Sealey/portamig/tec arc

[monty16]

Hi all,
I'm looking at buying my first mig welder. The first job that the new welder will be doing in welding a roll cage into a car. The thickness of the cage I believe is 3-4mm.

My first question being a beginner is how many amps would I need to carry out this job.

I was looking at a sealey supermig 180 (180amp). Think these cost in the region of £350 plus gas etc.

Although looking through the forum it appears portamig have a good name. Doing a bit more research it appears tec arc is the same piece of kit but a bit cheaper. The portamig is a good bit more expensive but don't want to buy something that isn't very good.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[chevy2]

I'll be the first to say and coming from someone whos literally made dozens of roll cages it wouldn't be something for a beginner to cut their teeth on as lets be honest its there to hopefully save your butt not test your first welding efforts?

Theres plenty of happy Portamig owners on here but as you say a bit more pricey but generally more money equals a better welder.

 

[zzr1200]

If I was shopping for a mig welder, Portamig/Tecarc would be my prefered way to go, the Portamig has a slightly lower amperage range than the Tecarc, ideal for thin car body work.

I must agree with Chevy, a roll cage is not the best place to start learning to weld.

 

[monty16]

I appreciate your comments regards the roll cage. Forgot to mention that my dad will be welding it and I will be hopefully learning a thing or two.

Anytime we have done the cages before we have had to beg steel and borrow. Time has come to buy my own.

 

[chevy2]

Sorry but i got the impression from the first post that it was maybe your first crack at mig welding,
good luck with the project,
you wont regret buying a decent machine, it'll serve you well for many years,

28 years on my Lincoln so far

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

portamig is the way farward

 

[monty16]

Chevy I am a complete beginner on the welding itself but want to learn this time.
My dad has been welding on and off for years but wouldn't know or advise me what's best to buy.

How many amps do you think I'd need to weld a roll cage.

 

[jackjosh]

Portamig, you can weld tinfoil with one lol

 

[brightspark]

Portamig, you can weld tinfoil with one lol

by the time u get it delivered it will have worn to tinfoil

 

[jackjosh]

by the time u get it delivered it will have worn to tinfoil

Yeah forgot to mention, you wont get one return of post about a six week wait for me but worth it.

 

[Burdekin]

Mine is on order, I was told I'd get it before I leave for my Christmas holiday but not too fussed if not. The companies obviously keep costs down by made to order and they are made in the UK so a short wait is no big deal and worth waiting for a good quality UK made welding machine.

 

[monty16]

Would 180 amps be more than capable of the job I'm looking to do. I want to buy something which gives me room for a bit of scope.

 

[Jim Davey]

Yep, 180 amps will cover you for anything up to 4mm. The question that's more relevant is does it go down low enough to weld car bodywork? 25-30 amps is considered to be low enough.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Mine took 5 weeks from order... I pestered Stevie after 2 weeks !

 

[zardoz]

I dont know about welding tinfoil! But a Portamig using 0.6mm wire should be fine for car bodywork. I think it starts at 15 Amps.

If i recal correctly mine took 2 or 3 weeks. But that was back in the day. The longer waiting list just goes to show that they are even more popular nowerdays.

 

[monty16]

I've researched,researched and researched and am convincing myself to spend the money on a portamig 215. I have looked at the tec arc 211 which looks like the same machine but cheaper. I will not be a heavy user of the mig so am trying to warrant the extra spend. Any views tec arc mig welders.

 

[madkayaker]

There built by same people who build portamig tec arc in YorkYork

 

[monty16]

Any idea why the difference in cost

 

[madkayaker]

If there the ones off the ebay shop the. It's due to being display models with slight scratch in case etc. after that don't know

 

[BChild]

Any idea why the difference in cost

The colour of course - everyone know red ones are faster better