Which welder

[Farmer Joe]

Hi, Im new to the forum. Im in bed sick today and am just a little bored.
And have been reading the forum.
I would like to buy a welder for to make farm gates and general work from fixing exhaust pipes to making traditional farm gates. I understand that a Clarke 150/160 is probably what I need.
Can anyone tell me if this is suitable and what might be a next up the line welder regarding quality, serviceability, and price, as I could spend the same money on a second hand mig if I come by one?
And 1 last question, would an inverter welder be a possible option? Pro's and cons?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.
Farmer Joe.

 

[Farmer Joe]

One last note, Does anyone have any knowledge about this welder, thanks.
Siegen MIG 180 Mig Welder.

 

[oilcooled :)]

haha with the loss ye had on saturday evening you should be sick, go on SLIGO

cant advice on migs, i have an inverter, exhaust are not too bad after a few practices, depends how far gone it it is, gates are breeze with arc. read my review, i reccomend this
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20187

 

[Farmer Joe]

up the west

Cant say i felt too bad on Saturday, I was born in Sligo and brought up in Galway....My biggest problem has always been with Mayo!!!!!
Right im going to read your link..... Thanks

 

[Farmer Joe]

ok

Thanks for the link. Im getting educated.... I see on your profile that you weld sileage, how do you do that?.... I think ill go fro a Clarke MIG Welder (Turbo) - 151TE new if I dont come across a good second hand mig. Machine mart have a fair price, but ebay seem to do the same deal cheaper. Anyone got any ideas on cheap, good, auto darkenig helmets?
Thanks...

 

[weldequip]

I would like to buy a welder for to make farm gates and general work from fixing exhaust pipes to making traditional farm gates. I understand that a Clarke 150/160 is probably what I need.

Way too small a machine for that type of work - you'll very quickly kill it. Look for a decent S/H machine of around 200 Amps + or get an Arc welder (no good on the exhaust stuff though unless you get a DC machine & set it up for TIG).

 

[oilcooled :)]

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/tools/1419974

?

 

[Farmer Joe]

Mmmmmm

Thanks WeldEquip, Im going to keep looking. If I dont find a decent sized mig 2nd hand I might just get the Clarke and in the mean time look out for an ark 2nd hand for the gates. Mind you a decent 2nd hand 200+ mig would be nice...
I've got a fair bit of research to do though. Could you advise me, generaly, on the main 200+ mig makes/models to look for 2nd hand?
Thanks

 

[Farmer Joe]

Mmmmm

Hi Oilcooled,
Thanks for the link, I wonder if parts are available for the murex trades mig 251 in the advert.?
Thanks for your input...

 

[oilcooled :)]

ill take it your a farmer hence "farmer joe" ? if so an arc welder would suit your needs better. alot of steel work is done out doors on farms e.g erecting chutes lean toos working on machinery . . . general tinkering, the mig wont work well in the wind gas blows away. roll of wire the big roll 50 euros, biggest bottle of gas 120 euro rent plus 80 to fill and refill in boc. then theres micellanous, everything has to be really clean to weld well. at 160 amps you will only weld 6mm pushing it, Vs 10ish with arc with no prep work. the exhausts im sure you mean old car and tractor exhausts, not actually making exhausts, and you will get a skilled hand towards it with an arc with practice. mig would be better in the shed, but arc will be better on the farm for mobilty, cost effectiveness etc

see this ringer of an oilcooled i have 2, great machine wont overheat, will last forever provided not got wet, very heavy and not very mobile, buy a long set of leads coming out of the machine. very reliable.

murex spares should be easy got.


http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/tools/1416393

 

[Farmer Joe]

Getting interesting by the minute

Thanks oilcooled, what you have told me makes sense and is very useful. We have a 6 achre small holding. Not enough welding work to merit spending alot of money on a welder.

Right now I need to weld up an exhaust on a renault B110. In time I will need to fix and make up some gates and what ever else crops up on the farm. I drive an old '88 landrover 110 also and I would like to be able to weld small stuff like the interior of the doors and also fix any chassis repairs.

My father has an old Oxy/Acetelene set up I could borrow but I would probably need to change the hoses, as it has not been used in 15 years. Im not much of a welder, though he is realy good, but as he is getting on in the years I wont be asking him to help.

What I will probably do is keep a look out for a second hand 250 amp Mig and take the exhaust off and weld it in the shed. From what I understand this should do the gates also. If I ever need to do any welding bigger than what a 250 Mig can handle, Ill look into getting a an Ark Welder.

So I think I have a plan....Thanks.

 

[Farmer Joe]

Oh yea

Oh Yea.... Up Galway

 

[Farmer Joe]

Ooops

Actually my plan may have a little kink in it, A 250 mig might need 3 phase, which I dont have.... Might have to look into inverter welders....and set up for Tig as Weldequip mentioned... This is all so complicated, but Ill get the hang of it....., Im soooo going to enjoy makin sparks!!!!

I meant DC machine & set it up for TIG as Weld equip mentioned...

 

[Farmer Joe]

After all the research and deliberation, I have orederd a tig/arc DC inverter from weldequip. Here's looking forward to having a quiter van and building some traditional looking farm gates. I would love to have seen the original
gate on the entrance to the house being built. I doubt they had welders back then. Nice chunky gate, huge big rivets hammered in to hold it together. Real old style blacksmith job.