17 replies to this topic

[OJM]

I'm after some advice on welders...

Our Mini needs two new floor pans, and inner and outer sills, and due to the quoted cost of getting this done at a Mini specialist, I've decided I'll give it a go myself. However, I've never welded before, so haven't got a clue what type I need, and how much to spend (either buying or hiring).

I'm toying with the idea of either hiring or buying one, however price depending, I may end up buying one because of future use.

So, could someone advise what I should be looking at, and what I need to go for? I've looked at a couple of welding forums / sites, but thought I'd get some advice from Mini owners.

Future use would be welding more bits on the Mini, and maybe exhaust work on my MINI.

Cheers!

[tractor1]

hi

you want a mig welder definatly if your only gunna be using it on your cars, around 140 amp is a goos size, mine is 110 and struggles sometimes,

i wouldn't know what a new welder cost i haven't bought one years.

theres millions of makes but clarks is a good name to look for

thanks

[cooper s wannabe]

I'm after some advice on welders...

Our Mini needs two new floor pans, and inner and outer sills, and due to the quoted cost of getting this done at a Mini specialist, I've decided I'll give it a go myself. However, I've never welded before, so haven't got a clue what type I need, and how much to spend (either buying or hiring).

I'm toying with the idea of either hiring or buying one, however price depending, I may end up buying one because of future use.

So, could someone advise what I should be looking at, and what I need to go for? I've looked at a couple of welding forums / sites, but thought I'd get some advice from Mini owners.

Future use would be welding more bits on the Mini, and maybe exhaust work on my MINI.

Cheers!

ive been welding for years and ive found you tend to get what you paid for my welder was 700 quid but as i do it for a living its worth it for an diy job at home you will want a mig welder dont go for gasless its crap.

as for amperage you wont need anymore than a 120 amp welder thats more than enough power to weld a mini up plus it would weld thicker stuff upto probably 3/4mm
you will want 0.6mm wire as 0.8 is to thick a pain to use on thinner metals.

you will see sealy sip and various other welders available around the 150 mark steer clear there 150 for a reason although others may have different oppinions. personally i would look on ebay for a snap on turbo mig 130 as i found it the best mig for a beginner its what i started on. as its made by cebora which is a profession make of welder they are hard working units plus parts a easily available at reasonable prices. the gas bottles you use on them dont last ages as there small but are available in halfords i beleive. if you wanted to get more serious with it you could go to a boc agent and get bigger bottles of argon co2mix

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...-mi...:1|294:50

thats one i found on ebay quickly they are the same as cebora turbo 130 mig welders. so have a look about.

hope this helps

Paul

[mini.cooper998]

i agree with the above ive had two sip welders (pants) and just bought a snap on (cebora / bosch same thing ) 130 turbo as above is brilliant and worth that extra few quid.

also learn to weld with argosheild not co2 far easier

and try www.mig-welding.co.uk there are regularly people selling good used welding equipment cheep (where i bought my snap on from)

good luck with the learning

andy

[OJM]

Thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately my budget is around £150, however, I'm not expecting a welder for that price to last a lifetime.

What output range would I need to look for, to weld panels on the Mini? People are saying that 60amps is too high.

What do you guys reckon to this one:

http://www.diy.com/d...p;isSearch=true

15% off until Monday at 10pm.

[cooper s wannabe]

Thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately my budget is around £150, however, I'm not expecting a welder for that price to last a lifetime.

What output range would I need to look for, to weld panels on the Mini? People are saying that 60amps is too high.

What do you guys reckon to this one:

http://www.diy.com/d...p;isSearch=true

15% off until Monday at 10pm.

hi mate me againg really i would look for 2nd hand on ebay if you use it specially for the snap on/cebora turbo mig you will get one within your price range it will last and parts are cheap and easy to get where if you spend that 180 on thet rockworth thing if you have hassle with it a year down it could be a pain to get bit or expensive

as for power yea 60 amp may do it but you want more power then you can burn in and flow properly and neatly its always best to have to much power so you can turn it down and not be running it flat out all the time.


Paul

[Shifty]

Aldi were doing a nice looking little MIG for about £120 went down to 25 amps and looked good value for money.

Might be worth popping into your local store and see if they've got any left?

[wolfie]

its actually 35 amps

review here:

http://www.mig-weldi...ead.php?t=12268

[Shifty]

its actually 35 amps

review here:

http://www.mig-weldi...ead.php?t=12268

My apolgies, I must have read the spec sheet wrong

In that case ignore my advice 35 amps is way too high.

[wolfie]

as far as i am aware the clarke 90 amp mig is the only budget 25 amp machine out there
http://www.machinema...diy-mig-welders

theres plenty on egay but for that money i would get a new one, 30 amps is ok for sheet metal and theres plenty of those about

[Sammy D]

I'm voting for a gasless mig.

I use a gassless 90 amp little mig and it's ace for light work. I'm using it at the moment to replace two floor pans and two outer sills.

Only downside is you have to wirebrush the welds after but that's no big deal.

[R1mini]

35 amps is not way to high, I weld the thinest of metals using 0.6 or 0.8 at an ampage of around 60~70 and have been doing that for 30 years plus

Cheers
David

[andysmini1]

Bit confused here. What amp setting is used for normal panels on a mini e.g. sills etc? I'm looking at that 90amp Clarke mig welder kit for under £200 and i want to know if it will be good enough for doing repairs on my car.

[wolfie]

amps are all to do with personal choice and how the person welds, normally low amps are best for panels as the higher the power setting the more chance you have of blowing holes in the metal, if you are a competent welder you can get away with higher amps but this is not great practice and best avoided by someone starting out or you will get frustrated very quickly

the 90 is a good starter as the 25 amps will be good for the really thin stuff and the 90 should be good for 3-4mm

Edited by wolfie, 16 June 2009 - 03:30 PM.

[andysmini1]

amps are all to do with personal choice and how the person welds, normally low amps are best for panels as the higher the power setting the more chance you have of blowing holes in the metal, if you are a competent welder you can get away with higher amps but this is not great practice and best avoided by someone starting out or you will get frustrated very quickly

the 90 is a good starter as the 25 amps will be good for the really thin stuff and the 90 should be good for 3-4mm

Brill thanks. Sounds like the 90 amp Clarke welder is the one for me!