What is the lowest you'd expect to spend for a decent gas/nogas MIG?

[Sami Deiri]

I've done some MIG in the past, though on other people's machines. I'm seeing a large variation here with price points. I really havent got a budget in mind but I'm a university student so don't want to spend more than I have to for something that will work in most case scenarios, but at the same time don't want to get a cheepo Sealey one or something as I'm still young, so may as well get something that will last for a while.

To rephrase the question, what sort of price point/welder would you reccomend for something that will do 90% of the jobs that you need it to (I mean things like welding go cart frames, welding some sheet metal, maybe even aluminium if its possible at a good price point). I've got some projects in mind but they're nothing special so I'm sure whatever welder I do get will be fine. Don't plan on welding anything specifically thin or thick

 

[Sami Deiri]

For some personal context, wanted to keep the thread slightly vague for others who come here, I really don't want to spend more than £500, and even then its more of a "unless I cant get something good enough for cheaper" sort of deal. As you probably know, student loans aren't the largest amounts of money, and getting some on the side for projects like these took a bunch of budgeting as well as some odd jobs when I could, so would really rather not spend any more than I need to so I can spend more on projects. What good is a fancy welder if I have no money for materials or projects, right?

The number of projects I do will depend on how much money I have left over, so the cheaper the better . I have more than 500 in savings but feel slightly uncomfortable spending that much. Some projects I have in mind are some custom training equipment for American football, a barbecue grill out of sheet metal and tubes. These examples should give you a good idea of the range of projects I'd plan on doing. I was thinking of getting a cheap one but was told not to (went from a price point of max 150 to now thinking 500 isnt that bad because of these threads. My budget is really being squeezed tight. The 500 budget will mean I have to put off other purchases but I guess I can deal with a ****ty laptop for another year if it means I have a decent welder for life. If I can go lower I really would rather)

On the other hand, I'm only 18 and doing engineering, and plan on doing this sort of make/design stuff for the rest of my life, so I may as well invest into something that will not be thrown away after 2 frustrated projects and put me off welding forever, you know?

I've looked into other threads but usually people have a maximum price point. It's hard when you don't.

 

[Fazerruss]

Welcome to the forum.There's a migatronic in the for sale section for £300. They are a very good machine. I've had the same one for 25 years and it still works perfectly.
It will even do aluminium with some minor changes.

 

[waddycall]

Sounds like secondhand is the way to go. Don't forget to budget for the extra bits you'll need i.e. gas, mask, grinder, discs, etc. If you get a decent transformer machine like the migatronic mentioned above it should last a long time and be economical to repair should it go wrong as they are fairly simple compared to newer inverter welders.

 

[angellonewolf]

you can get a clark from mechine mart that will do steel but not ali stuff but that would cost you about £300 so the migtroinc would be a good buy if it can do ali as well

 

[cumbriasteve]

What good is a fancy welder if I have no money for materials or projects, right?

That could also be worded:

What good is having materials and projects but a rubbish machine

Well done for your questions and putting a bit of thought into it, I would say a budget of £300 to £350 is realistic.

So something like the Clarke 150 or GYS 160 could be considered if buying new or as others have mentioned a good used unit for around the same price.

 

[dobbslc]

Welcome, I have recently bought a GYS Easymig 140 and its very good, it'll do gas and nogas, stick/mma, and it can also do stainless with the correct wire etc. Not sure if it'll do auluminium though.
Very nice machine that cost about £400.
I've welded some 5mm plate with it and it seems to do it well with good penetration although I wouldn't go any larger, I've also welded some 0.8mm steel and it did a nice job so that too.
It's very small and light so is easy to store and move about.
I must get down the garage for some "migtime"

 

[addjunkie]

I would agree with cumbria steve above. 300 to 350 will get a machine, then youll want, mask, regulator, gas, gloves, welding wire, grinder. That should eat up the rest of your 500 quid.

 

[Adam Marshall]

Hi ebay is good for secondhand machines I had a small budget to buy my first welder even less than you but I new a local college was shutting down so made them a cheeky offer on there class welder and they actually let me have it. It's a 250amp mig single phase as well so was really great full but sourced everything else like my gas locally which I only pay 40 pound for bottle and gas full size cylinder that is not the small hobby bottles but safety gear like mask, gloves, welding jacket... (which I would recommend as I have had a nasty accident welding overhead) you do have to be careful of the cheapo ebay masks sometimes they don't respond to light quick enough.

 

[Sami Deiri]

Welcome to the forum.There's a migatronic in the for sale section for £300. They are a very good machine. I've had the same one for 25 years and it still works perfectly.
It will even do aluminium with some minor changes.

Do you mean the Mx180? Just checking. It looks like a good deal but I don't know **** about these so I'm not sure

 

[Sami Deiri]

Hi ebay is good for secondhand machines I had a small budget to buy my first welder even less than you but I new a local college was shutting down so made them a cheeky offer on there class welder and they actually let me have it. It's a 250amp mig single phase as well so was really great full but sourced everything else like my gas locally which I only pay 40 pound for bottle and gas full size cylinder that is not the small hobby bottles but safety gear like mask, gloves, welding jacket... (which I would recommend as I have had a nasty accident welding overhead) you do have to be careful of the cheapo ebay masks sometimes they don't respond to light quick enough.

I was considering looking at ebay but I've seen some people on here warn against buying off ebay, and seeing as I dont really know much about welding I didn't want to risk getting a machine, and not knowing if its me or the machine. At least if I get a new one/from someone trusted I won't be worried every time something goes wrong that I've been ripped off

 

[angellonewolf]

Hi ebay is good for secondhand machines

yes ebay can be good for 2nd hand migs but i was looking myself there for inverter welders over the last few weeks and they do seam to fetch good money so if your looking for some thing cheap you got to be lucky or collection units only to get a good price

or keep an eye out on gumtree or local facebook they dont come up often but they are about and as they dont get as much intrest you can poss pickup a deal


and first and formost can you weld ? as if your just starting out you will not know if the unit is working right it can be a expensive learning lesson to buy what you think is working fine but then find some things not right and do look at the details cheaking what power is needed eg if your going to be using 240 13 amp plug you will need to be carefull that as over 150 amps you might need a bigger power supply or even 3 phase

 

[Sami Deiri]

and first and formost can you weld ? as if your just starting out you will not know if the unit is working right it can be a expensive learning lesson to buy what you think is working fine but then find some things not right and do look at the details cheaking what power is needed eg if your going to be using 240 13 amp plug you will need to be carefull that as over 150 amps you might need a bigger power supply or even 3 phase

I've done some welding before with a trained technician but nothing that much. Probably less than 10 hours of welding practice (not continious). So, no, I wouldn't really be able to tell if something is wrong, I don't think, unless something is majorly wrong

 

[angellonewolf]

Do you mean the Mx180? Just checking. It looks like a good deal but I don't know **** about these so I'm not sure

if your buying a welder off here you will be very unlucky to buy a melon bud

ive been on hear for near a year and have not seen any one buy anything that does not work and most on here will state not work or will be over critacal of what they are selling it is a welding fourm and a lot of nice people when i joined a member even offered to look at a welder just to help and have a chin wag i had only just joined so a nice bunch

 

[angellonewolf]

and if you need help in your welding or any thing most questions are asked and answared on here eg buy a caravan to car help

 

[Sami Deiri]

if your buying a welder off here you will be very unlucky to buy a melon bud

ive been on hear for near a year and have not seen any one buy anything that does not work and most on here will state not work or will be over critacal of what they are selling it is a welding fourm and a lot of nice people when i joined a member even offered to look at a welder just to help and have a chin wag i had only just joined so a nice bunch

What's your opinion on the migtronic 180 post? It'd cost me around £40 for just travel there and back, with around 6-7 hours each way. Is it worth it or should I just wait for something more local (its all the way up in durham, im in london). Not sure if its worth it, especially as I'm in london so Im guessing ill get a decent deal nearby at some point with some patience. That is unless this is a really good deal and would make the journey worth it

Thanks
Sami

 

[Fazerruss]

What's your opinion on the migtronic 180 post? It'd cost me around £40 for just travel there and back, with around 6-7 hours each way. Is it worth it or should I just wait for something more local (its all the way up in durham, im in london). Not sure if its worth it, especially as I'm in london so Im guessing ill get a decent deal nearby at some point with some patience. That is unless this is a really good deal and would make the journey worth it

Thanks
Sami

I think it will be a sound machine and you will probably be able to test it too.
It needs a new rotary switch to be able to use the stitch and spot function but they are only a quid from Maplin and 10 minutes with a soldering iron.

 

[gaz1]

theres a few things to say with mx180

its not a gasless machine only gas only
it is older as quoted by some on here but sometimes they are better
older means heavy item
its a 16 amp machine but can be used via a 13 amp plug

 

[Sami Deiri]

theres a few things to say with mx180

its not a gasless machine only gas only

oh okay, yeah that might be annoying, as I have to work outdoors. I wouldn't have been able to pick it up for another few weeks so ill probably lurk around Thanks Gaz

 

[gaz1]

(went from a price point of max 150 to now thinking 500 isnt that bad because of these threads. My budget is really being squeezed tight. The 500 budget will mean I have to put off other purchases but I guess I can deal with a ****ty laptop for another year if it means I have a decent welder for life. If I can go lower I really would rather)

On the other hand, I'm only 18 and doing engineering, and plan on doing this sort of make/design stuff for the rest of my life, so I may as well invest into something that will not be thrown away after 2 frustrated projects and put me off welding forever, you know?

I've looked into other threads but usually people have a maximum price point. It's hard when you don't.

with that said take note you lose a good chunk of value compared to new price paid once a used machine
another point to remember is the thickness of your metal your welding these are fine between thin and thick metal up too 5mm with prep first after that its either an arc welder or a digital machine

a clarke 150 can be bought for 220.00 with a machine mart voucher from the forums
sip150 have there problems but can be a nice machine if you adapt them
sealey machines are also good enough but for me unknown on how long they last

after this prices bounce gys and rtech come to mind theres higher more expensive machines from 600.00 upwards