10 replies to this topic

[Minitrio]

Happy New Year to you all,

I'm looking to purchase a Welder to do the usual repair jobs on my current Mini and no doubt others in the future.

What is the best all round easy to use Welder to buy at a reasonable price?

Cheers

[Bungle]

did a search on the forum not find anything ?

this has been asked many times, with lots of answers and links to the mig welding forum

[robtheplod]

look at the clarke range at machinemart, or better still from a chap called 'weldequip' who lives on www.mig-welding.co.uk - his shop is here:

http://www.mig-weldi...mig-welders.htm

look here for reviews:

http://www.mig-weldi...isplay.php?f=19

I've got a clarke 160TM and it's been a good machine, but I think a 135 is fine for most mini projects:

http://www.machinema...diy-mig-welders

another consideration is gas or non-gas, but you'll see the pros and cons in the forum above. Good luck!

ps: machinemart have the occasional VAT free day, so if you're not in a hurry, buy something cheap so they get your details then they will post a card to let you know the next date....

Edited by robtheplod, 03 January 2010 - 09:29 AM.

[Paul Wiginton]

Cebora are very good, so good that Snap-On repackage them as their own and add a premium.
Its the gas thats most inportant though, the disposable bottles arent worth it so get an account with BOC or Air Products to get a proper bottle

Paul

[camp freddy]

I'd go for one 130 amp or over , but not too big as they may not like
thin material, this ones ideal
http://www.machinema...diy-mig-welders

as said by paul you would be best to get an account with a gas supplier, then
you can use a CO2/argon mix gas, better than pub gas (CO2), and the cylinders
last a lot longer than the small shop bought ones. Just a thought you gould pop
rond to a steel fabrication company and see if they would rent you out a
cylinder may be cheaper than going to Boc or Air products.

[sonikk4]

I use a Clarke 135 Turbo mig welder. Ideal for the mini and so far reliable.

Don't go gasless unless you have no garage and have to work outside. Definitely get yourself a bottle of CO2 argon mix from BOC if you are under cover, although i'm still using just plain CO2 at the moment which is fine but will be converting to CO2 Argon mix when this bottle runs out.

Use 0.6mm mig wire, 0.8 is to heavy for bodywork and also get the larger spool not the small ones from the likes of Halfrauds and if you are doing a lot of welding then buy yourself a good quality mask.

[rusty789]

I've recently bought,

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item23031fd76a

Has done everything i've needed it to do so far, welded sheet metal upto about 3.5mm thick (without a problem) as well as some metal a guy at my local engineering place said would be about the same thickness as body panels..

Fairly straight forward to setup use etc..

[Bungle]

Cebora are very good, so good that Snap-On repackage them as their own and add a premium.
Its the gas thats most inportant though, the disposable bottles arent worth it so get an account with BOC or Air Products to get a proper bottle

Paul

if you join volkszone and go for their group buy you can get a large gas cylinder, gas and rental for a year for £60

[Minitrio]

Thanks Bungle, did a search but wanted up to date information like 2010, 2009 is so last year!! lol

Thanks for the info guys and the web links, shall have a good look through and pick a suitable one for my needs.

[mini.cooper998]

get on www.mig-welding.co.uk have a look at the for sale stuff.

i got a cebora 130 turbo battered case but works amazing £100 im no pro but it makes my welding look amazing

Andy

[ANON]

the machine mart stuff is overpriced chinese tat. you are better off going for something second hand off fleabay. i picked up a 185 amp set for £150 the other month, far superior to just about all the machine mart/sealey tat.
you want to look out for something with 8 or so heat settings and wire speed that controls your amperage.