What welder should i buy

[teleco]

Hi All,

I need to buy a welder just for DIY use.
I wouldn't be using it that often and would be welding fairly thin sheets of steel and steel doors about 2mm plus thick.
I don't have much experience of welding and only had a small stick welder before which was hard to use and kept sticking to the steel on me but now not working..

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[cumbriasteve]

2mm plus could mean 10mm but I will assume you mean not much thicker than 2mm:

Your budget is the main criteria but based on your question then my choice would be a Clarke 135 or 150, enough power for your needs and a bit spare when you realise welding is fun and want to do a project or two.

Gas is the other thing to consider, disposable bottles are costly and empty fast, so ask around locally to find who supplys what.

 

[teleco]

thanks for that
most of the material i will be welding will be about 2mm or so.
is that clarke welder you mention an arc welder,
Few people mentioned buying a good invertor welder.

 

[Country Joe]

is that clarke welder you mention an arc welder,
Few people mentioned buying a good invertor welder.

No, I think Cumbriasteve means a mig.
Arc would be getting quite tricky on thin sheet.
Arc welding tends to be easier on 3mm and thicker steel.
All the Best,
CJ

 

[teleco]

ok thanks, any suggestions on where to buy and which offers the best value for money... There are "no gas" ones i see on Ebay but
I dont really want to buy on Ebay

 

[cumbriasteve]

How much can you afford to spend? remembering you will need to allow £30 for a helmet and perhaps £30 deposit locally for a bottle of gas.

Using a 'no gas' mig is not as nice or as easy as a gas one, the best option is a dual purpose machine then you have the choice.

 

[teleco]

already got a helmet and i probably would like to get one around £150 - £200, a good secondhand would do too but its hard to know what to go for,
i got a few tractor doors and wings to weld and would like to do it myself.
I saw these on Ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professio...664?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27cb1fe908

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-15...089?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5ae1bbd559


thanks

 

[cumbriasteve]

For those tasks I would suggest a Clarke 150 or 135, decent machines with easy to get spares.

 

[teleco]

thanks, would the 135 do my job and is it easy to use

 

[keith19]

The 135 should do fine. But it is a bit expensive compared to one or two heavier duty machines.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/135te-turbo-mig-welder

The 151EN :
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mig151en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder
Or here: http://www.wilstar.co.uk/products/2/118/clarke_151en_mig_the_welding_centre_surbiton/
comes quite a bit cheaper, is more powerful for the odd occasion when you need it, and the difference in price would pay for a gas regulator kit:
http://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit.htm