hi, i'm looking to buy my first welder, i'm thinking of either a cheap mig or an arc welder. what are the advantages/disadvantages between the two? can anyone recommend me a easy to use cheap welder (under £150) suitable for welding 2mm steel box section? Also i have never welded before (although have been checking out guides on internet) does anyone know any books/dvds about welding?
you will need an ark welder if you want to weld steel really, thats what i used and they work a treat
a mig welder will weld 2mm steel aswell providing it has enough amps. what arc welder do you use by the way? need to go to machine mart soon to have a look at there mig welders, the problem with there arc welders is that they're all around 48 ocv unless you go over £200
I have no idea, the things 25 years old and was not used for 15 years till I broke it out
Get a 2nd hand MIG, dont buy the cheap machine mart ones (or Sealey), your better off with a good 2nd hand one, rather than a new cheap one. MIG is easier than arc, but you will need gas (don't bother with the gasless stuff, wires expensive, welds are not as strong and produces so much smoke you cant see what your doing). Good makes to look out for: Kemppi, Murex, Esab, Miller, Hobart, I have a 180amp Esab Smashweld and i've done 20mm plate (at a push :P ), but is actually rated to about 6mm.
thanks, i heard clarke is a good make is that true?
not really, especially the small stuff. The big industrial gear isn't too bad, but I don't like their little welders.
ok, thanks for the advice!
I have the Clarke 140 amp TIG (bought that second hand from the Tornado guys), and it does the job beautifully. Steel(also Hardox), stainless and Titanium no problem up to 3mm in 1 pass, and if thicker has to be done, just keep building up.
But in the end it's a simple inverter with fancy wires, made somewere in China, and sold under a lot of names. The color and the Clarke brand are just marketing.
A cheap MIG is about the pricetag of a useable inverter, what can be used for ARC welding ,or with some changes as TIG. I know where I would put my money.
On the other hand, with a budget of only £150, I would look for a friendly welder who likes beer. Just learning to ARC weld will consume about that in rods alone.
jonny Madox is about right on that,
1 where do you live
2 if near the midands im always here to help any one!!
ps i have a 250amp ark welder forsale BUT YOU NEED A 16 AMP PLUG as it keeps blowing the fuse which does me head in
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