Worth paying/waiting for a quality welder?

[Ragnarok]

or you could get a cheapish one like a clarke to learn on and get some jobs done with then up grade

 

[bondo]

As a mig-welder in the motor trade since the seventies I would consider nothing less than a 180amp (anything less I call a 'sparkler') with a 180 you can do everything, (even towbars) restoration wise. Cheaper machines all have a fan to keep them cool and nothing is more frustrating than the thermal cutout cutting in when your doing a nice long weld, cheaper machines make an easy job hard work.Argon gives the best weld, co2 gives more splutter still welds ok though.A word of warning always,always wear a mask unless you would like 'arc eye' and I promise you you won't.Arc eye is suntan of the eyeball as a doctor once told me, my tip and I have had it lot's of times is late at night your eyes feel tired and when I look at the digital numbers on my microwave there's a halo around them I then stay up till at least midnight then take 3 Anadin Extra or similar, you have to stay up as late as possible to make sure the pills are still working because arc eye will come on at about 3 in the morning and last till about 5am it's taken me years to discover this simple trick, works for me hope it's useful to someone else.Please don't lecture me on Health and safety these thing's happen I'm retired now and my eyes are still perfect

 

[Silver Surfer]

ESAB C160i great machine makes me look good and thats hard

 

[DuncanM]

Sadly the Esab would require waiting (and saving) until next spring/summer (unless you know anyone selling a secondhand one? :-) ). If I wait that long before starting my welding, there's no way that my car will be on the road in 2012.
Cheers
Duncan

 

[Wozzaaah]

Argon gives the best weld

You sure about that?

I think you mean argon/co2 mix. Unless pure argon back in the 70s was different to the stuff we have nowadays, on mild steel it gives a tall, ugly weld.

 

[DuncanM]

I have good news - I was explaining my dilema to my wife and now my budget is doubled.

So now my question is which is better for a beginner to get welding quickly, the Britarc, the Portamig, or the Esab caddy (or the Esab Origo or the Murex Tradesmig or the Oxford Migmaker or...)?
Opinions?
Cheers
Duncan

 

[Silver Surfer]

I don't know how to link posts so I have pasted in what I wrote previously on my experience as a novice with the ESAB C160i.

I bought one of these from Weldequip about three months ago to help me do up a VW T25 van. I had very little welding experience and like you tend to buy things that are a bit over the top

I have posted some of the results on here under a thread titled ESAB C160i or something like that. Anyway I have been very very pleased with the machine. i can weld better than I thought posible on thin stuff ~0.8mm and still weld 4mm with no issues.

Great points

1) Very easy to use
2) really light and portable
3) more than powerful enough for me
4) can be used off an extension with no issues
5) can be used off a generator no issues
6) 2 year warranty

Things to consider

1) If you are welding all the time i believe transformer MIGs are going to give you a longer life (not an issue for me as only use it for hobby work)
2) A more experienced welder may need a machine that can be fine tuned more than is available with the ESAB (again not an issue for me I just set it and weld - job done )

I built a trolley for mine (have a look under learning to Mig weld "my first project" post) and use this to get the gas bottle close ish to the job then lift the ESAB off and put that near where i'm working.

In summary I really really like this Mig and up to now can not fault it It does everything I want and is very portable which was important to me.

Chris

 

[DuncanM]

I've been reading up, and the Esab is very appealing. The size is a bigger plus than the weight (my garage is small and already full of stuff). The plug and play nature appeals too - this simplicity is probably the biggest feature. My only concern is the durability - if it dies in 3 years I will regret not getting a transformer based machine (portamig is probably the favorite due to guides here and backup).
Cheers
Duncan

 

[david500]

The portamig has the best spec,The 15amps is the main selling point,Although I doubt you will ever need to use that.
Handy to have nonetheless.

Britarc would be a good alternative to a Portamig, In fact I think it is a portamig,Same factory and all that

Oxford is a little bit more money,Your not getting anything extra for that,But its nicely finished in greenery. Dont think it has anything over the other two

I would discount the murex for having a very high min-amps,That and being cheap & nasty

Dont know about the Esab's, Dont fancy it if its like their gloves

 

[asmeix6g]

Imo, if your spending money like 250 but willing to part with 500 you can get much better than clarke. I bought a second hand esab ori-mig or something for calor gas. I usually stay clear of single phase migs, but this one was fantastic! Could spray a fillet in 12mm plate with 10mm leg length all day, got it with a new torch and new reg for 450! It was like new! I recommend ringin round suppliers and asking. I defo wouldnt part with 250 on a clarke!

 

[DuncanM]

Now I have the cash to spend, I'm not gonna get a Clarke. Might as well buy a really good one first time around...
Only q is Portamig alike or Esab Caddy?

 

[david500]

Portamig is More welder for your money,the 185 would be ample for what you want, And will be far more usable than the Esab.
The esab handbag is the same price as a 235 Portamig I would have thought the Portamig would offer better value.
Although Obviously you cant take a portamig up a ladder

I would reckon 99% of people doing what you are would take the portamig, Everyone on here has anyway

 

[DuncanM]

I am aware that the portamig is popular here.
It is fairly big, and pretty heavy, and my garage is tiny, so I won't be able to wheel it around the car (and carrying it will be a struggle). Plus I'm not sure how well the power socket will cope at the higher end (and the portamig will pull down more power than the Esab).
All that said, there is a good argument the portamig is better value and will be as easy to use and last longer. Hence my confusion.
Cheers
Duncan

 

[Silver Surfer]

Here is a pic of my ESAB on a tolley i made for it to get an idea of the size (Y size cylinder)

I know there are loads of people on here with Portamigs, most of them with loads more experience than me so hey what do I know All i know is that i spent ages trying to decide whether to get an ESAB or a Portamig / Britarc / Oxford and came to the conclusion that portability was key and went for the ESAB. I am very please with my choice, the machine does everything I want it to do. Reliability....................only time will tell

Seems I am one of the very few to keep posting about the ESAB Caddy but I do this so people can get some feedback. I searched everywhere to get reviews etc on the ESAB and really struggled to find anything so I keep posting

 

[david500]

Sweeeet

If space is an issue then the caddy is a good compromise.
But I still say the Portamig is the better machine if you can manage to squeeze it in your garage.

 

[DuncanM]

Just seen the Kemppi MiniarcMig 170 (the little brother of the one people were raving about on pge 2 of this thread) just over 700 quid. Is it significantly better than the Esab? That would be seriously stretching the budget...

 

[asmeix6g]

700quid? IMHP thats a ridiculous amount of money to spend unless youll be using it day in day out? get a good quality second hand machine from a suppliers, as its second hand it wont depreciate in value much more and youll always be able to sell it on if times get hard.

 

[david500]

Strong money indeed, But will pay for itself soon enough on a Lanica
A new welder is a better descison IMO, An older one is usually more hassle than its worth.

If you have the money, then Continue..

 

[weldequip]

700quid? IMHP thats a ridiculous amount of money to spend unless youll be using it day in day out?

Really? Depends what you class as a 'lot of money'; I've just paid nearly 200 quid for a pair of cable cutters and I don't really use them that often. Cut a long story...ordered a pair of Irwin (Record) because they are a very reputable make + had "Made in Sheffield' stamped on the handles in the picture (very reputable supplier)...turn up...made in bleedin China! Sent back. If I want Chineses I'll pay £19.99 & not £199.99! We have all become accustomed to inferior cheap imports at unsustainable low prices, so the real deal now looks "expensive"...not so, decent stuff still costs

 

[Ragnarok]

yeah £700 is a decent price for a good welder like the little esab or the kemppi, how much you use it is irrelevant, it's about the quality of job you want to do and the performance and life span you want from the machine, a good machine is always worth it in my opinion, i've had a few cheapo welders and if i could go back and just buy a really good one in the first place and not have to upgrade i would...