Hi All.
I've been wanting to learn welding for some years now and actually have a couple of broken items that aren't really worth paying someone else to mend, so I've started at the bottom of that steep learning curve.
Found this excellent forum, been watching 'how to' vids on Youtube and researching mig welders. Could go for a hobby welder but they get mixed reviews and don't seem to be built for longevity and anyway I like the feel of quality tools, especially if they are that increasingly rare thing - made in Britain.
We've got a couple of good welding suppliers in this area - ibweld in North Walsham and Miganglia in Southrepps, so have been to see them to see what they've got on offer.
Ibweld has got SWP Redline - a Mig 180 Turbo all-in for £395 + VAT and their gas costs are good - 10yr 'right-to-use' on 10L and 20L bottles.
Miganglia has got Miller MigMatic 175 for £550 + VAT but their gas deal isn't so hot - 3yrs and pricier refills. They also occasionally have used machines which they refurb and knock out with 3 mths warranty. They are expecting a couple of the now discontinued Migatronic Automig 181, which sound good with their smoothing capacitors for a more even current.
Then there's Weldequip of course and I like the sound of the Portamig 185, especially with its low, low start current of 15A as I'm more likely to be working in thin materials than thick. Pity about the 3-4 week lead time, though, which makes the BritArc and TecArc machines sound tempting as they appear to be the same thing but don't offer the low starting current - any comments on that?
We wants it, Baggins, we wants it - now!
It's a pricey game to get started in and I'd be willing to buy a 2nd hand unit if I could find a good one - there's too much choice, really.
Cheers.
Mr Miggins (geddit?)
I've been wanting to learn welding for some years now and actually have a couple of broken items that aren't really worth paying someone else to mend, so I've started at the bottom of that steep learning curve.
Found this excellent forum, been watching 'how to' vids on Youtube and researching mig welders. Could go for a hobby welder but they get mixed reviews and don't seem to be built for longevity and anyway I like the feel of quality tools, especially if they are that increasingly rare thing - made in Britain.
We've got a couple of good welding suppliers in this area - ibweld in North Walsham and Miganglia in Southrepps, so have been to see them to see what they've got on offer.
Ibweld has got SWP Redline - a Mig 180 Turbo all-in for £395 + VAT and their gas costs are good - 10yr 'right-to-use' on 10L and 20L bottles.
Miganglia has got Miller MigMatic 175 for £550 + VAT but their gas deal isn't so hot - 3yrs and pricier refills. They also occasionally have used machines which they refurb and knock out with 3 mths warranty. They are expecting a couple of the now discontinued Migatronic Automig 181, which sound good with their smoothing capacitors for a more even current.
Then there's Weldequip of course and I like the sound of the Portamig 185, especially with its low, low start current of 15A as I'm more likely to be working in thin materials than thick. Pity about the 3-4 week lead time, though, which makes the BritArc and TecArc machines sound tempting as they appear to be the same thing but don't offer the low starting current - any comments on that?
We wants it, Baggins, we wants it - now!
It's a pricey game to get started in and I'd be willing to buy a 2nd hand unit if I could find a good one - there's too much choice, really.
Cheers.
Mr Miggins (geddit?)
