What type of welder should I buy?

[Mark Robinson]

Hey guys, I've browsed the forum loads but never posted up until now, in fact I've only just registered.
Right, I have a project car, a 1994 Renault Clio 16v which I'm restoring, I was wondering what would be an ideal welding set up to buy for welding the shell and fabricating stuff?
I can weld as I've done it before but never actually bought my own set up, I've been looking at this Sealey Professional 230V 100A No-Gas Mig Welder by Sealey http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002HMRTV2/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_ajTntb0B9GCCV
Would this be any good? Or do you have any other/better recommendations?
Thanks in advance

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hi Mark, welcome to the forum.
With only two power settings and the abilty to use gasless wire only you won't really have much control over what you're doing.
My advice would be to look for something with a range of 30-130A, at least 4 power settings and the ability to use solid wire with a shielding gas or even a dual-purpose machine that can be used with gas or gasless wire.

 

[Mark Robinson]

Hi Mark, welcome to the forum.
With only two power settings and the abilty to use gasless wire only you won't really have much control over what you're doing.
My advice would be to look for something with a range of 30-130A, at least 4 power settings and the ability to use solid wire with a shielding gas or even a dual-purpose machine that can be used with gas or gasless wire.

Thanks for the reply and welcome. Is there any specific models you recommend? Thanks again

 

[marlinspike]

You can get a kit from Weldequip for about £40 which will convert a gasless Clarke mig to use refillable gas canisters. We have an old Clarke 90 and it is a decent machine. Cheap Clarkes come up regularly on ebay.

 

[BrokenBiker]

take it from me, do not buy the sealey gasless mig. I have one, it is infact the only mig I have ever owned, and it is a capable machine, providing you know how to convert it to a gas mig, installing a euro torch, a gas solenoid valve, reversing the polarity of the torch and so on. with all the parts you would need to buy you may as well buy a better machine.

using it with gasless on car body work stuff is horrible, having to stop every few minutes to clean the welds up or fix a blow through. get something that will take a hobby sized refillable gas bottle and 0.6mm wire for the thinner stuff and 0.8mm for the thicker stuff