Which MIG welder, Oxford, Tec Arc, Portamig.....other?

[Tom Orrow L]

speaking of oxford Tom is there any where I'll be able to get touch up paint for my oxford it's getting a bit of a mess on top and needs touching up

Not as far as I’m aware. Best bet is to take a flake into your local shop and see if they can colour match.

 

[Richard Stowe]

ok cheers

 

[Nick DV]

Fair enough. To be fair all of the above brands have great backup and after care service.
Completely understand going for the classic style transformer based Oxford machines though, they’re built to last!

The Oxford is a nicely built machine, great to use, and I find the top loading wire feed set up much nicer/easier to use

 

[Mike_H]

Thank you, which model do you have?

I might be wrong without checking but I believe the Portamig has a slightly lower minimum setting which might be useful for thin bodywork, something to check anyway.

I bought a portamig 186, based on recommendations from on here. I haven’t used it as much as I’d planned, but did patch up the sills on my MX5 last year. Fine adjustment is very good for thin bodywork, filling blow-holes, etc. The machine is great. I’m still a rank amateur.

 

[baldy]

Well, ive had my 180 for a while now,got it from WSD .Ive give it full bore on numerous occasions at top power, and i can say it hasnt missed a beat so far. My only bugbear is the hoover sounding fan it has fitted. Noisy bloody thing. Welds a treat though. Being so noisy you cant forget to turn it off! .I may sell it soon and order a new 200 amp model as i find myself welding more and more thick stuff. I added the wire feed switch which turns off the wire feed for purging the gas through without spewing miles of wire through it. Dead handy that is. WSD were very good too.I had to upgrade the breaker in the fusebox to D type breaker to stop any trip out issues and ive run the welder its own dedicated supply.

 

[arther dailey]

Well, ive had my 180 for a while now,got it from WSD .Ive give it full bore on numerous occasions at top power, and i can say it hasnt missed a beat so far. My only bugbear is the hoover sounding fan it has fitted. Noisy bloody thing. Welds a treat though. Being so noisy you cant forget to turn it off! .I may sell it soon and order a new 200 amp model as i find myself welding more and more thick stuff. I added the wire feed switch which turns off the wire feed for purging the gas through without spewing miles of wire through it. Dead handy that is. WSD were very good too.I had to upgrade the breaker in the fusebox to D type breaker to stop any trip out issues and ive run the welder its own dedicated supply.

May I suggest if your running it flat out a lot you jump to a say 270 HD model tec arc/oxford or what ever colour you prefer, opt for 4 roll drive , like the old saying goes a cart horse can do the same as a pony but the pony cant do the same as the cart horse..for long !

 

[baldy]

I reckon the extra 20amp may just be limits of what i need to weld, the 180 does 6mm, although it says 5mm on the website. Should have bought the bigger model in the first place tbh. Its a great machine the 180, ive just found myself doing the real thick stuff.