Whats the best Mig to buy foir a mini restoration

[Stephensharp]

Hi there,
Hopefully a simple question? I have a riley elf in need of some TLC and wondered what the best MIG would be to do the job? I have limited funds and will probably be looking at a Clarke machine.
Any help would be greatfully apprieciated.
Cheers

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum, a Clarke would be a decent choice and a gas/gasless machine will give you options.

You don't need big amps for bodywork but a few spare amps never goes amiss, I would suggest the 130 or 150 if your budget goes that far.

If budget is tight the 90 or 100 would still do you fine, just limits your range of welding anything heavier if required.

 

[Stephensharp]

Hi,
i had a look at the 90 pro clarke, having spent a lot of time welding a ci***** 2cv it seemed a good bet but will it do a mini? I have no itention of welding up landys etc. in the near future.
cheers

 

[cumbriasteve]

Hi,
i had a look at the 90 pro clarke, having spent a lot of time welding a ci***** 2cv it seemed a good bet but will it do a mini? I have no itention of welding up landys etc. in the near future.
cheers

You have to remember that the maximum amps of a MIG have no relevance to welding the Mini, you will be using it at it's lowest setting, most machines go as low as 30 amps and with practice thats ok, lower is a touch better but not many hobby machines drop less than 30.

I think from what I can remember the 2CV was well known for paper thin steel so you should find the Mini easier to manage.

 

[Sean]

not half! 0.5mm on some of the more rust prone areas, a proper mini will be like welding boilerplate in comparison. ( rusty pitted boilerplate mind)