Which MIG kit do i buy?
Hi All.... I am going to Buy myself a MIG welding kit and having never bought one before... i would like the advice of experienced welders...
Gas or No gas?
I intend to do smallish jobs to start with.... i have read some books on the subject... and will practice on scrap first...
I am considering the Clarke 135TE.. seems a fairly comprehensice bit of kit for a DIY'er like myself.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/135te-turbo-mig-welder
there is also one that uses no gas.... perhaps that would suit me better?
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mig130en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder
The no gas type requires a specially coated wire producing a gas shield to prevent the new weld from oxidising producing a weaker weld seam. So look at reel costs to compare. For lengthy welding making sure your welder has a cooling fan to keep the machine cool otherwise you are going to be limited in welding time as it heats up.
i got me one of these last year
http://www.kemppi.com/inet/kemppi/kit.nsf/0/A051719B838DCB6CC22578730048CF85?opendocument
used loads of hobbie welders and to be honest once you use a good welder you will never use another hobbie welder.
but the best you can afford, the portamig are also very good.
Ive had a migatronic mx 180 for past 20yrs! best bit of kit in my workshop, works just
aswell with pub gas if you run out of argon, i advise something midrange than chinese mickey mouse , gas is a must and 0.6 wire
I started on the Clarke 135 about 22 years ago.. it was OK then but highlighted a few things;
The nozzles/torch are poor and burn up.. get a replaceable Euro torch machine.
The wire drive is OK but not great
At that time it had a steel wire liner .. and if you let it get damp the wire corroded into the wire liner and it killed the wire drive. Better to have the plastic liner as it is lower friction. It lasted 18 mths to be honest!
I then got a German Einhell made one, similar issues... now have a 15 year old no name (Nu-MIG 185) 180A job which is fine. It has no gas but I never used it.. you get slag and it is a pain.
Rewire 13A plug fuse with 15A fuse wire.. at your own risk.. I have a 16A plug back to switchboard now
I always use 0.8mm wire.. I cannot understand those using 0.6mm as you cannot get the penetration/fusion in my experience.
Pub gas is not nice.. proper mix is nice and I buy a bottle for £100 odd.. and refill is about £30. http://www.hobbyweld.co.uk/
Read up this forum .. they are the ones in the know http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/
100 quid odd for mixed gas ! ! ! Who had ur pants off ?
Gas rental.
Was BOC Argoshield Light.. the pub gas bottle size X with 2.42cu.m was £85/year bottle rental with about £80 to fill
They put me onto the super small bottles size PD which are about a 2 litre coke bottle with 0.494cu.m £19/year rental, £17/fill.. but they last 10 minutes (well longer but a real pain).
So then went with the buy/fill from Hobbyweld instead of rental crowd. £60 deposit for a pub gas sized bottle and about £35 to exchange/fill.. so first bottle is £95.. but £35 for each refill/change. Having spent near £500 on rental and about £80 on gas in 5 years.. I think it is a relative bargain... so much I got a second one so I have one to exchange/have empty as the supplier is a pain to get to.
And don't start me on those silly disposable bottles.. they really do last 10 mins!
Alternatives;
Adam Gas.http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=54
Argoshield 9L = 1.2 cu metre = half size, 93/2/5% mix like Argoshield.
£30+v to fill, £85 to start (includes £55 refundable deposit
http://www.weldinggases.co.uk/
Argon 5 9L = 137bar est 1.2 cu m £20-30 refill, £40 deposit, £22 each way delivery.
Propylene 10L with 4.3kg £30 fill, £50 deposit, £22 each way delivery
Of course if you are using a lot of gas .. or more than a one wee bottle .. then bigger bottle suppliers will talk to you.