Mig Welder help

[Themadmob]

Hi All

Instead of using a company, or third party, who I will have to pay anyway, I thought of purchasing a MIG welder and do the work myself.

I have ordered chassis parts that need replacing, rear cross member, outrigger and front chassis legs and some bulkhead work

My question is - what is the smallest MIG welder I can get away with that can do the job?

Thanks

Craig

[crash]

Buy the biggest one you can afford! I would say 150amp at min.
Alternatively is to by an solid state arc with TIG attachment. Arc for chassi work and TIG for bulkhead work.
Are you planning on welding any aluminium? You may have to look at something more expensive - not just any ordinary TIG/ MIG can do Ali work - and their is more to it than having a teflon liner.

[Shakey]

The cigweld 135A mig are on special at super cheap this week, says they will do up to 5mm (which should be plenty for a series chassis) what do people think of that size - as it's a well known brand?

[isuzurover]

Buy the biggest one you can afford! I would say 150amp at min.
...

What he said. There are plenty of good 2nd hand MIGs around.

I bought a 250A MIG that was as-new with regs and the full setup for both steel and Al for around $800.

[blue_mini]

135 is fine for me. Only time I hit duty cycle and had it stop was seam welding 5mm steel.

I would either spend 300 odd on an ozito from Bunnings or over 1000 for one with more amp settings from a trade store.
Tig would be nice but in reality it's far slower than mig, takes an extra gas bottle and needs a lot more practice and setting up than a mig.

[iPom]

I thought this Unimig was good value - 180 amp with a EURO torch

http://http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/191280317101'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

IMHO I would only buy a reputable brand - Millar, Kempi, Unimig, BOC, Lincoln, etc

[debruiser]

Lincoln Electric (http://www.lincolnelectric.com.au/products/page350/category1/category18/power-mig-180c)

I have that one. It's a great little unit got it about 2 years ago with no issues to date (has 3yr warranty). I've never hit duty cycle, I've welded everything from tin you can cut with tinsnips right through to 8mm i think. I've really only used it gassless until the other day when i was trying to weld SS, going to get a gas bottle and go gas for a while and see what that's like. It has all the gear you need to get started, bar a helmet. I paid about $1000 for it.

It's 15A though, so that can be a pain if you take it round to the mates place.

[Aaron IIA]

IMHO I would only a reputable brand - Millar, Kempi, Unimig, BOC, Lincoln, etc

What about Thermadyne, who make Cigweld, and WIA?
Aaron

[debruiser]

What about Thermadyne, who make Cigweld, and WIA?
Aaron

Are they really considered reputable?

[iPom]

What about Thermadyne, who make Cigweld, and WIA?
Aaron

I was just using the brands as an example mate. That's why there is an 'etc' on the end of my sentence.

Regards

[Shakey]

Thanks folks, I thought cigweld were a reputably brand. May investigate the 180A range, a bit more than I wanted to pay but sounds like it's worth it in the long run

[iPom]

An excellent resource for anyone new or just starting out in welding is the Mig Welder Uk site.

http://http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

Heaps of info on buying a welder, welding types/procedures, welding equipment etc.

There is also a friendly forum if you need answers or advice.

Cheers

[samandfee]

Hi Craig


I am a Boilermaker/coded welder, so heres my tuppence worth.

Spend a bit more on Named brands( they do have a reputation )probably around the 200 amp marker min...or go second hand .
, i have tried the cheap gasless welders and for a 1.5mm ok .....any thing thicker NO GRUNT>
Would not touch supacheap or the like........must go with a set that has its own gas supply line for Argoshield, if doing Ally you run Argon and replace the liner ask at BOC or reputable welding gear retailer....they will give you the good oil.......and the wheels the welding wire runs through near roll.

Now if you have 3 phase in your shed.....industrial 2nd hand sets are the go for sure (machinery autions are great for them).


Cheer Sam:angel:

[Southern Cross]

The work you intend to do is not large scale work, quite small in fact. I'd look for a tidy looking low cost 2nd hand MIG capable of both gas less and gas no bigger than 150 to start off with. If you like to do more, then the spend bigger dollars.
Remember when welding .... Clean the parts back to bare metal, always. No paint no oil or grease no gal. etc.
Happy welding
S.C.

[Themadmob]

Thanks guys.. You have given me food for thought

[GoldCloverLeaf]

I have a Lincoln 180c, nice quality american brand. Perfect for mild steel and will do thicker stuff no problem.

Got one for around $990. Not cheap but worth it IMO, should last a long time.

The problem with many of the cheaper ones available seem to be the wire-feeds which are a bit hit and miss.

[Bigbjorn]

I have a Transmig 195 bought about 1990 (maybe earlier) which has been totally trouble free. At the time it was the biggest available on 240 volt. It requires a 15 amp outlet. I normally use 0.9mm wire on steel and a 1.2 conduit and nozzle with 1.0mm wire on aluminium. It doesn't really like aluminium except in light gauge. I believe you can now get 250 amp unit in 240 volt. Get the biggest you can afford and get an true industrial unit not a hobby horse if you plan to run a few miles of wire.

[3doug6]

I recently bought a second hand MigoMag Supamig 200C for $340. They still retail for about $1100 I think. It is a 195 amp but strangely has a 10 amp plug as standard (it says 10 amp max on the back and it certainly doesn't look to be a hack job). It's a copper wound jobby which is good but it's very heavy. I have only used it on gassless but I have just bought gas for the Suzuki resto I'm doing. I couldn't find a bad review on these although they don't seem to be overly popular anywhere. Made in Hungary which I guess is nice. My mechanic has a 3 phase model which is 15 odd years old I think and he loves it.

Food for thought. patience can you some great deals when looking second hand.