Which welder?

[mrc79]

I am thinking of buying a welder to make a trailer and I may do some chassis repairs to land rovers in the future. Generally I just want to improve my welding skills and have fun.
I have been looking at either getting an inverter ARC or a gas MIG.
The welder will have to run from a 13 amp plug and be capable of welding up to 5mm steel.
The machines that I have been considering are:

(ARC)
Parweld XTI 160
ESAB buddy ARC 145
Clarke AT 130

(Mig)
Clarke 160 TM

Has anyone go any feed back on these machines or any suggestions. Im tempted for a ARC welder to keep costs down as may only use a few times.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum.

Perhaps if you wish to see if you take to welding without blowing ££££'s the purchase of a cheap secondhand buzzbox arc set for around £40 or even less would allow you to make the trailer and see what you think.

They are obviously not as nice as an inverter but they will do the job.

For 5mm you really require a mig of 180 amps or above, the 160 Clarke which is actually a 150 will manage but you are welding at flat out power.