The usual 'which welder' questions, sorry!

[Jon_Derby]

Hi all, first post

I plan on learning to weld part time at college (I'm 35). It's something that I've always wanted to get into, and did attend a course quite some years ago, but there was no interest at the time, so the course got cancelled shortly after it began, and I ended up in IT somehow.

I'm facing redundancy, and due to my lack of formal qualifications, plus a hatred for office life, I'm considering training in welding, but I've got a few months to decide if it's right for me, so I'm going to buy a cheap welder and try my hand. I'm generally good with my hands, and I pick things up very quickly, plus I have a couple of people that would be able to spend some time with me.

I wanted to ask the opinion of you guys as to which sort of welder I'd be best to start with...

I don't yet have a particular purpose, and it's a clean slate with the view to heading in the most useful direction possible, probably plating or fabrication of some sort, not so much automotive, although it'd be nice to have that option in the future.

From the research I've done so far, I'm thinking probably an MMA inverter of about 160 amps would probably be the best route for me....Am I on the right track, or should I be looking at MIG? I don't want to spend more than a couple of hundred at this point.

Assuming an inverter is the right choice; are the Sealey inverters any good? I've seen a grey 160 amp model for around £150 new, which seems fairly reasonable, but I have ZERO experience with the various brands and their quality. The model is MWE160C

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated

Jon

 

[cumbriasteve]

Hi Jon
Welcome to the forum:
I think my advice would be to try and determine what you want to do with a bit more accuracy, failing to do that could prove expensive in purchasing a machine that is not the one you need for the work you want to do.

An MMA inverter probably does sound about right if you are welding no thinner than 2mm steel and want a machine that can make 'things' gates, garden furniture, brackets etc, MIG is easier to learn though having a mig capable of going above 5mm would be very costly compared to an MMA.

Then there are times an MMA simply won't cope where low power is required but a MIG will

It's a minefield isn't it?

Perhaps an MMA as you mention and a small Clarke MIG for thin materials only, a good secondhand 90 or 100amp gas/no gas unit can often be got for £100 or even less

Re the redundancy: having a welder and some skill is a long way from earning a living being employed as a welder but could be a route to earning money on a work for yourself basis.

 

[Jon_Derby]

Thanks Steve, that conclusion sounds about right so far.

And sorry, I perhaps inferred that being a welder was as easy as buying a cheap rig and having a bash in the garage. Not my intention at all. I realize that is a very skilled trade.

As I say, I'm 35 now and facing possibly my last chance at retraining for a new career. IT is a no go, as it would cost me too much time and money to certify to the level I'd need to be at, just to be in a similar role that I'm in now. I'm kind of lost but I know this is a bit of a one shot affair. It's worrying to say the least.

With that said, do you think it's a feasible trade to try and pick up at 35? I'm not an antique, but I'm old enough to know that some things are futile. I'd appreciate any opinions.

As for what type of welding path....I would imagine fab shop stuff or structural. I don't have any mad aspirations about becoming some exotic welder, I just want to learn a trade that interests me and will pay the rent, something I can get my teeth into. Whilst a good wage would be nice, I'm more interested in doing a job that I don't loathe, and not being stuck in an office.

 

[cumbriasteve]

No problem, did not think you were suggesting welding was an easy pick up trade, just me getting it across it's a long road to big money.

Re other welding jobs, to give you an idea, a mate has just got a job with a small local firm, they repair jcb buckets, make farm gates, steel frame buildings and trailers etc and he has not got a qualification to his name...nothing at all, he did however show at an interview that he was a very good arc welder, he sometimes did work for me, was self taught over the last 10 years or so, I was surprised with the decent wage he is on too.

So give it a go and 35 is still a youngster these days, compared to me anyways

 

[Jon_Derby]

No problem, did not think you were suggesting welding was an easy pick up trade, just me getting it across it's a long road to big money.

Re other welding jobs, to give you an idea, a mate has just got a job with a small local firm, they repair jcb buckets, make farm gates, steel frame buildings and trailers etc and he has not got a qualification to his name...nothing at all, he did however show at an interview that he was a very good arc welder, he sometimes did work for me, was self taught over the last 10 years or so, I was surprised with the decent wage he is on too.

So give it a go and 35 is still a youngster these days, compared to me anyways

Brilliant, thanks Steve, appreciate the info.

A job like your friend has found would be the sort of thing I'd be happy working my way up to eventually. I'm somewhat creative at heart, and enjoy quite a lot of practical hobbies, so I figure I'll get a fairly cheap inverter and start from there, hopefully adding a half decent mig at some point in the future.

Luckily I have access to plenty of scrap steel, so practice shouldn't be an issue

Thanks again for the encouraging words. Once I get set up I'll no doubt be on here more often for advice

 

[TAITSIE]

Hope your plans work out , I would stay away from automotive welding its a thankless job

 

[Jon_Derby]

Hope your plans work out , I would stay away from automotive welding its a thankless job

Cheers mate, appreciate it

 

[Paul Gr]

Hi, I know it's an old post but I am in a similar position as Jon_Derby. I'm a new member no welding experience and just about to start a City and Guilds welding course. Eventually I'd like to be able to weld vehicle bodies and gates/railings etc...What do you guys think of this welder? http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/Mig_Welder/240V_Mig_Welders/Mig_Welder_R-Tech_IMIG180

Grateful for any advice before purchasing a welder. Thanks

 

[Jon_Derby]

Hi, I know it's an old post but I am in a similar position as Jon_Derby. I'm a new member no welding experience and just about to start a City and Guilds welding course. Eventually I'd like to be able to weld vehicle bodies and gates/railings etc...What do you guys think of this welder? http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/Mig_Welder/240V_Mig_Welders/Mig_Welder_R-Tech_IMIG180

Grateful for any advice before purchasing a welder. Thanks

Hi Paul, just for reference, I ended up with a Clarke 151EN Mig, and also bought a cheap Clarke 110a Easi Arc as well.

The 151EN seems fantastic so far, nicely built, works like a charm.

The arc welder is actually surprisingly good too, I only bought it as it was in Machine Mart on the 'cheap shelf' and looked like a customer return as it's in new condition. I figured for the money it was worth buying, as I figured it would be good practice alongside the mig, plus I have access to free rods and scrap steel etc.

I'm obviously a beginner, so I don't know a deal, but I would think the more amps the better for gates etc, depending on the size you're wanting to weld. I suppose an arc welder would be the cheapest way to get high amps, although one of the lads on here will tell you better, some great info on here.

I want to do the C&G course, but missed it this time around