- Thread starter Beetleboy
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Pigeon_Droppings2
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Kemppi minarc....compact, light and very easy to use. The come up on ebay from time to time.
I tried a cheap halfrauds welder.....gave up....was 15 years later when I had the confidence to give it another try!
I tried a cheap halfrauds welder.....gave up....was 15 years later when I had the confidence to give it another try!
addjunkie
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Clarke has a decent name, in comparison to el cheapo from ebay.
But what is your total budget including gas mask etc, as there are other options.
That is a transformer mig, there are also inverter migs both weld but skight differnces, and much more complex inside.
But what is your total budget including gas mask etc, as there are other options.
That is a transformer mig, there are also inverter migs both weld but skight differnces, and much more complex inside.
I'm thinking around £400?
addjunkie
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Ahhh that restricts your choices some what..
The clarke comes with everything, but....the little bottle will last about 10 minutes on a good day, and are dear in terms of operation if you keep buying new ones. You really want a larger bottle either on hire from boc with the hobby deal, or one of the non rental deals. To use a larger bottle youd also need the larger regulator.
The mask is also pants, youd want as a minimum a non hand held one, reacting auto mask is best, these vary between 30 quid and 400 ish.
The clarke comes with everything, but....the little bottle will last about 10 minutes on a good day, and are dear in terms of operation if you keep buying new ones. You really want a larger bottle either on hire from boc with the hobby deal, or one of the non rental deals. To use a larger bottle youd also need the larger regulator.
The mask is also pants, youd want as a minimum a non hand held one, reacting auto mask is best, these vary between 30 quid and 400 ish.
Pigeon_Droppings2
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If you are planning to weld thin steel (eg cars...0.8mm to 1.2mm mainly) then I'd say you need a welder where the power setting is continuously variable.
My migmate had a set of buttons...pressing different combinations gave you a fixed set of power bands.....it was a right faff!
I could probably weld with that setup now....but as a beginner I had no chance!
My migmate had a set of buttons...pressing different combinations gave you a fixed set of power bands.....it was a right faff!
I could probably weld with that setup now....but as a beginner I had no chance!
Pigeon_Droppings2
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The Kemppi minarch 200 was around £900.....but I don't think you need to spend that much (mine was a special birthday present to myself....lets face it...how many pairs of socks do people think you need!)
I've heard that rTech are good...they do a mig 180 for around the £500 mark I think. The rTech site says "Infinite fine control of welding voltage/amperage" ...for thin metal this is what you need when starting out....I would avoid anything with power buttons!
Once you have a feel for it I think you can weld with anything....I tested my migmate before I sold it and it worked absolutely fine so basically I think it was my inexperience!!
Are you going to be self teaching or is someone going to teach you.
I've heard that rTech are good...they do a mig 180 for around the £500 mark I think. The rTech site says "Infinite fine control of welding voltage/amperage" ...for thin metal this is what you need when starting out....I would avoid anything with power buttons!
Once you have a feel for it I think you can weld with anything....I tested my migmate before I sold it and it worked absolutely fine so basically I think it was my inexperience!!
Are you going to be self teaching or is someone going to teach you.
the 151TE's are fine for working on cars, there are a couple of issues with them though in my opinion. the first is that the torch lead is pretty short as they are only 1.6m long, also being a transformer based machine they are pretty heavy for what they are. I have to carry mine up steps and inverter machines are lighter. one advantage of the torches on the clarke though are that they are pretty compact compared to others, so can get into tighter areas compared to euro torches (which are an industry standard).
if you're thinking anbout a 151TE, its also worth comsidering a 151EN, if doesn't have the fancy case and can do the same job for less if bought with a gas conversion kit (for use with rental or rent free cylinders but not disposables
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig151en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder/
https://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit.htm
if you're thinking anbout a 151TE, its also worth comsidering a 151EN, if doesn't have the fancy case and can do the same job for less if bought with a gas conversion kit (for use with rental or rent free cylinders but not disposables
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig151en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder/
https://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit.htm
arther dailey
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clarkes are good,or look for a second hand oxford ,like your beetle often older stuff is better,good luck
Pigeon_Droppings2
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This is the Kemppi front panel...notice the lack of buttons! All I do is dial in thickness (left knob)....set material (basically push material button and it scrolls through steel/stainless/bronze/ali) - CuSi is mig brazing) ....the knob on the right lets you trim the wire feed if needed.
It can also be run totally manually but in 5+ years I've never had to use the manual mode. I think other makes also do this type of auto setup too....it means as a novice all you have to do is measure the steel thickness and you're settings are pretty much always there or there about!
Once you've welded with the correct settings you get an eye and an ear for how things should be....
It can also be run totally manually but in 5+ years I've never had to use the manual mode. I think other makes also do this type of auto setup too....it means as a novice all you have to do is measure the steel thickness and you're settings are pretty much always there or there about!
Once you've welded with the correct settings you get an eye and an ear for how things should be....
I am thinking of doing a short course if I can find one near me.
chris pruteanu
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I also have a 12 years old or more clarke and its fine for sticking bits together , for everything intricate i do use the tig- its slower but looks a heck of a lot nicer !
jinjahbiscuit
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The Clarke Pro 90 Mig looks ok for your needs, unless you intend to do bigger stuff later. You'll still push your budget beyond 400 quid though, with a gas bottle, decent mask, wire and some other essential ppe. Definitely steer clear of the disposable bottles. Like everyone says, you'll just be getting into it - and they'll run out!
123hotchef
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how much? I had a snapon mig it was a great welder I recently upgraded. snapon are just re badged machines
choco
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Clarke 90 for panels, cheap invertor arc for the heavy stuff. Or get a cheap invertor mig that will do both. I have the Clarke 151 for over 10 years and it's been great. I used a cheap invertor mig and it was definitely better to weld with than the Clarke, but the reliability is the problem with them it's a chance you take.
candy2019
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If it’s for a hobby build and you want to get your feet wet with welding aluminum I’m going to suggest using a wire feed welder with a spool gun and 100% argon shielding gas. Welding aluminum isn’t easy, even for someone with a lot of welding experience with mild steel.
