Welder options - opinions

[Billman]

Hi,

I am about to order a welder in order to use it on car works and I would like to know what is your opinion on welder technologies.

I already have an Arc welder for shielded sticks but I believe/been told that arc will burn holes on the thin metal and that MIG/MAG or WIG/TIG are better suited.

I plan to Cut/Weld body panels/floor and fabricate parts and/or roll cage stuff.
I would also like to be able to learn/weld alu.

I have seen some 200amp max. Mig MAg welders that are cheap but they dont have AC-DC function for Alu and also many Inverter ACDC TIG welders that have HF program for Alu.

What would you suggest? Can the TIG be used for big welding works such as roll cage and body modifications or is it going to be too dificult to weld many spots with TIG?

Should I leave Alu and go for a nice and Cheap MIG welder since most of the work is on non-alu?

thanks

Vasilis

[Error404]

Get a decent AC/DC TIG. It will be the most versatile IMHO.

[terrybullwon]

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53721&highlight=TIG

Look to spend £500 + on a Tig

[jontawn]

I would look at getting a MIG, easier to learn with and get your technique dialled in.

For gawds sake don't buy anything by Clarke or SIP (the old ones (20+years) are alright though) ... as you're doing thin sheet, look for stitch and time control. You can weld alloy with MIG, but it's not going to be as good as with a TIG - if you're just patching something alloy, you could probably get away with alloy wire and a change of gas.

I've done a little welding, nothing serious though.
I'd look at a used machine, if you're in the UK try mig-welding.co.uk for some advice/info/used stuff/a chap called 'weldequip' who could prob help you out.

best
JT

[nesshead6]

I have a Clarke 130TE mig which I bought to learn with early this year, I have found it easy to use and nothing has gone wrong with it so far. I've used it to make various brackets, weld up trim holes in panels, making stuff out of mild steel box section etc. To be honest I can't see myself ever needing anything more. It may not be the best out there, but as usual you get what you pay for...

[benntenn67]

Welder options - opinions

Speak to these guys, advise is second to none http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/

[Billman]

I am in Greece and was thinking of something relatively cheap.

The arc welder is from a cheap German make but never had issues till now.

[ryster]

what about getting an ac/dc tig set and a small seperate mags/mig wire feed unit you will only need to be using 0.6mm to 1mm wire on a car body that way you can have all 3 from 1 machine arc, tig ,and mig . look at second hand miller , butters . they do some good single phase stuff i have had my miller for 15 years and my butters tig for 10 years never let me down .

[Billman]

For roll cage a 1mm wire will be sufficient?

[caterpillar]

the thicknes of wire are how mutch weld you lay in... if you got 1mm wire its for thick matrial (4-10mm at least).. use the 0,8.. in mig/ mag welders: NOT all wires are suitable for chassi and rollgages... the worst i have welded with are the wire called ; gryttorp74... its some really *&%***.. try another type.. migatronic/ or bøhler tyssen SG2h....
i had a deasent wire called BASSI, the best ever, but cant find this no more..and 180-200 amp mig/mag welder do the job...i have a singelphase migatronic 180mx...
but i cant weld alu with this.. so have baught a BIG tig for that (FRONIUS 2600)...cost alot$$$...!!

[terrybullwon]

You also need to consider how you will power your welder. As the power source can be a let down

[pasbogdan]

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthr...&highlight=TIG

Look to spend £500 + on a Tig

Can be tig used with only 1 hand?
That should be 1'st point of view.Many times the apprentice pliers(that self locking
pliers) can not be used to hold body parts together and one hand is needed to hold/push etc to hold parts in place etc..

[JP]

Mig all day long 160-200amps even a 2nd hand murex or something like that would be great.


I bought a a Tig many years ago. A cheap 200amp one for around £1500 incl pedal. It could do pretty much anything you wanted to other than one problem I lacked years of experience meaning I had to practice and practice and practice. I can do a nice bead on stainless ally not half bad, not perfect but passable. But the cost of the gas just didn't make it cost effective so I left the Tig'ing to my mate and stuck to the Mig which I can do really nice because its easy. My friend has been an ally welder for 20+yrs, he is one of the most sought after in the area and even he says he is still learning everyday.

Just my 2p

[Billman]

Since it seems that MIG is the way to go (for what I want to do) do you see any difference between them?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/MIG-200-MAG-S...item35b842d172

http://www.ebay.de/itm/SYNMIG-MIG-20...item48436ee7f6

http://www.ebay.de/itm/MIG-200-Dual-...item1e68dfa582

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Gude-Schutzga...item1c2229bfcc

[80Quattro]

I made the mistake of buying a cheap MIG welder when I was 19 and didn't know any better! It was made by Ferm and had a live torch and a useless wire feed. I put up with it for a few years then I got offered a Murex Tradesmig 165 for £200. It is so nice to use, one of the best purchases I have ever made. The best bit was I put the Ferm one on eBay and got £170 for it!

In short, buy a decent make, it will be well worth it and they are not that expensive second hand.