Thread: which welder

Originally Posted by wannalandy

Hi Guys , I'm looking at getting an arc welder just for some small work in the shed and wondering what brands are the go ? what do you guys have ? and do you like them or should of got something else ?

Why not get a mig ,as they are fairly cheap to buy now and are just the right bit of kit for doing light welding jobs

Yeah buy a MIG, so much easier than an ARC welder & these days not to much difference in the price.

i weld all day and for home jobs your better off with a mig

Me too go the mig BUT that was only half of your question if you are really after a stick welder and they have some good points over a mig get the inverter sort they are lovely to use. the rods can be kept in a PVC container made from plumbing bits

Migs have continuous welding ability but if the wire gets rust on it throw it away - an expensive exersize if you only weld occasionally.

IMHO get some sort of training from a VET / TAFE provider then make your desision.

Cheers Blythe

Originally Posted by gumby190

Yeah buy a MIG, so much easier than an ARC welder & these days not to much difference in the price.

MIGs are nice but dont forget to factor in the cost of gas and bottle rental - allow a couple of hundred $$ per year for occasional use. Gasless wire isnt worth bothering with IMHO...........

A cheaper alternative in terms of initial and consumable costs is an inverter stick welder - these produce a very clean arc and are much nicer and easier to use than a traditional transformer stick welder, use less current and are about the size of a medium size car battery but much lighter. A good one can be had for just over $300 - (BOC smootharc) but there are plenty of other good ones around for not much more.

I also think its better to learn on an arc welder rather than a mig - if you can arc weld, you can mig weld, but not necessarily the other way around.....

i got a catalog today from mitre10 with a arc welder in it for $99 the brand was i think sig or siq . Are these any good ?

Originally Posted by wannalandy

i got a catalog today from mitre10 with a arc welder in it for $99 the brand was i think sig or siq . Are these any good ?

sip maybe
i know they are cheap

I have a "cheap" $99 welder (included face maks etc from memory) I have built a trailer with it (self taught stick welding) and was very happy with the result I achieved. Had it checked by a boiler maker and he said the penetration etc were fine. (It was nice of him not to mention the "look" of the welds LOL (Just means more work with the grinder)

Mine is a GMC I think. Only thing I would say is one with a cooling fan would be good. Mine isn't fan cooled and when doing lots of welding mine cuts out on thermal but I usually take that as a sign to do some grinding/painting/cutting/re apply sunscreen etc.

I also bought a new welding helmet as the type you hold up that come "free" are a pain. One of the ones that changes from light to dark would be nice!

I have also welded up a roof rack and several other jobs including fabricating display units for our shop.

If I could justify the expense I would get the inverter sort, not much more really especially if you are getting a brand one.