Buying for son

[sue]

Hi there
My son is almost 21 and an apprentice mechanic with a keen interest in classic cars in general and MGs in particular. He has requested a MIG welder for his birthday!!! What advice do you have and where would be the best place to find such equipment. I will point him to this website as well.

Strangley, as a furniture restorer and Mum, I am not too familiar with this piece of kit. Give me some fish glue and I'll fix it.

I would add that he is no novice to MIG welding and his father was very good with the bottled stuff.
Many thanks

 

[Hitch]

Welcome Sue, can you give us an idea of a budget for it? Bearing in mind, he will need things like gas, reasonable mask if he hasnt one already....Perhaps he could spend some birthday money on bits like that if not.


Clarkes are quite popular with people into vehicles, and on a budget. Not really my area, i'm sure someone else will be along to advise further very soon.

 

[chunkolini]

Nice one Sue, to be online buying a welder for your son.
Obviously a great Mum.
I'd go with Hitch, Clarke make a great intro, look into your budget and what he is doing with it and get back to us.
Note my boy was Mig welding when he was about 5.

Al the best, Chunko'.

 

[badersbus]

Hi Sue.
It will be probably the best value tool you can ever get him. Like the fellas said Clarke are a decent welder for the money . You could drop Weldequip a PM on here , he will give you good advice.
Hope when he gets the welder , you are going to have a go as well!!!
Post up the pics
Kirk

 

[sue]

Hi there

Thanks for the advice - am thinking around the £500 mark but maybe more if Grandpa is feeling generous! Have suggested that said Son has a look at this forum and asks some questions of his own.

He currently has an MG Midget, BGT V8 and his grandfathers Peugot to restore. So he needs to get welding!

And Yes, I fully intend to have a go as, no doubt, will his step-father.

Ta muchly
Sue

 

[Luke]

Sounds like he's lining up nicely for a Portamig, which is a solid bit of kit that will last him well in to the future.

I viewed mine as an investment when I bought it when I was 21-22 ish, granted, I'm only 24 now but it was the right decision!!

 

[BChild]

Hi there

Thanks for the advice - am thinking around the £500 mark but maybe more if Grandpa is feeling generous! Sue

Have you considered adopting anyone else

 

[Bigjoe]

You could probably get plenty of volunteer adoptions on here!

Tell him to come and say hello,for youe budget i would contact Steve (Weldequip) as he supplies good quality kit with excellent after sales service.

And welcome to the nuthouse Sue

Regards

Joe

 

[chunkolini]

Now then Sue, you should think carefuly about what you are doing.
This could be a dangerous move, like putting a loaded rifle in the hands of a small child. The boy's life could go down the pan, he might go a bit off the rails.

What?
Well about 10 years back I did a part time night class in welding, my Pa, bless him bought me my first welding kit. So it's his fault. Right. Did it have an effect on me? did my life change?
Yep.
I started dabbling in art and sculpture, then three years ago I walked out of a 20 year career to see if I could make a living out of it. And so far I have done.

You never know what might happen to your boy. Go for it, just watch out if he starts wearing a bucket on his head and developing a faraway stare.

Chunko'..

 

[Archie]

I suspect at that price you could also look at the Lorch MIGs. I don't know if these offer any advantages over the Portamigs or not. Perhaps you could ask Weldequip as I think he sells these too!

 

[Drains]

Don't forget to include a decent welding mask in that £500!. And there's the cost of the bottle rental etc etc.

 

[Archie]

Good point, Drains. For reference, Sue, a decent mask is anywhere from £50 up and annual bottle rental is about £70 plus the actual contents and infamous 'administration fee' which brings it to about £100 up front. A 15kg roll of 0.8mm wire will be another £20. You shouldn't need to worry about regulators and torches as these will most likely be included with the welder.