Fabricators which mig welder to get

**t5 pete** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 19:01

I know there are a few people on here that work with metal so hopefully if you can shed some light on which one to get it would be much apperciated.
Ive always used arc welders in the work shop never really had use for a tig welder well i have but always used my trusted oxford but as im starting to restore the 240 i need to do some repair work so would like a good mig welder but there are just so many out there i can have use of oxy/acc but as you know the warpage is terrible with the heat.
Price wise im not too bothered but dont need something stupid expensive also i dont mind buying second hand if you know of a good one i just want some thing for occasional use but to be able to use a half decent size bottle not the stupid little ones incase i decide to use it for other work.
Cheers

**Harvey** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 19:19

Look out for a kemppi minarc 180 great machines

Got one of these in the van welds steel,stainless,aluminium very easy to use.
Never blown a fuse even at the end of a 50m lead

**t5 pete** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 19:39

Cheers harvy they look brilliant just has a quick look on the bay and for a 200 one there just over 1k probley a little over kill for me

**Harvey** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 19:41

They do turn up Quite often on the Bay the older model is 180 machine
Just set up a search for kemppi they sell for £450 mark

**Harvey** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 19:49

Originally Posted by t5 pete

Cheers harvy they look brilliant just has a quick look on the bay and for a 200 one there just over 1k probley a little over kill for me

That machine can Mig braze nice for your new strong steels used on newer cars

**graemewelch** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 22:38

for welding a motor you dont need anything flash. any mig set will take a full size bottle. just change the gas pipe yo suite

**t5 pete** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 22:43

Cheers dude ive been looking at this what do you think
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mig-Welder...item5d33a54199

**Kingsford G** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 22:44

R the none gas ones any good?

**t5 pete** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 22:53

Originally Posted by Kingsford G

R the none gas ones any good?

Its my understanding that with gasless you use flux coated wire thus still having slag to remove
using gas you use a clean wire with no slag to remove but if weding out side im sure ive heard the wind can blow the arga sheild away causing problems

**Kingsford G** · Sunday 30th December 2012, 22:58

Originally Posted by t5 pete

Cheers dude ive been looking at this what do you think
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mig-Welder...item5d33a54199

My mate has the same one Pete and it is very good.He restored a few morry`s with it not to mention mot welding work.

**M-R-P** · Monday 31st December 2012, 00:52

The gear I deal with uses 1.2 - 2.4mm wire (solid and flux-cored) and at up to 1000A, it'll blow big holes in even a Volvo lol, no not much help there.

I can say however, ESAB/Murex make very good wire.

**graemewelch** · Tuesday 1st January 2013, 22:26

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1609472490...84.m1423.l2649

sumit like this will get you going. nowt flash but gets the job done

**MoleT-5R** · Wednesday 2nd January 2013, 00:34

I was in the same situation a few years ago, before forums and the like, I asked the same question 'what mig should I go for?' mate 1 said " If your going to buy a mig, there all the same and buy the biggest you can afford", mate 2 said " buy as big as you can afford, but if you are on a domestic supply, He would not recommend going over 180amps as there could be difficulty's arcing up. took the second mates advice and its been any excellent choice

**Harvey** · Saturday 5th January 2013, 07:22

One on the bay said they turn up.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/kemppi-mig...item460b93eaea

**graemewelch** · Saturday 5th January 2013, 12:44

Originally Posted by Harvey

One on the bay said they turn up.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/kemppi-mig...item460b93eaea

bet it gose for silly money though. by time hes buys that and gas you could be looking at over 600 just to put a few patches on. if it was getting used on a daily basis id say kempi to. but for a hobby set its a lot of money

**dicky b t5** · Saturday 5th January 2013, 14:31

I've got a Clarke 135 Turbo that i might sell, will come with a Regulator to run big bottles, Auto Dimming Helmet, Gloves the whole lot...No gas though.
I used it on my VW Camper a couple of years ago ! Campers gone now, dont need the Mig anymore.

Dicky.

**t5 pete** · Saturday 5th January 2013, 14:36

How much you looking for it dicky please

**Tomcat** · Saturday 5th January 2013, 16:20

I've had a Clarke one for at least 15 years, it's battered, bruised and bashed but it still works perfectly. Dont bother with the gassless one's they're crap Pete, just get yourself a decent normal Mig and go somewhere that rents pub gass bottles, that way you only pay about a tenner every couple of months (if your using it alot) the little bottles they come with are crap and run out in next to no time.

**Lugy** · Saturday 5th January 2013, 16:28

At the moment I'm using a Clarke one, it's a few years old now (but I believe they still sell them), can't really fault it, even with my terrible skills! To be fair the wire feed can be a bit dicky at times but I've used £1500 Murex machines with the same problems (dodgy roller IIRC). My dad's had his Clarke for 15 years and it still works fine!

For light work/car repairs you can't go wrong with one!