9 replies to this topic

[will_]

Hi guys. Apologies if it’s been covered a few times :-/
I’m getting myself a welder over the next few weeks, there’s a fair few to choose from inc gas free - can anyone recommend me a decent budget welder, with/without gas. Any guidance appreciated.
TiA

[sonikk4]

What’s your budget, that is the first question.

Secondly I personally would go for a gas MIG. If you do not have a garage etc you can create shielding around the area you need to weld. If you have a garage etc then happy days.

As an aside to this if your budget is around the £300 or less Machinemart currently have a VAT free night ( it’s actually a couple of days) so you can pick up a Clarke hobby welder like a 135TE 151TE brand new. Both are more than enough for welding any car to a high standard obviously down to the operator.

If you have a bigger budget then there is Porta Mig and others.

[will_]

Hi - thanks for the reply.
Your spot on - up to £250/300 is where I’d like to be. I’ll have a look at this special offer !!
Any welding I do will be indoors anyway - I’m not hardcore like some of you guys !!
People don’t like the gas less - is there any reason ?? I’ll defo buy a gas welder as I’ve used them before.
Thanks again for the info

[motorwise]

gasless is terrible no professional would ever touch it .... i'd say go for the biggest and best you can afford ..... as said vat free day at machine mart get it now while you can save a bit 

[Homersimpson]

I would highly recommend the Clarke welders, I have a 150A unit that I bought around 15 years ago and have restored loads of cars with it, its more than good enough to weld anything you will come across and the occasional bit of thicker steel.

 

The only problem i've had with it is the torch is not great and over the years i've had to change the end of it (the bits the tips screw into) a couple of times. I'm now finally going to fit a bigger torch to overcome this.

 

I get my gas from BOC on a Volkwagen Owners Club deal called Volksown (although I've never been a member I rang BOC about the cost of my bottle rental and they said thye would just put me on this as its for hobbyists like me).

[motorwise]

BOC are a bit dear if you have to get delivery but if you're near a depot great value ... my bottle is about 5ft tall and 12" in diameter so not easy to get to and from the depot because of the size and weight but on the plus size it lasts for ages 

[sonikk4]

If you look at my various builds on here Project Paddy, Project Erm, Wills mini special, The Red one all done with a Clarke 135TE Turbo. I kick the crap out of mine, i have replaced the torch etc due to an issue i created myself but other than that its the usual consumables like shrouds and tips.

 

Personally i would get a 5kg spool of 0.6mm wire, a good handful of tips and shrouds. you will need to buy a regulator for Argon CO2 mix, i use BOC Argoshield light. Depending on how much you weld is going to dictate what size of bottle you need. i'm currently using a 'Y' size.

 

Buy a good quality auto reactive mask as well. Don't scrimp here.

[sonikk4]

http://www.theminifo...se-for-welding/

[will_]

Really grateful for the info guys - and sonikk, that link is awesome so thanks for sharing, really really useful info there !! I’ll get myself a few odds to help with fitting panels etc
I looked at machine mart and their welders are pretty decent and even the small ones will do just fine. I’d need to buy the bits to make it into a gas welder too.

[alchall]

Another vote for the Clarke 135TE from me, I had nonwelding experience before I started and it’s served me very well.

Get my gas from hobby weld, gone through a few refills and a while spool of wire. As us already been said you’ll need to buy a regulator and a hose connector as well but neither are expensive in the grand scheme of things.

I also had to replace the torch but again as a result of user error but wasn’t expensive or difficult to replace.

Some people buy or make a trolley / stand which I would probably have done in hindsight, if nothing else to secure the gas bottle and make it easier to manoeuvre around the garage.

If you’ve not welded before the link you’ve now got is a good read and plenty of practise before you get started on your pride and joy. It’s not especially difficult but you really do get better with practise and experience. It’s a good skill to learn and good fun too!