and I'll not hang about. Cheers.

 

[Jim Davey]

Fair enough. If you do get another at any point send me pm and I'll not hang about. Cheers.

Will do Richard, thanks.