Bit of help needed choosing the right Mig

[brccrx]

Hi everyone, as the tittle suggest im trying to choose the right machine for my purposes. Ive been reading trough the forum since about 2 days and i have fairly good idea what power Mig i need for the jobs i'll be doing.

Mainly car body work and exhaust (mild and ss)

So here it goes, opinions welcome.

1. SWP Mig 150 Turbo
Example:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Mig-150-Amp-Gas-Gasless-Welder-Turbo-Fan-9325T-Quality-Engineered-No-KF-/190586901932?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c5fdd55ac

2. Clarke 145

http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies...roduct/product&path=43_81_583&product_id=2656

3. Sip Migmate T155

http://www.jebbtools.ie/welding/mig-welders-ireland/sip-mig-welder

4. Fema T150P

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/FEMA-T150P-G...543?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c2822a597


Also i wouldn't mind buying new/used machine other brands in the price range the examples above so all suggestions are welcome!
Thanks a lot.

Best regards
Seb.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Personally I would not buy a machine from ebay, rightly or wrongly I view many of the sellers simply as box shifters and would have concerns regarding the after sales customer support.

I think the Clarke you have listed is one of their newer cheap models and have not yet seen many owners reviews.

From your intro post you seem to have a fair amount of future work for a MIG so depending on budget my choice would be the portamig 185 or the Clarke I have linked.

http://www.weldequip.com/clarke-160tm.htm

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I'd go for the Portamig 185 depending on your budget, hard to beat and built to last, I have a 285 and its the bees knees although I don't weld car body,work

 

[brccrx]

I appreciate Your advice lads.

My budget is up to 300e (250-260£) and that has to include the postage
It wont be used that often as it seems, once every 2 weeks for a day of welding, bit on the chassis and bit on the exhaust piping. Sometimes a bracket to hold something in the engine bay.

Im aiming 135-150A as i would like to build car towing A frame with it at some stage to.

Looking at the the new Clarke lower budget machines having doubts will 35a the lowest setting be good with the exhaust pipes, not many reviews on em as well.
Cant afford the better range like the ones U suggesting for hobby/learning purposes.

I would rather any of old Clarke machines second hand but cant find it (or i seen it to late so its gone)

Have U any suggestions in the price range
Thanks for the advice!

Edit:

That SWP company seems British and even has own website

http://www.specialisedwelding.co.uk/index.php

 

[keith19]

SWP probably are a British company, but like many others they get much of their kit made in the cheapest places abroad. I haven't read or heard any reports of that particular machine, but I noticed it only has four settings, which means the jumps between settings are fairly basic, not so fine as with a six settings machine.

Your budget is pretty tight for a new machine, but if you stretch it very slightly you could get the CLARKE 151EN

Stretching the budget because it needs a regulator and pipe, if you are going to use it for gas welding, as it comes set up for gasless fluxcore. Regs like these:
http://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit.htm
or
http://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit-se.htm
Note that one regulator is SE, side entry, so check up on your local gas supplier's bottles before you buy a reg. kit, to see what type they need.

The 151EN is a great little machine, quite sturdy, no frills, and quite a number of people on here have them.

 

[brccrx]

SWP probably are a British company, but like many others they get much of their kit made in the cheapest places abroad. I haven't read or heard any reports of that particular machine, but I noticed it only has four settings, which means the jumps between settings are fairly basic, not so fine as with a six settings machine.

Your budget is pretty tight for a new machine, but if you stretch it very slightly you could get the CLARKE 151EN

Stretching the budget because it needs a regulator and pipe, if you are going to use it for gas welding, as it comes set up for gasless fluxcore. Regs like these:
http://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit.htm
or
http://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit-se.htm
Note that one regulator is SE, side entry, so check up on your local gas supplier's bottles before you buy a reg. kit, to see what type they need.

The 151EN is a great little machine, quite sturdy, no frills, and quite a number of people on here have them.

Thanks a lot, great suggestion! Im trying to find second hand machine at the moment and in the mean time maybe save up a bit more to extend the budget a bit for the new one.

Just wondering why the lower models like 100EN and 100E cost quite same as the 150A ones?

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

The bottome end amps the Same ?

 

[brccrx]

The bottome end amps the Same ?

On the red Clarke series no, they all 40A i think but the blue versions has 30A so that make me wondering whats the difference.

 

[shenion]

The 145 is 40A and is supposedly one of the Clarke Chinese models (as are the rest of the models shown on that site.).

Most of the other Clarkes are 30 or even 25 amps minimum. Red of blue does not seem to make much of a difference; Clarke has some Italian models in red..

 

[Brownlie1985]

I just got a power king/wolf 140.
30a low setting.
5kg reels
£125 new from Ebay.

Seems to work well and give consistent welds.

 

[brccrx]

The 145 is 40A and is supposedly one of the Clarke Chinese models (as are the rest of the models shown on that site.).

Most of the other Clarkes are 30 or even 25 amps minimum. Red of blue does not seem to make much of a difference; Clarke has some Italian models in red..

Yes it seems to be right, ive read some posts regarding the new Clarke range but couldn't find any reviews from users that using it successfully!

I just got a power king/wolf 140.
30a low setting.
5kg reels
£125 new from Ebay.

Seems to work well and give consistent welds.

Did U try to weld less than 1mm is it going well on it either? What max thickness did U try it on?

Thanks for comments lads!

 

[Brownlie1985]

Yes it seems to be right, ive read some posts regarding the new Clarke range but couldn't find any reviews from users that using it successfully!



Did U try to weld less than 1mm is it going well on it either? What max thickness did U try it on?

Thanks for comments lads!

I'm using it on car bodywork and so far I'm happy.

 

[brccrx]

I'm using it on car bodywork and so far I'm happy.

Right, would U mind trying it on exhaust pipe and post some pics how did that turned out please.

Are U using Argon, Argon/CO2 mixe, or straight CO2 with it?

 

[brccrx]

MOD Referred to post has been deleted for advertising his Ebay shop

Havent seen any on ebay tbh.

 

[the repair man]

Theres a SIP for sale by me, would be a cheap starter to get you going. They are a British company too although they are built in Italy. There is a pic in my album. Its gas / no gas 130amp turbo

 

[brccrx]

Hi, checked Your profile cant find the pics, can U link the pic please?
What mods U done to it? How much You looking for it?

I dont mind where is build as long as it will weld exhaust pipes, and car body panels! And it wont break in 6 months or year of occasional using lol

Thanks.

Seb.

Edit:

Im strongly considering this one lads any more info on it?
Very tempted by the 2 years warranty!!

 

[pc18]

Is there many migs that go so low down on the amps as the portamig? I would think that would be really helpful on the body panels.

I had a quick go at welding stainless exhaust pipe with my Clarke 150en I think it is. I started making a mess of it so waited till my tig arrived. I hadn't tried any car panels with it yet but I have some bits I need to do.

 

[brccrx]

Is there many migs that go so low down on the amps as the portamig? I would think that would be really helpful on the body panels.

I had a quick go at welding stainless exhaust pipe with my Clarke 150en I think it is. I started making a mess of it so waited till my tig arrived. I hadn't tried any car panels with it yet but I have some bits I need to do.

What wire and gas did U use to do that stainless exhaust pipe?

 

[pc18]

i got some 316 mig wire .8mm i think it is and i just used c02 as thats what i had. you need the mixed gas really for stainless with the mig from what ive read. i just used the mig to weld one of the last hangers on in the end and made the exhaust with my tig. ive very little welding experience and most of it is with the tig.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

0.6 is better for thin stuff!