22 replies to this topic

[coopdog]

Hey guys I know it's asked a lot but I want a welder for Christmas but my parents have no idea what to get,

Seen a couple of people say buy a second hand welder that's a good make,

What are the best makes? Snap on?

It's going to be used for body work as my mini is getting a bit rough haha

[megamini_jb]

I highly recommend the Clarke 135te.

[coopdog]

I highly recommend the Clarke 135te.

What price are we talking?

[Tamworthbay]

I have the 151 te and they are brilliant.

[cal844]

I have a sealey 185 supermig

Heres the link

http://www.ebay.co.u...rmig 185&_frs=1

[megamini_jb]

I highly recommend the Clarke 135te.

What price are we talking?

About £150 second hand for a clean one

[alex-95]

+1 for the clarke 135te, excellent hobby welder.

[Icey]

This is a common question and there are two key answers:

1) Avoid anything based on SIP welders, wire feeds are very poor for a number of reasons.

2) Use a proper sized bottle of gas if you're doing serious work.

And other than that, refer to MigWeldingUK it has more information than you'll ever need.

 

But to answer more specifically, I agree with the others - Clarke welders are a safe bet.

Edited by Icey, 23 November 2014 - 06:05 PM.

[sonikk4]

Yep defo the Clarke 135TE turbo, ideal for a newbie welder or even someone with experience. After that when you can afford something abit more industrial then there is Portamig.

[coopdog]

Ah awesome guys thanks!!!

I'm going to be replacing the boot floor, rear of the car, sills and the front end will this put up with that type of work?

[sonikk4]

Yes and more. Done two full restos so far with mine plus halfway through another and it will be used on my clubby as well with a lot more work than yours.

[Cooperman]

Nothing less than a 130 amp unit. As above, the Clarke 135 is a great bit of kit and I have used one.

I once tried a Sip 90 and it worked for 4 minutes, then needed 15 minutes to cool down before it would weld again - useless piece of junk.

I've had a Miller 150 for 15 years and it still works very well. Get an auto-dimming mask as well. I paid £20 for mine, made in China, and it works fine, but the battery runs down quickly if it is not switched off after use.

[sonikk4]

Solar powered masks are the way forward, no batteries needed.

[Phil-R]

As said, avoid the SIP welders. I could write paragraphs on what I've had to do to get mine to work properly. It spent most of it's life as a door-stop.

 

Avoid gass-less welders - not so good for thin metal.

 

130 Amp minimum. You don't need much for bodywork, but you WILL want to turn it up and fabricate something thicker later on.

 

As mentioned, find somewhere to refill gas. I could have afforded to spend twice as much on a welder if I'd realised this sooner.

 

I also bought a £20 auto darkening mask and that was heaps better than the handheld ones. I later bought a £60 branded one with a larger window and adjustable controls and that was a very worthwhile improvement over the £20 one.

[coopdog]

I found one I'm looking at and have spoke to the guy selling and he won't say if it working or not,no asked if he can try it and he's saying he bought it brand new and never used it, but that doesn't mean crap to me haha

Where do I stand with eBay if I buy it and it doesn't work?