Replacing my welber

[jonkem]

Thanks for letting me join even though it's most likely just for one question. I've lurked and read plenty on here over time but I'm nowhere near clever enough to contribute anything meaningful unless you need to "just get it fixed so I can use it"

I've owned my Topmig super 170T for about a thousand years and despite the original price point it's done a lot of work & done it well. However since last week the feed speed controller has been failing and won't turn down. Yes I could do the mods etc but really, it's about time.....

Because I've not had to keep a finger on the available machine pulse I'm at a loss as to what's going to be a seamless replacement for me that I can just go and buy asap.

I weld anything from thin car bodywork upto large agricultural machines, 1mm ISH upto 10mm with root and a lot of 0.8 wire

Needs to be Euro, wheeled, 13amp, 15kg reels. I've managed fine with 6 power setting and numbered speed knob. I'd be happy if a smaller modern machine exists as I'm an old git now and this thing is heavy.

Budget is almost pensioner level but that's got to be balanced by it being made from girders.

Many thanks for any considered input

 

[hotponyshoes]

What's your location?
Probably a lot of members on here with suitable (surplus) machines that would suit you fine.
They are just to big to post so tend to sit around doing nothing until someone asks for one and is close enough to collect it!

 

[jonkem]

What's your location?
Probably a lot of members on here with suitable (surplus) machines that would suit you fine.
They are just to big to post so tend to sit around doing nothing until someone asks for one and is close enough to collect it!

I'm in Beds / Cambs border region.

 

[RonMig]

15kg reels will probably rule out a lot of light-weight (and cheap) products...

Depends how restricted your funds are - there was a nice britweld/tecarc 201 on here last week (@arther dailey I think?), can't recall exact price but think it was £650 -ish?

Or for New, browse our sponsor site Welding Supplies Direct (clicky link top right above) their site can sort by reel capacities & take your pick.
There is a discount for forum members, not mentioned lately but I think it's still there...

Or for lots of reading and opinions just do a search, top right, as it's a frequent topic - spelling "welder" correctly will help get some results

And welcome to the forum

 

[arther dailey]

interesting , can I presume it must have stick to cope with 10mm on a 13 amp supply ?

 

[arther dailey]

sending PM.

 

[Erie Fred]

Needs to be 15kg reels. and this thing is heavy.

I see a basic conflict here.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I see a basic conflict here.

There are quite a few modern inverter based welders that the manufacturer offers in 2 versions, 5kg or 15kg capacity. Virtually identical machines apart from bigger cased.
Obviously 15kg (ish) heavier which does make them quite a lump but still light enough to lift into a van rather than getting a ramp out to roll it in.

If you have specific work requirements for it then one might well suit you.
I'd think most people who are laying enough weld to benefit from 15kg rolls would be workshop based though and would be better off with an oversize machine they can run at 100% duty cycle, stack grinders on top of, and pull around on wheels.
Money spent levelling a workshop floor pays back quickly in productivity if you are moving a welder round a lot for something like car repairs.
If you are making trailer chassis on a jig 2 welders, one each side, might be worth the double investment

 

[Erie Fred]

Yes, but your still lifting 15kg of wire along with the welder, instead of 5kg.
the welder could be all of 1kg, it's the wire reel that is still heavy.

I agree with the industrial machine with separate wire feeder, I hung mine on door track.

If the OP want's to move it around in a van, go with smaller reels.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Thats only 10kg of extra weight though.
You can also put a 5kg into a bigger machine if you want to, so you could run a 15kg in the workshop then swap for a 5kg (or a part used 15kg) if you had a few mobile jobs to do

Apart from the weight, the size is an issue as well. Most 5kg machines can be carrier through a doorway with one hand.
If you have 2 hands on a 15kg machine doors are hard work.
Again, won't be an issue for many but I go to a few places where I need to go through a standard size door for access to a massive building

 

[Erie Fred]

Thats only 10kg of extra weight though.
You can also put a 5kg into a bigger machine if you want to, so you could run a 15kg in the workshop then swap for a 5kg (or a part used 15kg) if you had a few mobile jobs to do

Apart from the weight, the size is an issue as well. Most 5kg machines can be carrier through a doorway with one hand.
If you have 2 hands on a 15kg machine doors are hard work.
Again, won't be an issue for many but I go to a few places where I need to go through a standard size door for access to a massive building

I agree completely.

The OP did indicate getting older, and wanting lighter, so I wonder why the requirement for larger reels of wire.
If only for the economy of larger reels ?

As with most things in life, you can't have it all, compromises must be made.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Lighter often means lower duty cycle (although this may not be an issue for the op)
Longer torches/remote feeders can be useful sometimes.

The 15kg rolls do work out about 1/3 cheaper than the 5kgs although you can reduce the difference a bit if you buy the 5's in bulk.
Need to change them over 3x more often but fitting a 15kg on old knees is not much fun..

 

[Erie Fred]

Lighter often means lower duty cycle (although this may not be an issue for the op)
Longer torches/remote feeders can be useful sometimes.

The 15kg rolls do work out about 1/3 cheaper than the 5kgs although you can reduce the difference a bit if you buy the 5's in bulk.
Need to change them over 3x more often but fitting a 15kg on old knees is not much fun..

Or you could re-spool the 15 onto the empty 5 kg spools.

 

[Redeye]

Can’t beat an Oxford Migmaker

 

[addjunkie]

Can’t beat an Oxford Migmaker

Apart from being a big lump, ticks all the boxes, but longer torch means less moving it

 

[jonkem]

Lots of replies, thank you all.

The 15kg seems to have divided opinions and that's just because I have a few reels already and can get them very cheap via a local steel fab firm. Not a deal breaker if it needs to be 5kg only, I'll just buy them myself in future.

Heavy old agricultural machinery is a large part of my welding. I end up using a lot of wire simply because I weld a lot of thicker metal and with 0.8 I root a lot and will often be laying 3 lines over it to future proof the joint.

Size and weight is important as a lot of my welding is away from home and the 170 is a lump to lift into a Land Cruiser and then back down into a field.

I'll have a Google for an inverter based machine, unless anyone has a particular recommendation that's likely to be a good all-rounder and very reliable.