Welder for a Newbie

Hi Guys

So we've been hunting around for a while trying to find a decent welder to get started on. We've mainly been looking at the Clarke range as we have used there stuff before and know its decent quality, but after doing some Googleing, I have found that there may be some better brands to go for. We were also thinking that MIG is probably the type to go for as , in terms of cost and weld quality, its seems like the mid way point between ARC and TIG. Just wanting to know what welders people have used with success with Hardox (around 4mm) that doesn't cost a gazillion pounds.

Cheers

Personally I would go for an arc welder, with some practice it works well and you don't need to faf around with welding gas and there's much less to go wrong so tend to be more reliable. There also cheaper so you could probably get a high quality arc welder for the same price as a poor quality cheap Chinese mig welder.

But saying that MIG is so much easier so I can't understand your choice. I'm not so sure in brands though.

I have a Clark 160e arc welder used it for 12years now, they still sell them at machinemart but a good mig will be easier to use, BOC brand are good I used them on collage but there probably £500 ish

I have a Clarke 160 arc welder. Practice is the key word :)

Lol it also give you a rough amp to electrode size

Exactly Max, I think MIG is often thought to give a better weld because it is easier to use. Based on this I think I'll stick with MIG as opposed to arc. When ever I see people arc welding it looks a bit of an art, where as MIG looks a tad easier :)

Mig is a low penetration high volume weld so as long as you don't grind the world back to far then its fine, stick and tig give better weld penetion

MIG will only give a good weld if you are a good welder.

Get a cheap arc welder. I bought a dirt cheap one from macro for around £30. Did me well for a good few years then it went on to Jamie. Arc will do hardox fine.

Don't bother with MIG or TIG unless you go for a gas setup as the gasless stuff is crap. If you can get a decent weld with a cheap arc welder then it will set you up well to spend a bit more on a decent setup down the line.

Your other option is to look on gumtree for a cheap second hand one.

You might want to have a look at a combined welding/cutting unit (plasma/tig/arc) get the benefit of cutting as well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-3in1-5...item43c92d76cb

I'm tempted myself to get one! :roll:

www.lasexpert.nl

Cheap MIG and TIG, as well plasmacutters.
I'm not unpleased with the stuff. My Youli AC/DC TIG does the job good enough.
Of course, it's no Kemppi or Oerlikon, but for the money, not a bad deal.