Advice needed

[thedryd]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and new to welding generally.

I've got a project to make some lanterns, 4ft tall and onion shaped. I'm planning on using 6mm steel rod to make the frame - need to be strong against the elements but the steel needs to flex to make the shape. They'll have a round base to which the ribs will attach, then all the ribs will attach together at the top. Living out in West Wales I'm finding it difficult to hire any welders plus I don't have any generators or 3phase - just domestic 240v. There's also a lack of bespoke blacksmith folk out here.

So Ive decided to take this project on myself but I need to buy a welder - I was thinking about this one after reading various threads; Clarke MIG100EN Turbo 'No-Gas' MIG Welder. No gas = less hassle??

I need to make 20 of these lanterns so it won't be a short job but maybe a one off. So my questions are;

> Do you reckon this welder is appropriate? I've also a limited budget.
> What thickness wire should I use?

thanks!
'thedryd

 

[zardoz]

For a 6mm round or square bar that weder is not powerfull enough.

Do you have any sketches or plans of what you want to make ?

As to a no gas MIG welder being less hassle,never used a no gas so cant say. I'm sure someone here wo has used both will chip in.

You might be better off with an Arc welder for this project. A cheap buzz box should do fine. (a second hand 230 amp one should do it or maybe a little inverter like this from Weldequip) ) Arc welders dont bother with gas either, so its easy peasey lemon squeezy (As long as you have a proper practice first)

 

[thedryd]

lantern frame pic

Here you go - they'll be something like this - maybe a few more ribs.

What diam rod could the Clarke MIG100EN Turbo do do you know?
cheers
.dryd

 

[zardoz]

What diam rod could the Clarke MIG100EN Turbo do do you know?
cheers
.dryd

I doubt if its more than 4mm.

Seriously In my humble opinion, I would always consider the Arc welder first for this project. Have you ever used an arc welder ?

 

[thedryd]

I doubt if its more than 4mm.

Seriously In my humble opinion, I would always consider the Arc welder first for this project. Have you ever used an arc welder ?

nope - no idea - apologise to be so inept in the word of welding but thats why I'm here

 

[the repair man]

Where in west wales are you, might be able to lend a hand

 

[Wozzaaah]

> Do you reckon this welder is appropriate? I've also a limited budget.
> What thickness wire should I use?

It would probably just about do that but you're going to be really limited with a tiny little welder like that, it's more suited to car body repairs.
Realistically, once people see what you can do you're probably going to be asked to do other things so buy a decent machine at the start rather than grow out of it and have to buy another.
Have you seen the 180A Cebora in the for sale section? That would be ideal for most decorative stuff.
Not much more money than the Clarke but a massive step up in quality and usability.

 

[chunkolini]

I would go mig not arc, get a welder of at least 130mps capacity.
How are you bending the bars?
And are you using bright or black finish steel?
Black is loads easier to end manually and has a lot less spring back.

 

[thedryd]

I would go mig not arc, get a welder of at least 130mps capacity.
How are you bending the bars?
And are you using bright or black finish steel?
Black is loads easier to end manually and has a lot less spring back.

I'm not totally sure on using 6mm - might use 5 but reckon 4 is too small. I was just going to put them under pressure to shape them. I might weld in another ring higher up to keep them all together - someone else did a few for me last year and i think he just tacked them together - but I don't know what welding he did...

Can a welder with 130mps be used off domestic 240v?

I was just going to use mild black steel...

@repair man - I'm on the coast, west of Haverfordwest, close to Newgale beach....

thanks again y'all

 

[the repair man]

I'm just up the road then, I'm in neyland, near milford, I was in solva today.
Well I have mig, tig and arc here, and oxy on my van, so if you come unstuck give me a shout, you could always cut and form them, then bring them here for welding.
A lot of 130 amp migs will run off 13amp, but your better off on 16+ amps.

 

[wyn]

The 6mm sounds about right................I bent some by hand around a 5" bit of round bar the other day without much trouble and not much spring back.

 

[thedryd]

I'm just up the road then, I'm in neyland, near milford, I was in solva today.
Well I have mig, tig and arc here, and oxy on my van, so if you come unstuck give me a shout, you could always cut and form them, then bring them here for welding.
A lot of 130 amp migs will run off 13amp, but your better off on 16+ amps.

wow - that could be a good call. I'm just outside of Little Haven so Neyland's not far. I'll have a further think about it all today and let you know. Cheers!

 

[thedryd]

sorry I thought I'd posted a reply yesterday. I've just checked the old lanterns today and they're made from 4mm bright steel. Is it possible to weld this with a Clarke MIG100EN?

I'm also struggling to find a steel supplier out here in west wales, or anywhere to be honest online. It seems suppliers go down to 5mm but not 4mm? Any advice on this?
Cheers again
.dryd

 

[the repair man]

There's loads on ebay, depends how clean you want it. Try the scrappies, there are a few iron mongers around..again, look on ebay, plenty of good clean, even new stuff pretty cheap

 

[the repair man]

Oh you need bigger than 100 amp really, it will be very limited, plenty of second hand ones around. I sold a 150 amp for £70 not long back. I know someone selling a nearly new Ferm arc welder that would do it. Think he wants £40, but Ferm are Sh**e. If you intend to weld again, wait for something a little better, the SIP welders don't get good reviews on here, but after a few cheap mods, I find them great for cheap welders. There are loads on ebay for around £50