- Thread starter myrtlemog
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mike 109444
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Welcome Myrtlemog. Don't know the machine but having googled it looks ok. Have you looked at the protamig range? maybe the 185 is in same price range and hightly rated on the site (don't own one either) The specs for the 185 has a low bottom end power ideal for those rusty bits of car! and it's 12 power settings for a greater/finer control. Just a thought
PS what's the resto project? not a moggy is it?
PS what's the resto project? not a moggy is it?
marlinspike
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We bought one from a member on here to do car bodywork. Only recently started practising with it, but quite impressed so far. It did keep tripping the electric, but a longer extension cord seems to have solved that. We bought it because it was around the same price as buying a new Sip or Clarke mig. Still getting to grips with the settings for the mig and gas, so finding that we blow through on thin metal, but it welds nicely on 3mm and above.
It is certainly a powerful welder, in some ways it's overkill for what we want to do with it, as I think you can weld stainless with it as well as pretty thick steel.
If you go to the Cebora website you can download the manuals. Spares availability seems to be good.
If you are buying new I would also look at the Portamig. They are very well liked on here and there will be more advice and info on how to get the best from the machine. Also, they seem in demand as used migs should you want to sell it after completing your project.
I think it comes down to what you are planning to pay. If you say what your budget is and exactly what you want to do, the guys on here will advise. New or used? Car panels or chassis welding?
It is certainly a powerful welder, in some ways it's overkill for what we want to do with it, as I think you can weld stainless with it as well as pretty thick steel.
If you go to the Cebora website you can download the manuals. Spares availability seems to be good.
If you are buying new I would also look at the Portamig. They are very well liked on here and there will be more advice and info on how to get the best from the machine. Also, they seem in demand as used migs should you want to sell it after completing your project.
I think it comes down to what you are planning to pay. If you say what your budget is and exactly what you want to do, the guys on here will advise. New or used? Car panels or chassis welding?
Thanks mike 109444 and marlinspike, for your responses.
Yes. The resto project is a moggy...a Morris Traveller to be precise. I also have a couple of other classics though these need much lesser attention!!
I was attracted to the Autostar 180, as it was designed specifically for automotive welding. I don't have a rigid budget but would like to stay within around £500 and currently it is on offer at £499.90. I have also looked at the SIP Green Migmate T194 but this is an inverter welder and I gather these are rather 'delicate'. A friend of mine has a Portamig 185, with which he is very happy, so it is certainly a consideration.
Any more comments/advice welcome and I will report how I get on when I make my decision. Thanks again.
Yes. The resto project is a moggy...a Morris Traveller to be precise. I also have a couple of other classics though these need much lesser attention!!
I was attracted to the Autostar 180, as it was designed specifically for automotive welding. I don't have a rigid budget but would like to stay within around £500 and currently it is on offer at £499.90. I have also looked at the SIP Green Migmate T194 but this is an inverter welder and I gather these are rather 'delicate'. A friend of mine has a Portamig 185, with which he is very happy, so it is certainly a consideration.
Any more comments/advice welcome and I will report how I get on when I make my decision. Thanks again.
marlinspike
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- 1,919
We have just changed the wire on ours and bought a new regulator, and it is welding much better now. It doesn't blow through on 1mm metal if you have it on the lowest power setting and use a copper heat sink, so should be ideal when we start on our car.
However, if you are buying new I would still pick the Portamig over the Autostar. I have never used a Portamig but they seem to me to be the top choice on this forum, and I have never read a dissatisfied comment on here about them.
If there was a significant price advantage to getting the Autostar, I would say get the Autostar because it's a good machine. As the two machines as at the same price point, I would get a Portamig because of it's reputation and strong used demand should you want to sell it later.
Edit: Just checked and the Portamig is £588 now, which I guess is a bit of a jump from £500. However, I would still have a go on your friends Portamig and see how good you think it is - noone on here has ever seemed disappointed with theirs.
However, if you are buying new I would still pick the Portamig over the Autostar. I have never used a Portamig but they seem to me to be the top choice on this forum, and I have never read a dissatisfied comment on here about them.
If there was a significant price advantage to getting the Autostar, I would say get the Autostar because it's a good machine. As the two machines as at the same price point, I would get a Portamig because of it's reputation and strong used demand should you want to sell it later.
Edit: Just checked and the Portamig is £588 now, which I guess is a bit of a jump from £500. However, I would still have a go on your friends Portamig and see how good you think it is - noone on here has ever seemed disappointed with theirs.
