11 replies to this topic

[germini30]

Hi all.
Looking at buying a mig welder.
I want to fet one and learn how to do it and also it will come in handy in the future
I've done some welding years ago with a mig.
Now I'm looking for advice to help me decide on a machine.
It will be used for usual mini stuff mainly.
I've been looking at SIP weldmate 100A, 120A or even 160A.
I've been told 120A is more than adequate for me.
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks

[nicklouse]

R-Tec.

 

and they have a demo room you can test things out. 
 

Tewkesbury.

[68+86auto]

120 is more than is required BUT a welder which is only 120a is likely a cheap toy that will be annoying to use.

 

Also have a look at the duty cycle. 120a will only be say 10% of the time, the 35a you need still won't be high on such machine. Not a big problem but it can interrupt work if you are doing lots of welding at once as it will overheat.

[MrBounce]

If you can afford it, as Nick says, get an R-Tech. I could not. I bought a Clarke 135TE from Machine Mart which has proved fine for what I need, but then I don't weld much. It all depends on your budget. Most of the cheaper welders are all made in the same factory anyway, just with different badges on them. From what I have heard, R-Tech are amazing machines and have brilliant customer service. I'd spend the extra money if I could.

 

I used to have a Sip welder and it was the nastiest piece of rubbish tool I have ever used. It kept going wrong, and I have read that others had similar issues. I hope they've changed their ways and produce some better examples today, but from personal experience I wouldn't give them the time of day again. 

[Avtovaz]

how much welding are you going to be doing? 

 

 

first i had a old style welder, wire speed with 3 switches, worked ok. I bought one of these and its amazing. 4m euro tourch, and you can mog and arc with it. On a mini, you wont need near 100 amps but this one does 180. At 180 though you need to put big power cables into your garage, and you need to be welding some thick stuff!

 

The r tec ones, i cant see why people buy them, they just seem to be selling stuff which is over the top for a home gamer. by tyhte time you have gas and are all set up your into nearly £1k.

 

they work well with c02 gas, or get hobbyweld if you want to spend a bit more and have a better result. 

 

 

dont over complicate it, dont get put off by being told you need expencive stuff, and always put factor 50 on when your welding.

Edited by Avtovaz, 03 February 2026 - 10:14 PM.

[sonscar]

I would say to budget for a real gas supply and buy a welder with what is left.I have an R-tech bought when I retired to replace a 30 year old SIP130which was(is) still working.Is it better? Yes,but it does not make you a class welder.I am probably wrong here but the best tool to have is the desire to do it.Good luck with your choice,whatever it is it will be a major expense but can be very rewarding.Steve,

[Stu1961]

Never used a welder myself before doing my shell, I ended up with an R-Tec MIG 180. I cannot say how difficult or easy it was to use as I have never used another machine to compare it with, what I can say is it did a great job, after sales service is good, I believe often touted as one of the best though never had to use it. I can highly recommend their machines, you also get a 5 year warranty with free collection and return.       

[Cooperman]

I well remember my first MIG welder. It was a SIP 90 amp and the duty cycle was hopeless. Trying to replace sills, it would weld for 3 minutes than stop for 10 minutes!

Then I bought a Miller 150 amp and I could weld all day without stopping. I have welded steel plate up to 6 mm thick with no problems. After 30 years of ownership it's still working fine. I tend to change the welding tip before each new job and I did have to buy a new torch around 8 years ago.

I have just done the sill repairs on my Sunbeam Alpine and it worked perfectly.

[Hpal]

https://unimig.com.a...ulti-185-welder

 

This is what I want to buy one day, looks like it does a great job as a mig, and also does tig, stick, and can MIG aluminium.

[68+86auto]

https://unimig.com.a...ulti-185-welder

 

This is what I want to buy one day, looks like it does a great job as a mig, and also does tig, stick, and can MIG aluminium.

 

If you want a TIG, it is best to buy a proper TIG. I was going to say that one doesn't have HF start but it appears to be a new version which does.

Edited by 68+86auto, 07 February 2026 - 11:54 AM.

[stuart bowes]

 

If you want a TIG, it is best to buy a proper TIG. I was going to say that one doesn't have HF start but it appears to be a new version which does.

 

 

true, I was looking at them recently as well.. with a pedal, none of that scratch start / lift start stuff that you find on the multi-tool type,  they have other settings to play with as well dont they not just amps and current

 

https://www.r-techwe...-240v-dc-160amp

 

this is the one I've been eyeing up

 

for MIGs have a look at the invertor type, if nothing else they are way lighter nowadays, and both the ones I use are really easy to set up and in terms of hardware haven't failed me in any way yet (the person holding the torch is usually the problem lol)

 

something like

this https://www.r-techwe...ital-mig-welder

or 

this https://www.weldingd...-188-MIG-Welder (the brand I use at work)

would be more than enough for panel work

 

but as you probably already know it's not the top end power that's the issue, it's getting a stable arc at low enough current (35a ish) hence the better control you get with TIG

 

all of these are in the £6-700 range depending on options

 

Also, find a local gas supplier who does proper sized gas bottles (usually a deposit for the bottle on the 1st one) and then get a proper regulator with flow rate, those little bottles you get only last 10mins. and you need to know what your flow rate is

Edited by stuart bowes, 10 February 2026 - 12:31 PM.

[Magneto]

I've had my Clarke 100E for close to 35 years, I have welded entire shells and plenty of thicker stuff with it too. I have never had to stop due to duty cycle. On most weld jobs on a shell you're not running continuous beads anyway, but doing spot or plug welds. Point being you don't need to spend a ton, the real important part is the guy behind the torch!

 

I agree with getting one that will let you use shield gas. Flux core works just fine and has it's place, but gas will give you a cleaner weld.

 

I would consider looking at one of the new inverter welders, they can be had for very little money these days.