I have a budget of £200 for a mig welder and am unsure on what to go for. I am buying it to learn but also build a supercharger mount, inlet and outlet for my mx5 so thicknesses ranging from 2mm-5mm. I have looked at the wolf 140 (cheapest) the mightymig 150 and a Clarke 152 any advice would be much appreciated
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Swift&Bold
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I believe the Wolf is permanently live?
cumbriasteve
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Welcome to the forum:
Before we start how exact is the budget and what about helmet, gloves, gas etc.
We often provide information and then find the person has a zillion £'s tucked under the mattress and buys something way above what we suggested.
Before we start how exact is the budget and what about helmet, gloves, gas etc.
We often provide information and then find the person has a zillion £'s tucked under the mattress and buys something way above what we suggested.
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Not for years, I doubt you'll find a new mig with a live torch now.
£200 is a budget for the welder alone. I am so so tempted to spend a little bit more for reasons of longevity and I would imagine that even £100 more would get me a welder that would yield far better results. I have a separate budget for mask and gas etc
cumbriasteve
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Your budget as you know limits the selection, there are people managing with a set such as the Wolf and there is a possibility they have improved a little of late but it's still not a set I would buy.
For 5mm steel you should ideally be owning a 180 amp machine, 150 can do it but it takes a bit of prep and skill.
The cheap range of Clarkes tend to have a fairly high bottom end setting which can make the welding of car bodywork fairly challenging if you have a need of that.
If you can't stretch to something like the GYS 160 which is a minimum I would suggest, then you could look for one of the original Clarkes such as the 150 or 160, they are decent hobby sets that have been used for years by car restorers.
Be aware many manufacturers use model numbers that make you believe the machine has a certain power but in reality is often less, the Clarke 160 is a perfect example, it is only 150 amps.
For 5mm steel you should ideally be owning a 180 amp machine, 150 can do it but it takes a bit of prep and skill.
The cheap range of Clarkes tend to have a fairly high bottom end setting which can make the welding of car bodywork fairly challenging if you have a need of that.
If you can't stretch to something like the GYS 160 which is a minimum I would suggest, then you could look for one of the original Clarkes such as the 150 or 160, they are decent hobby sets that have been used for years by car restorers.
Be aware many manufacturers use model numbers that make you believe the machine has a certain power but in reality is often less, the Clarke 160 is a perfect example, it is only 150 amps.
addjunkie
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200 notes doesnt go far in new, but in the used section, you may be lucky and get something quite good.
There was a sip machine the other day for example looked barley used for 150 on a face ache group mechanics tools new and used the other day. Sometimes get them on here too. Or local adds, but if buying used, you want to see it working...before parting with money if you can.
There was a sip machine the other day for example looked barley used for 150 on a face ache group mechanics tools new and used the other day. Sometimes get them on here too. Or local adds, but if buying used, you want to see it working...before parting with money if you can.
slim_boy_fat
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A good choice, let us know how you get on.
Tom Orrow L
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We're in Telford, just on Halesfield so if you ever need any help with anything just give us a shout 
Cheers. I need to sort some gas out and a bottle and am also after some steel if you know where I can buy some scrap cut offs for practicingWe're in Telford, just on Halesfield so if you ever need any help with anything just give us a shout
Tom Orrow L
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For gas you're probably best off going into Telford Group on Stafford Park, speak to Liz on front desk and ask her to help you set out a BOC account. She'll pop you on the phone to BOC, ask for Stuart Anderson and tell him you want a Y size bottle set up on the Volkzone forum deal, He'll set you up at around £7 per month rental and bottle you'll pay around £32 every fill. Brilliant deal in my opinion. Whilst you're there pop into D&S engineering next door, a good mate of mine works there and they've forever got scraps lying around that they'll let you take for free. They'll also sell you box section etc.. for cost.
slim_boy_fat
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Don't you have to put down a deposit on the bottle?
Swift&Bold
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Fair enough for TIG pure Argon but for CO2 MIG mix I doubt the average user could beat the Volkzone deal.
Burdekin
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I was using pub CO2 for years and have recently changed to Argoshield light from BOC. got to say I'm prefering the argoshield. pub gas is alot cheaper and a cylinder lasts several times longer too, but the argoshield produces a nicer weld
