Opinions on Nova MIG-160

[snapir]

Greetings from Finland. An amazing place you have here. Kudos!

I have no experience with welding, but since my sons started to take interest in mopeds, I re-discovered my passion for small engines and motoring, and now want also to learn to weld properly (things break when you ride hard off-road).

The first step is buying a welding machine. I have read about the different types and thought to buy a good new DIY MIG welder or a used, old small professional welder.

I was thinking to pay around 300€ for a used machine and up to 500€ for a new machine (he prices in Finland are higher than in the UK).

1. Is it sensible to buy a used machine?
2. What should one look for when buying a used machine?
3. How the specs of the machine linked below look to the experts in this forum?
4. The machine has a wire supply mechanism on the torch. What do you think about this (have not seen it on other machines)?

Translated to English with Google Translate
http://translate.google.com/transla...laitteet/Hitsauskone_Nova_MIG-160.htm&act=url

Thanks,
Amir

 

[keith19]

Greetings Amir, and welcome to the forum!

The welder in your link has a lowest output of 40 Amps; this may be too high if you are thinking of welding thin metal below 1.5 mm, such as car bodywork.
The wire feed mechanism on the torch I have not seen before. I think this machine is designed only for very small, occasional jobs, as it appears to have very small reels of wire.
Also the gas pipe running up to the torch nozzle looks very vulnerable in that position, instead of being tucked safely inside the torch.
I think perhaps you should find somebody who is already using one, to take a careful look at it, and ask about possible problems.
For checking a used welding machine, you really need to take an experienced welder along with you, to test the machine and look it over before buying.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Get a proper welder, one that spares are readily available for.
A fancy Chinese thing like that will be very likely to go wrong and will be VERY difficult to find spares for.

 

[snapir]

Thanks.

I will probably drop this option for a new machine. I generally have little confidence in low-cost DIY tools, and this machine did not look very promising anyway.

The problem is that it looks like other MIG welding machines in this price range do not look better.