24 replies to this topic

[pete l]

Hi all,

My SIP hobby mig welder is pants and needs replacing.

Pete.

Edited by Deathrow, 18 July 2017 - 01:40 PM.

[Bradchap]

Hi Pete, last year bought myself an R-Tech mig, they're based in Glos so not far from you, thought it was a lot of money at the time but compared to my old SIP it is a world of difference after struggling for years, Well worth the money IMHO :)

Bradchap

[pete l]

Hi, bit too expensive for me, the cbeapest one they do is 480 pounds. I was looking fof half that.

Pete

[cian]

The Clarke 135 te turbo is a good hobby welder and is roughly 250 I believe, that's what I use and is well up to panel welding

[pete l]

Thanks for that.
Anyone use Sealey welders ? Foumd a 140 amp one at 220 pounds new

[Avtovaz]

ive heard bad things about those sip welders, so maybe its just those...

 

I bougth a cheep one from ebay maybe 15 years ago now, works ok, but i havnt used it much.

[Homersimpson]

I bought a Clarke 150TE about 10 years ago and its been great, done loads of welding with it.  As you don't use it to anything like its full power I assume that the 135TE mentioned above would be equally as good.

 

The only critism is that the small torch tips can sieze in if you get it too hot and then be a pain to get out.  Otherwise you can't go wrong for the money.

 

If you get it from Machine Mart they ocassionaly have VAT free days where you effectivly get 20% off the price.

[Avtovaz]

what gas do you all use? Ive always sued the little disposable ones, but was thinking of going to c02 as i have a bottle, but not 100% sure yet

[AVV IT]

Thanks for that.
Anyone use Sealey welders ? Foumd a 140 amp one at 220 pounds new

Yeah, I've got a Sealey Supermig 140, it's basically the Sealey equivalent of the Clarke 135T that's quite popular here on TMF. I managed to learn to weld with it (well still am learning to be fair!) & have been very pleased with it.

[acrowot]

sealey super mig are a greight welder far better than the clarke ive had both defo get another sealey if this one brakes ive got the sealey 230 super mig i use sevana gas in stockport

[pete l]

Thanks everyone. Im heading towards the sealey mainly because of price between sealey and clarke.

[bartman]

dont buy a cheap welder, you will have shitty welds and it will frustrate you with its inconsistency. i had a really old sealey supermig180 was about 25 years old, it had had its day and needed to be replaced. so i replaced it last year with an oxford migmaker 180. the difference is unbeliveable i wish i had upgraded years ago. so smooth and consistent.

 

As for gas use the argoshield mix. CO2 will spit more and give poor weld quality. 

Edited by bartman, 18 July 2017 - 08:29 PM.

[robminibcy]

Hi Pete, last year bought myself an R-Tech mig, they're based in Glos so not far from you, thought it was a lot of money at the time but compared to my old SIP it is a world of difference after struggling for years, Well worth the money IMHO :)

Bradchap

 

+1 yes expensive but they do do miniforum discount and should outlast and will certainly outperform any of the usual hobby style welders. I've done 2 proper jobs with mine now with no training whatso ever and already in reasonably confident with it I previously borrowed a cheapo gasless mig and couldn't get a decent bead running at all.

[Slackda]

I have a Clarke 130en which I picked up 2nd hand for 100 quid, been running gas less to try to learn but the welds/spitting is shocking just picked up a 9lt hobbyweld cylinder for £32 +. £60 deposit so going to see how it fairs now :)

 

updated ; running gas now and the difference is amazing, blowing oles through old bits of metal but  getting used to it.

Edited by Slackda, 21 July 2017 - 06:57 AM.

[r3k1355]

Yea don't try and run without gas unless you're welding up an old gate in your garden or something.