Newbie Questions on mig

[rough]

Hellooo everyone,

Please let me appoligise now for i have loads of questions to ask !


I have just picked up today a BOC 190C

It looks clean & tidy, are these good machines & what are their faults ?
Is their any maintanance i should do / what spares should i keep ?

I need to get some gas, What gas should i buy for general steel welding (got some repairs to a couple of trailers & where's the cheapest place to buy from ? (I have a regulator for for BOC bottles does this fit all bottles ? )


I also need to get a mask, again whats the best type & make of mask to buy & where from (bearing in mind this is just for pottering about )

Gloves - type & where from ?

Anything elso you guys recommend i need ?


Thanks for helping me get started :-)

 

[Ducky]

Gloves

Helmet

I use Argoshield Lite from BOC, but it's a rental bottle. You may find a supplier in your area which will sell you a bottle, and you just pay for gas.

Spares wise I would get yourself a few contact tips and maybe a shroud.

 

[chunkolini]

Mr Rough
Looks like a quality piece of kit.
Other stuff covered already.
Other needs etc depend on what you are doing.
Pop into the intros section and tell people what you are up to.
Chunko'.

 

[Norm]

Hi Rough and welcome along, I have the same machine bought as a first welder same as yourself so I have nothing to compare it too, but performance wise It has done everything I have asked of it without missing a beat, you can get the owners manual online at the BOC website(just google boc 190 c and its in there somewhere). Maintenance wise I have just kept it clean, checked the torch for spatter, wire feed tension, etc and it has been absolutely fine.
Good luck with it and post some photos once you get started and the guys will guide you from there.
Regards Norm

 

[oilcooled :)]

welcome to the forum, looks a good machine, how much it set you back dont mind me asking, i find a long nose snipe handy to have and leave on top of the welder for clearing crap out of the shroud, cleaning and changing tips, and if you let out a big load of wire by mistake you can snip it, instead of trying to burn it away putting spatter everywhere

 

[gordon stephenson]

Nice looking mig, I saw one of those in a BOC depot a few years back and was told they were made by Kemppi for BOC,

 

[rough]

Thanks for all the replies

I thought i had my gas sorted in i was going to get a bottle with no rental
which was loads cheaper than BOC until lawnmowerman pointed out the Volkszone offer !! (thanks lawnmo-man :-)
this was what i was going to get; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190621203613?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
As i was undecided When i spoke to the chap he said i could claim a £20 rebate from the Gas company as a new customer.
i havent really got masses of welding to do, just repairs to 2 trailers at the moment but its got to be BOC hasnt it for those prices !!

Ducky- thanks for the links
Tried phoning weldequipe a few times today to order the helmet ect but without success, might try one the the ebay ones to get started with !!

post some photos once you get started and the guys will guide you from there.

I cant, i would die of embarrassment - i' started the repairs using an old mayflower stick welder that cost £20 & i could not weld the the trailer suspension plates to the axle box , looked luvly until i knocked the slag off to find it only welded on one side / slag holes everywhere

, how much it set you back dont mind me asking

Just over £300, i thought it was probably better than buying a new sip !
but i was tempted with this ?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mig-210-A...154?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c22d9e362

 

[Norm]

Trust me you will be fine you have a very good machine and if I can do it anyone can, very good price as well. get your gas and helmet some scrap offcuts and you'll be away in no time
Norm