Newb about to buy a mig

[rog8811]

Firstly, I am well impressed with the info around the site, I have been on here for a number of hours remotely picking your brains.

I have been using arc welders on and off for many years..... I have never been able to use full length sticks as I am a bit unsteady.... (someone once said of my welds, "wouldn't hold small coal", I am better at it now).

I have embarked upon a major project which will involve a lot of 0.9mm ms sheet so I am now searching for a suitable MIG welder, I was originally looking at a cheap non-gas type from ebay, having read around this site I have revised my ideas but still have some questions.

The welder ideally would have a low setting of 20A - 25A with an upper end, for my purposes, of 130A, metal wire feed liner, would the SIP 25030 be a good choice?

Disposable gas bottles, how long do they last? I have read a few threads where folk have said they have run out at a time when the shops are closed.

Do you need to go through H&S hoops to get a proper gas bottle?

I will leave it there for the moment but I am sure I will want to know more.

Regards rog8811

 

[rog8811]

Whoops, fell at the first hurdle
Thanks to the mod who moved this to the correct forum.

I may have found an answer to one of my questions in another recent thread.

sounds like no gas to me those bottles dont last you need 10 litres per minute flow so wok out how many litres the bottles ie 100 litre bottle ten minutes welding time

Which doesn't sound that useful. so Full size bottle seems to be the way.

Regards rog8811

 

[Wozzaaah]

Whoops, fell at the first hurdle
Thanks to the mod who moved this to the correct forum.

That was me, the clue to where to move it to was in the title of your post!
Yes, you're correct, it's not useful, you can expect to get less than 10 mins welding time from a standard disposable.
Regarding that SIP, have a good look through the SIP section on here, it doesn't make good reading unfortunately, they're cheap but tend to suffer wire feed issues amongst other problems.
I'd recommend something from Clarke instead.
Welcome to the forum by the way.

 

[rog8811]

Thanks for the welcome.... looking at clarke as soon as this is posted.

Regards rog8811

 

[Justme]

I think the cheapest gas offer has now finished but it still might be worth phoning Justin up.

As it stands you dont need any H&S for having a proper bottle of gas.
(it will come)


Oh & big bottles run out when the shops closed too.
(or like me you leave the valve turned on & it seeps out & you dont spot it till next time you need the welder)

 

[rog8811]

Oh & big bottles run out when the shops closed too

I don't doubt it for a moment.

Am looking for "justin" now.... although it will be a couple of weeks before I splash out on the welder.

Regards rog8811

 

[malcolm]

Here's the BOC offer page from Justin: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=14605

The sticky threads at the top of the gas section are worth a read - http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27 Some independent suppliers listed in those with more favourable pricing than BOC.

Clarke welders are certainly the ones to be looking at if you want low price and new.

 

[rog8811]

The sticky threads at the top of the gas section are worth a read - http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/f...splay.php?f=27

I have just returned from that one, I have bookmarked a supplier in Basingstoke and will get in touch with them in the new year.

Justin offer is indeed finished but I will, as suggested, look again in the new year, thanks.
Regards rog8811

 

[rog8811]

More brain picking required.
I have a lead on a murex tradesmig 130s for around £150 it comes with an argon bottle which is empty, I am trying to arrange to see it before I buy.

Without any gas I obviously cannot do any welding but could you tell me what I can do to test the claim that it is in good working order?

Any help appreciated.
Regards rog8811

 

[Wozzaaah]

Plug it in, press the trigger, check that wire comes from the tip and that the speed of the wire increases and decreases as you turn the speed control knob each way. Even without gas you can test that the machine will weld, you'll just get horrible blobby, porous welds but at least you'll know it's alive and that the power changes as you adjust the power knob.
Make sure the torch looks in good condition though if it's a 'euro' torch (which I expect it is being a Murex) that isn't too much of an issue as they're easy and cheap to replace.
Make sure the machine doesn't look like it's been messed about with.
Check all the control knobs and switches are in place and that they work.
Though it may come with a cylinder, you'll still have to open an account to get the empty one exchanged for a full one.

 

[rog8811]

Good luck. That's quite a good brand.

That all seems pretty straightforward then As the welder is local I will ask where the seller gets his gas to see if I can use the same supplier.

If there is no joy with the above what are the chances of a gas supplier filling a-n other gas bottle (assuming it still has a valid test) or will I end up having to start again?

Regards rog8811

 

[Wozzaaah]

Gas suppliers don't fill the one you take back, they exchange it for a full one and bill you accordingly.
Cylinders always belong to the supplier, you only pay for the gas inside plus the use of the cylinder therefore empty ones remain the property of whoever's name is on them and will only be exchanged by them.

 

[rog8811]

Gas suppliers don't fill the one you take back, they exchange

I did know that, I need to write my posts more carefully it seems.

Well it all may be immaterial now as I think I have missed out on the murex, the search continues.

Regards rog8811

 

[rog8811]

I purchased a second hand Clarke 150TE this morning, first the bad....
It has had something spilled on the case that has lifted some paint.
The shroud for the torch lead was all taped up at the torch end
The top handle has been repaired..ish.

Now the good....
I took the torch apart and repaired the shroud with a short length of ali tube, it was an easy workmanlike repair. I will replace the swan neck sometime soon.
The welder has been attached to a frame to take the full size CO2 bottle and reg that came with it, this rolls on a good set of 4" castors.
I ran some welds to make sure all the settings worked. Wire feed runs fine at all speeds.
It came with a reel of .6 and one of .8 wire with a box of tips and a new wire guide tube.
Welds well, looks tatty but at £75.00 I thought it worth a punt.

Regards rog8811

 

[Wozzaaah]

Excellent Rog, brave of you to take a punt on it seeing as it's a little tatty but at £75 I reckon you've done well.