Jump to content


Photo

Mig Welder Advice


  • Please log in to reply
8 replies to this topic

#1 mini-man-dan

mini-man-dan

    Up Into Fourth

  • Traders
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,684 posts
  • Location: Bristol
  • Local Club: J19 Mini Owners Club

Posted 17 May 2013 - 11:28 PM

I thought TMF would have a fair few pretty experienced Welders who can hopefully give me some advice.

Im thinking of buying a mig welder to weld a car I am restoring. Im a qualified aluminium tig welder with a little experience on a mig. Id be looking for a gas welder as I do not want to weld structurally gassless.

My budget is minimal but if you could give me some info and price of different ones youve had good or bad experiences with id be very appreciative.

Cheers
Dan

#2 minimuk

minimuk

    Camshaft & Stage Two Head

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,947 posts
  • Location: Midlands

Posted 17 May 2013 - 11:34 PM

Clark welders are ok, pending what yr welding, Clark105E, or Clark 130 both are fine machines and affordable, check tool section, or fleabay



#3 jackx998

jackx998

    Mini Mad

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 264 posts
  • Location: St. Austell

Posted 17 May 2013 - 11:36 PM

Check out Cebora welders, good quality welds from these plants and can be relatively cheap.



#4 sonikk4

sonikk4

    Twisted Paint Polisher!!!

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,168 posts
  • Name: Neil
  • Location: Cotwolds.

Posted 18 May 2013 - 07:25 PM

Personally i would get a Clarke 135 TE Turbo from Machinemart. Ideally on their VAT free nights. I have given my one a good kicking over the past few years and its performed really well.

 

I have welded up to 1/4" very easily with it and is more than powerful and flexible enough for anything you need to do on a mini.



#5 alex-95

alex-95

    I am THE CLAMP MAKER

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 6,078 posts
  • Location: l

Posted 18 May 2013 - 07:42 PM

Personally i would get a Clarke 135 TE Turbo from Machinemart. Ideally on their VAT free nights. I have given my one a good kicking over the past few years and its performed really well.

 

I have welded up to 1/4" very easily with it and is more than powerful and flexible enough for anything you need to do on a mini.

+1 on the 135 TE, very good



#6 cradley-heathen

cradley-heathen

    Metro-Man

  • Traders
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,481 posts
  • Location: have a guess?
  • Local Club: spearmint rhino

Posted 18 May 2013 - 08:05 PM

i have got a siegen 150 which i have had for about 4 years now and its gets used allot (im a mobile welder, so it also gets thrown in the back of my car allot etc)

 

i have done alsorts with it from some really delicate household ornamental items, to a canal boat! (although admitedly not the hull, just the engine room stuff)

 

they do smaller versions of this model which im sure would be equally very good.

 

http://www.teng.co.u...30v_9026_pd.asp



#7 Willthewelder

Willthewelder

    Mini Mad

  • Validating
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 161 posts
  • Location: Halstead, Essex
  • Local Club: Colchester Mini Club

Posted 18 May 2013 - 08:09 PM

I'm a coded welder, Doing my ASME 9 in a couple of months. I use a clarke 151EN cracking little machine and punches well above it's weight for the size. For gas use an upside down fire extinguisher mounted on something looking like a cat scratching post. Far far cheaper and fine for welding a car.



#8 mini=love

mini=love

    Mini Mad

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 211 posts
  • Location: Canterbury, Kent

Posted 18 May 2013 - 08:38 PM

What are you actually wanting to weld on your mini? If your just wanting to weld panels then pretty much any gas welder on the market is well up to the job...



#9 sonikk4

sonikk4

    Twisted Paint Polisher!!!

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,168 posts
  • Name: Neil
  • Location: Cotwolds.

Posted 18 May 2013 - 08:58 PM

A Mig welder with a decent duty cycle is needed. A lot of the cheap and cheerful will not have that and you could find yourself having to wait for the welder to cool down.






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users