31 replies to this topic

[Tomf]

I might be getting a mig-welder for Xmas but i dont know what to get.

I have done some searched but cant find an acctual answere, Sooo.....

I have been told that Gas is better but i done know why, could anyone spread any light.

I think i would prefer gasless because it would mean that i wouldn't have to keep buying gass bottles.

I am looking at getting something between 90-130amps, do you think that that would be ok, i have never welded befor so i will be learning.

[Elfie]

Gas all the way

[Tomf]

Thats what everyone says but why.

[Elfie]

I've heard gas welding is much smoother with less splatter. The gassless wire produces a little ball of gas around the arc as you go along, which is temperamental I think. I don't know much about it to be honest, I've just heard gas is better.
That reminds me I need to buy a mig welder

[koss]

Gas for me the small botles are a rip off . Make an adapter to take larger botles get your co2 from the pub if you can.

[Tomf]

OK then i guess ill be going for gas, has anyone used a Migmate 130 Turbo before. What do you mean by get the CO2 from a pub? Why would they have CO2 bottles there?

[Elfie]

They use it to carbonate everything like coke, lemonade etc

[koss]

To stop the beer oxydizing "Hic" same as the weld

[Tomf]

Oh ok, ill ask round a few pubs and see if they have got any that they would be willing to give me

[not so mini dan]

You dont actually keep buying bottles, you rent one bottle from someone (some big gass company iirc) and have to get it refilled with them everytime you run out.

Then again i could be wrong.

[koss]

Hiring a bottle of gas from airproducts or boc can be expensive for the hobbyist

if you go down that route go to air products and open a pay by the day account works out at @£8 per month

Edited by koss, 17 December 2006 - 02:18 PM.

[Tarks]

personally if you have never used a welder the gas welders are baffling!

and will cause much more splatter than a decent quality gasless

ive got both and use gasless more often than not i get a beautiful weld and have never struggled with thickness of metals

i can select line speed, ampage and there is no need for getting gas over n over

if you get a gas welder you have wire to run out on you as well as gas ! two things to annoy you when your half way thru welding a wing on or something.

gas welders are great on a more than mini application, as most other cars have a direct chassis in which metal is far thincker there fore unless you pay for a decent gassless as i have you struggle with the heat and line speed ness for the penatrative weld needed to be safe and secure.

bottom line if your welding a mini or simular things and nothing thincker than a subframe!

gass-less is a far easier less time consuming user friendly option and you will quicly learn your welders best range for weld

as i say ive gotten both and used both but mig gassless is perfect for minis ! and ive found that for 10 years or more to be honest

[jack_marshall]

I'd say a gasless is alot harder for a beginner to use than a gas. Thats because I was in the same situation not long ago.

I found it alot harder to weld gasless than gas. Once I had mastered using gas, I was able to do half decent gasless.

[Tarks]

guess you have to have to go with gut feeling lol

[Big_Adam]

could just go very old school and go oxy - acetylene