Welders

[jaynana]

Guys,

totally offtopic, nothin to do with the car, but appreciate help if u know.

i'm thinkin of buying a 'small' welding plant (don't ask me why - no particular use!!, just general purpose DIY stuff).

reading on the subject i understand there are different types like MIG Welders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_metal_arc_welding), TIG Welders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_tungsten_arc_welding).

can anyone educate me on this subject in general, and tell me the pros and cons of each type, things to watch out for, etc.. ?

thx

j

[shadrack]

if your just getting it for general diy use, just get a medium sized mig and it will do you, machine mart have a good renge, also if you get one that takes the small disposable gas bottles this will be better as if you have the proper ones you have to hire the gas bottles, also cant see why you would realy need a tig welder for home use. if i go to my brothers tommorow i will get the modle number of the mig we have its spot on for small/medium jobs, we also have a small arc a massive arc and a towbehind your car generator/arc welder

[jaynana]

[quote=""shadrack""]if your just getting it for general diy use, just get a medium sized mig and it will do you, machine mart have a good renge, also if you get one that takes the small disposable gas bottles this will be better as if you have the proper ones you have to hire the gas bottles, also cant see why you would realy need a tig welder for home use. if i go to my brothers tommorow i will get the modle number of the mig we have its spot on for small/medium jobs, we also have a small arc a massive arc and a towbehind your car generator/arc welder[/quote]

thanks, pls also ask him for some good brands if your bro knows. i see MIGs ranging fro £200 to £700 in machine mart.

thx

j

[shadrack]

Bit delayed with the reply you've probly got one but mines a clarke migweld 151te turbo, great small-medium mig welder

[jaynana]

[quote=""shadrack""]Bit delayed with the reply you've probly got one but mines a clarke migweld 151te turbo, great small-medium mig welder[/quote]

thanks, actually its not too late, i've written to a welders forum (http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum) who've pointed out many things.

like toyotas vs bmws, like electric motors compared to v6 or v8s, there are the chinese vs european makes,then there are the inverter based vs transformer based, to say the minimal!!

suffices to say - its got a hell of a lot complicated!!

now i'm thinking - mig welder or should i just go for an arch welder?

also, where is the Migweld 151TE made? also is it inverter based or transformer based? doesn't say all this in the machine mart add (http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... g%20welder)

can you pls find these out as well, really helpful, thx

j

[X5Sport]

This link to the Clarke manuals website might give you the answers you need....

[shadrack]

To be honest I have no idea on the above questions all I know is its been a very good all round welder for the last couple of years, arc welders are all very well but you can't weld thin steel such as exausts etc as you just end up burning holes in everything! Migs are definately better, arcs are so cheap just get both!

[jaynana]

fantastic link

[Rusty]

I bought a Clarke 135 gassless MIG welder about 8 years ago, but bought the bits to run using gas too (regulator and gas bottle plus normal wire). I bought the gassless just in case I should need to run without gas or if I ran out but I have always used the gas so far, just wanted the option. The welder is more than powerful enough to do almost anything on a car or general repairs, and has served me faultlessly in all that time.

It is a transformer based MIG with the small gas bottle on the back and has wheels and a handle. Great for portability and runs from a standard 13A plugtop.

It has paid for itself ten fold, so would happily recommend it or similar.

Hth

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[X5Driver]

I had a huge quote to weld up a rotten shogun about 20 years ago so spent the money on a cebora mig and did the job having never welded before. Looked a bit rough but held well. Used it loads since and never had any trouble. Mig is quicker and cleaner an easier but arc is stronger for thick stuff. A friend always uses arc over 1/2 inch thick which I never need.