What MIG to get for £600?

[Andy Cole]

Hi all,
Hope someone can help me. I've been welding with stick for sometime, but have decided to purchase a MIG set. The problem is with the choice. I've got around £600 to spend and require a set to run on 240v single phase at about180 amps max. I've been quoted £470 +Vat for a brand new Lincoln Electric 185 Compact. Does anyone have any views on this welder or could anyone recomend anything else.
Thanks Andy.

 

[irondarren]

For not to disimilar money i believe you will get a portamig 181 possibly cheaper, there are a few owners of the portamig machines including malcolm the forum owner. Becareful when being quoted prices, don't forget you need a suitable regulator and a mig torch, make sure these are included in the price or you might find you end up spend another £100 before you can use the machine. It isnt uncommon practice to be quote for a machine without reg and torch so check.

 

[Andy Cole]

That price of £470+ Vat includes a 3m euro torch and regulator.
Thanks for your suggestion though.

 

[irondarren]

Should get good deals on US made machines at the min because of the high pound rate against the dollar

 

[weldequip]

Hi all,
Hope someone can help me. I've been welding with stick for sometime, but have decided to purchase a MIG set. The problem is with the choice. I've got around £600 to spend and require a set to run on 240v single phase at about180 amps max. I've been quoted £470 +Vat for a brand new Lincoln Electric 185 Compact. Does anyone have any views on this welder or could anyone recomend anything else.
Thanks Andy.

The Lincoln is a good set for light fabrication work.
If you need to do very thin sheet welding aswell something like the Portamig 211 has a better amperage range... 20 - 215amps, compared to Lincoln's 35 - 185 amps range.
weldequip

 

[DIY Welding]

I have a new machine that I am looking for one of the members to test its British made called a weld wizard 220A single phase 13A I have welded with it first impressions are good but I want sombody to try it for a month and give me there honest opinion before I go ahead and sell it whats your thoughts on a trial?

 

[robbie S]

I had an old Erfi 700 for nearly 20 years it was the old dark green one, they do a newer version now i would guess same reliability. they are around the 600 pound area.
If i wanted that much money in a mig welder now i wold buy one. i sold my set for 325 all those years later and it is still going strong. i never had to do any thing to it ever apart fron tips shrouds and liners.
Dont know how many agents they have now, they only had three in the mid ninteys. One in Doncaster one in norfork and one in scotland.

 

[snowcat]

I had the 250 a few years ago it was ok nothing fantastic, a wee bit of an old design even then but robust and reliable.

 

[lexi]

I have a new machine that I am looking for one of the members to test its British made called a weld wizard 220A single phase 13A I have welded with it first impressions are good but I want sombody to try it for a month and give me there honest opinion before I go ahead and sell it whats your thoughts on a trial?

Is nobody gonna take the man up on his kind offer?

Alex

 

[Drains]

Is nobody gonna take the man up on his kind offer?

Alex

Can it paint?



Btw Lexi, Gilmore and Aitken came up trumps. Iroko £25 a cubic foot + vat, delivery to Edin free. (14 cube, £400 bloody quid!)

 

[Welderpaul]

Can it paint?

If it can i'll have it after you.

 

[Drains]

 

[Hitch]

If you want small, but quality, the Kemppi Miniarcmigs are coming down in price. 150amp ones in your budget easily.
Not the most powerfull in your price range though.