newbie needs 1st welder advice

[jasongtr]

hi there, ive had a good read on here about what welders are good/bad etc.

I need to do some welding on a car i have, and would rather buy a welder and do it myself, rather than pay someone to do it.

I am totally 'green' to all this, i did some arc and oxy acc welding years ago when i was an apprentice but never mig although im sure i can pick it up to a reasonable std for what i need.

For the amount id use it id rather not spend a fortune, that said id also get a half decent home welder.

It must be capable of welding the thickness of car panels, and up to about 3-4mm, it must run on a std 3 pin plug.

Im happy to buy the extra decent helmet rather than the hand held screen that comes with these things.

There seems to be a general thought that gas is best - would it be wise to have a setup capable of both (something about reversing the polarity to do this????)

My budget is about £300 which hopefully will get me an ok machine, id rather buy new as i dont know anything about repairing these things yet.

thanks in advance

 

[bloke]

First welder

Hi Jason,

I have only been welding for two months, I got a Clarke 151en runs on a 13 amp plug, gas/gasless. Ideral for out doors so long as not too windy. I have not tried it using gas yet but the welds on gasless were very good. I would upload photos but computer won't let me. I paid just short of £240.00

 

[jasongtr]

cheers for that, mine will be bought to weld in some angle into the passenger side seat area to fit a race seat to my track car, and weld in a dash bar so nothing major or structural so i guess a good way to start, although i could do with the seat base being reasonably solid and a good weld

 

[JohnMcBob]

Seat bases, i had the ones in my last car welded by my mate, joining 2 bits of 4mm steel ie welding a tab front and back between the rains for a base mount seat, he was using a snap on 130 amp mig welder, so id say that's up to the job