mk_chatham
New Member
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- 2
Hello everyone
I've done a bit of gas-less mig welding, basically self taught, using a friends SIP migmate 130. I wish I had found this forum sooner as I now know that most of the problems that I had were related to the wire feed mechanism and / or liner. I now have first refusal on this welder but looking at what I would need to spend to bring it up to scratch I have decided to buy something else. To be honest I think that it is probably a bit low powered for my needs anyway.
I own a steel boat, constructed out of 4mm plate on 5mm angle frames and also a series 2 Land Rover, so I have plenty of 'stuff' that may need welding. The boat requires a small patch in the 4mm plate, the Land Rover mainly work to the bulkhead, so thinner stuff for now but possible chassis work in the future. Whilst at the marina I have access to a 16A power supply.
I would like to retain the option of using gas-less as its handy outdoors for small jobs but am looking at using Adams gas refillables to do 'proper' mig welding.
Spending time reading the forum over the weekend it looks as though I should be looking at 150A models and the Clarke 160EN at around £300 (or wait for a VAT free sale at MM) seems to me to be the best budget buy. To use this on Adams gas would then need an adapter at £43 (at Weldequip).
I don't know what the migmate weighs but getting it on and off the boat is a struggle, especially when its on the hardstanding and you have to man handle the welder up a ladder. The 160EN weighs in at 29kg, which I'm guessing will be quite a bit heavier and larger too.
Looking at the Weldequip shop I then see the SWP 170 mig inverter at £547. This weighs 18kgs and is also much smaller, so will be far easier to move about and also store. It has the option to arc weld which I guess would probably be better to use if I had to do any major repairs in the future to the boat. This welder also has a 2yr guarantee.
So really my question is - do you think its worth the extra £200 over the Clarke or are there any other options.
Thanks for reading !
MK
I've done a bit of gas-less mig welding, basically self taught, using a friends SIP migmate 130. I wish I had found this forum sooner as I now know that most of the problems that I had were related to the wire feed mechanism and / or liner. I now have first refusal on this welder but looking at what I would need to spend to bring it up to scratch I have decided to buy something else. To be honest I think that it is probably a bit low powered for my needs anyway.
I own a steel boat, constructed out of 4mm plate on 5mm angle frames and also a series 2 Land Rover, so I have plenty of 'stuff' that may need welding. The boat requires a small patch in the 4mm plate, the Land Rover mainly work to the bulkhead, so thinner stuff for now but possible chassis work in the future. Whilst at the marina I have access to a 16A power supply.
I would like to retain the option of using gas-less as its handy outdoors for small jobs but am looking at using Adams gas refillables to do 'proper' mig welding.
Spending time reading the forum over the weekend it looks as though I should be looking at 150A models and the Clarke 160EN at around £300 (or wait for a VAT free sale at MM) seems to me to be the best budget buy. To use this on Adams gas would then need an adapter at £43 (at Weldequip).
I don't know what the migmate weighs but getting it on and off the boat is a struggle, especially when its on the hardstanding and you have to man handle the welder up a ladder. The 160EN weighs in at 29kg, which I'm guessing will be quite a bit heavier and larger too.
Looking at the Weldequip shop I then see the SWP 170 mig inverter at £547. This weighs 18kgs and is also much smaller, so will be far easier to move about and also store. It has the option to arc weld which I guess would probably be better to use if I had to do any major repairs in the future to the boat. This welder also has a 2yr guarantee.
So really my question is - do you think its worth the extra £200 over the Clarke or are there any other options.
Thanks for reading !
MK