Trying to focus my search but haven't a clue...

[ChasF]

..what I'm looking for.

I've read some threads on here and find I'm more confused than when I started. I think I'm looking for a AC/DC Mig/Tig up to about 150A but any advice would be appreciated. I currently use exclusively gas welding but don't find it much good for welding thin mild steel as in car bodywork. Also have a requirement for welding fairly heavy duty box section and round tube for making scaffolding brackets (all mild steel). I would also like the facility to weld stainless steel and aluminium but nothing heavy duty.

I'm based in France and would be looking for a make that is supported here with a good reputation for reliability although it is for occasional use. GYS is a popular make here (made in France, I believe) and small inverters seem to be relatively cheap, Miller have a local agent. I can stretch to about 1000 euros (£850) all in i.e. with enough bits and pieces to start welding.

 

[piman]

Hello Chas,

"I currently use exclusively gas welding but don't find it much good for welding thin mild steel as in car bodywork."

What problems do you have, as that is all I use for car body repairs. (Unless you are repairing modern cars?)

Alec

 

[Jim Davey]

Gys don't have an ACDC Tig in their range that matches your price, they might have a demonstrator or shop soiled unit closer to the budget but it's still going to be a fair way off.
Sounds like a couple of processes you need at least. Ally is best done with Tig, car body's are best with mig and scaffold tube requires a decent sized mig or a bit of skill with a stick set.
What kind of thing are you wanting to weld in aluminium? You might be best looking for the biggest mig you can afford. One with a decent drive system that will cope with ally wire.

 

[shenion]

I have not seen any AC/DC TIG/MIG units. All the MIG/TIG/Stick units I have seen are DC only. Probably why you can't find any.

You'll need an AC/DC TIG and probably a separate MIG.

 

[ChasF]

Thanks for the replies. Having done a bit more research I think I will go for a reasonable MIG welder and leave the TIG for now (I hope to one day try my hand at small stainless and Aluminium fabricated parts for motorbikes). The MIG will need to be capable of welding thin steel and box section/tube up to 3 mm wall thickness. It will also be used for maintenance and repairs on my trailers and other machinery. I would like to know what features I should be looking and what essential accessories and consumables I might need which are not supplied with the machine. Is this machine going to be adequate for my needs: http://www.gys.fr/prod-033160-832/MIG_Welder/SMARTMIG_162/en .

Alec, to be honest my main issue with doing car body repairs with the gas welder is 1/. The flame and 2/. the heat. I may be being naive but I think with MIG welding the heat will be more localised and also, as I'm probably more than averagely clumsy, I sometimes burn things from waving the torch around!

 

[lshigham]

I love my GYS smartmig 162, really nice to use.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Hi Chas
The general lack of after sales support in France makes me buy stuff in UK, and hope that I don't need the apres vente..
GYS seem to be quite good, esp at the price.
I started with gas welding and stick for car work(long time ago), but MIG is easily the best. Especially if you can get low amps, Circ 25. Having said that, I was welding 0.5mm SS stove pipes the other day and wasn't near the lower range of my 150amp unit (15 amps)

For 3mm plus, stick is fine for steel, not too bad for SS. A 150 amp MIG will do SS and ally (read the tutorials!). Just about to weld up an ally tank with MIG, so will post up the experience.
KF

 

[KemppiFrog]

Alec, to be honest my main issue with doing car body repairs with the gas welder is 1/. The flame and 2/. the heat. I may be being naive but I think with MIG welding the heat will be more localised and also, as I'm probably more than averagely clumsy, I sometimes burn things from waving the torch around!

Sounds familiar. While practicing on an Renault R4, with the idea of of a Plein Aire (convertable) I wondered why things were a bit gloomy. Taking off my gogs, I found I had set light to the head lining!! Girl friend had donated a fire extiguisher for my Ginetta (not sure why..) But it just dribbled.. major panic, as the barn was wood. Water was my friend, but it was a bit close.
KF

 

[norlander]

http://www.stahlwerk-schweissgeraete.de/

http://www.igbtig.com/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=505711

http://www.batsoutillage.net/pack-b...ure-mig-smartmig-162-160a-230v-2-en1-gys.html

I post these FYI, if you have a Les Briconautes store near you they may be doing a regler en trois fois sans frais deal and my local one does the Gys 162 set up for no gas The 162 is the one as it has the euro torch.
Bats outillage deal with gas could be useful as gas contract/buy the bottle prices can be hefty in france.
GYS kit is supposed to be good- I'm contemplating a 162 on a pay in three hits deal myself.
GYS is a french company but their kit is made in china but itspretty good kit . I have found french after sales to be very good but it can depend on whether you speak some french or resort to waving your arms and shouting in english-but you probably already know that!!!!.
Sounds like you need mig for your car body stuff and a stick for the heavy duty stuff, your budget might just get you that.I put Stahlwerk in more for their little plasma cutter (they don't do mig kit ) if you should need that kit in the future, its chinese and similar sets are available in France but the supplied torches are poor, the germans swap them out for a better torch supplied with the kit.You can set fire to stuff and burn french barns down much easier with plasma I reckon;

 

[KemppiFrog]

Thanks for the Stahlwerks link and the torch info.

After sales, or lack of it, is the biggest running complaint among the people I know. Foreign or French. That and imaginative quotes. Best recent one was for a renovation, on analysing it, he found that it included TWO roof jobs. One of which was nothing like his...
KF

 

[ChasF]

I'm still keen on the GYS 162. I think it'll do everything I need at the moment. I'll just have a quick look at our local professional suppliers (Miller and others) just for the sake of comparison before I commit.

I have very varied experiences of French after sales service over the years. The worst one was a condensation boiler I fitted leaked from the outset. The fault was obvious but involved a lot of dismantling to replace a 5 euro part that looked as if it had been fitted with a hammer and mole grips at the factory. The supplier refused point blank to have anything to do with it but kindly 'phoned a local boiler maintenance company who quoted 500 euros to come and have a look!

 

[norlander]

I'm still keen on the GYS 162. I think it'll do everything I need at the moment. I'll just have a quick look at our local professional suppliers (Miller and others) just for the sake of comparison before I commit.

I have very varied experiences of French after sales service over the years. The worst one was a condensation boiler I fitted leaked from the outset. The fault was obvious but involved a lot of dismantling to replace a 5 euro part that looked as if it had been fitted with a hammer and mole grips at the factory. The supplier refused point blank to have anything to do with it but kindly 'phoned a local boiler maintenance company who quoted 500 euros to come and have a look!

I think you'll be happy with the GYS (no experience of them myself) they do seem to be good kit. On after sales service, maybe I get good service if needed because I tend to buy local so I can visit the business in person and face to face.If checking out your local pro suppliers, take a chair to sit on before you get the quote-180amp AC/DC TIG unit complete 4000 euros at my local pro outlet.