What is the best mig welder under 1000 Australian dollars

[Melter man]

Please help me I am stuck and can't find the right mig welder I would like it to be gas less and weld smoothly but I can't find the right one I have looked at uni mig welders but am not sure if there is a better quality out there for that price I'm only 12years old and need a bit more advice on the right welder to buy I've been learning for 11months now and need a welder that isn't going to have an expensive ongoing cost because I need that money to buy materials for whatever I'm building at the time if you could help me that would be great.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum, there are a couple of members here from Australia so hopefully they will be able to answer what is available to you.

Although many people use gasless and I understand the problem of ongoing cost with gas etc, gasless is never as 'smooth' as gas, plus the wire is a fair bit more expensive so maybe the ongoing costs are not as big in difference as you imagine.

Do you have Esab suppliers locally?, they are always worth consideration and tend to be quality machines across their range.

Some idea of what you are welding will help others advise more accurately.

 

[troppo]

G`day mate
All i can suggest would be go to your local welding suppliers, not BOC or some gas supplier that has a few welders in the office. Go for a proper welding supplier and ask their advice, gasless is never going to be as good or as clean as gas so i`d buy the best combo machine you can afford so later when you can afford bottles you can change over.
Cheers
Troppo

 

[Melter man]

Thanks for the advice I would only be welding 1 to 2mm steel for a go kart that will have a 12 hp Briggs and Stratton pushing it along I live in a small town with only one welding shop that stocks uni mig,boc and nu weld no esab suppliers anywhere they have a combo uni mig at our local welding shop but I don't know if i should get the bigger one that has tig,arc and mig welding options but can't do gas less welding it is double the price at 1800 dollars.