Welding?

[ROBBIE]

ive got a clarke 160amp that does gas or gasles been a great little welder

[Newtomud]

Thanks for the tips/advice

[Newtomud]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIG-MAG-gas-W ... 2a139cc245" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Is this good?

[pompeybloke]

Hi newtomud like you I'm also thinking about buying myself a welder and teaching myself (especially as i just payed out £180.on welding work for my mot) There is a really good forum/web site especially for people thinking about buying a welder and teaching them self's there tutorials and forum to ask questions i don't think Im allowed to post links as i am a new here also but happy send in private message or you can google it.I'm still looking through the forum trying decide what power welder will best suit my needs for all round welding on a vitara.

[ScottieJ]

Of course you are allowed to post links

As for the ebay welder I'm not really sure? Looks like a cheapo Chinese made one to me?

[lazy rambler]

There is a really good forum/web site especially for people thinking about buying a welder and teaching them self's there tutorials and forum to ask questions

I'm not sure if this is the site you mean, but I found it helpful http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

[pompeybloke]

Yeah that's the one it's got loads on there I'm sure I found a page somewhere that rated welding machines giving both good and bad points but can not find it for looking now lol

[Brooem]

I bought a sip 150 mig with mini gas bottles. And it was crap.. I then had a fiddle with it and got myself a pub Co2 bottle for £15 on an exchange basis, and now I can get the pressure up on the gun end and it's brilliant for what I want.. on max I can get penetration on 4mm plate. But those little bottles from the motor factors are a complete rip off. Spend £25 on a good regulator of eBay and some pneumatic fittings from somewhere like pertek. And link the pub bottle to the sip mig's little air feed and jobs a goodun...

With the Sip 170A they have detachable guns which is always a bonus. In case the inevitable happens and you reverse over the gun

Id pay the extra and get at least the 170a...

[Rjmaas512]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIG-MAG-gas-W ... 2a139cc245

Is this good?

I'd not recommend that welder tbh. Does not look like it has any power settings.

I'd recommend something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLARKE-100E-M ... 948wt_1139" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not that particular model but something with different power settings.

I started welding at uni (nice lovely industrial HUGE mig welder). Love having access to professional equipment

I would probably say get a welder, and a reel of gasless wire and find some scrap bits of steel and play about for an afternoon with all the different settings. Blow holes through some of it and see what the welder is capable of. Make some of it splutter, and see what a good weld looks like and a bad weld looks like. That way you've not wasted any money on a gas bottle.

Then buy a gas bottle and some gas Mig wire. I HIGHLY recommend this. Wish I'd done it sooner. Found mixture 80/20 to be good with the disposable bottles. If your looking at renting a has bottle shop around, and talk to the people when you buy it as to whats the best mixture for your jobs.

Invest in an auto darkening gas mask, love them to bits. So useful.

Wilco are good for welding wire. Pretty cheap as well, and the wire is decent quality.

[Newtomud]

There is a really good forum/web site especially for people thinking about buying a welder and teaching them self's there tutorials and forum to ask questions

I'm not sure if this is the site you mean, but I found it helpful http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

Thanks for posting this.. Very helpful