Gassless Mig Vs inverter

[J.B. Welding]

I've been chatting with my brother who works as a landscaper... He is doing an increasing ammount of site welding on 4-6mm mild with his Clarke buzzbox and he asked about possibly investing in a gasless mig as the Clarke is starting to show it's limitations. Now my limited experience of gasless might be non-typical but I can't stand it, especially on thicker stuff. I find the welds weak, porous and brittle. My advice was to upgrade his stick kit to an inverter and recommended, based on opinions on here and the price, the R-tech 135. It looks to be able to burn 2.5s all day and the warrantee backs that up. Now he loves Machine *art and is thinking he might find a wee inverter in their bargain corner-Clarke inverter?? I have no idea about them.
Now this is my bro so the advice must be golden with platinum plating-what do you guys recon?

 

[eSCHEn]

You had a look in Callum's place mate? He's got some nice little units in there. Those CEA ones look a bit playschool but might be a handy size for him? About 150A IIRC.

 

[J.B. Welding]

He's in Edinburgh mate hence the machine mart on the doorstep. Handy for him as he does like to break things... That's my only worry with recommending an inverter he's always working in muddy gardens. A better alternative could be a small oil-cooled unit but he has never let me show him how to weld (!!) so ease of lighting up and direct current will make it easier for him. Nothing structural just bits of edging and planters etc.
He kinda self taught himself welding plates to the underside of a VW Baja Bug (with a buzzbox) and hasn't looked back

 

[eSCHEn]

An old buzzbox is kinda hard to beat for kicking about like that, it's so cheap you don't care if it pegs it

Hmmm. Can you get 'small' oil cooled? I thought they were all beefy chaps?

Shame he's so far.

 

[J.B. Welding]

I've got a Tonco that gets a lot of bad press but I love it to bits. Bit over priced for what it is though really.

For pure sweetness of use its hard to beat an inverter. He'd just have to keep it all cosy in its box like a good boy..

 

[eSCHEn]

Given he's related then that's not gonna happen is it? x

That is a very cute little unit!

 

[J.B. Welding]

Given he's related then that's not gonna happen is it? x

That is a very cute little unit!

Maybe for the first day?

Thats what she said.

 

[Kent]

I should recomend him to look at the esab buddy and the equivalent thermal arc. Sounds like he doesn't need a mig if he has been doing with a buzz box

 

[J.B. Welding]

The buddy seems a bit overkill for that thickness, I saw the R-tech for £150 all in, seemed a good deal. It's outside work so mig would have to be gasless and portable. He asked me about mig as it's obviously easier for tacking up awkward positions and he thinks it'll make his jobs easier-but is the gasless weld at 4-6mm as bad as I'm making out?

 

[Kent]

I have only ever once used gassless. It was a rubbish plant though ( I mean real junk)
However I was called to a boat were welds were failing ( brand new Polish made) they were not forthcoming with thier customer service let's say. Nice looking welds on top but broke looking like snapped coke inside.
Anyhow I ran a mile - not getting involved with that. Probably a fault but it put me off on the surface they all looked great till they broke
The gassless I used was on thin stuff but slung it to the side and did it with stick

 

[dannyp]

forget the gasless mig.

id go thermal arc 175 se they are tough engough to use as a football if you want, if you keep the box there is room to wedge a air of gloves and some rods in there with it just