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[TheBoy]

Its a skill I would like to learn.

MIG looks easiest (I have done arc welding in the past, but not that good at it).

Any advice on what to get?

[Del Boy]

I wouldn't mind learning this too, always wanted a go never got the chance though.

[CaptainZok]

Got an Aldi special myself, cheap enough to learn with and it keeps small boys amused.


Best tip I can give you is to get a self darkening shield, the Gnome won't use the old green glass type after trying one.

[KillerWatt]

MIG is the easiest way to go, especially as you already have arc experience.

[Dishevelled Den]

Followed this from a post Debs made some time ago

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

[unlucky alf]

ive got a gasless mig i want to part with TB, ive only used it once so in good nick i have no doubt somebody will say gas is better but to learn a gasless is ideal & can be converted if need be;)

[Pedro]

[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/CaptainZok/06060002.jpg[/ING]

Best tip I can give you is to get a self darkening shield, the Gnome won't use the old green glass type after trying one.

Best tip I can give you Captian Zok, is not to weld on a petrol tank!!!!

Bare skin + welding radiation = bloody sore skin.
Always wear eye protection when someone is welding, as the radiation from the arc wil burn your cornea (known as Arc Eye) and feels like sand in your eyes. Simple saftey glasses will stop it OK.

Best welder to get is one that's bigger than you need - 200A will last longer on car welding than a 150 or less, cos it won't be gettign thrashed (bit like driving a 1.0 litre Corsa from Brighton to Edinburgh every day - a big Omega is a far better tool for the job).

[CaptainZok]

[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/CaptainZok/06060002.jpg[/ING]

Best tip I can give you is to get a self darkening shield, the Gnome won't use the old green glass type after trying one.

Best tip I can give you Captian Zok, is not to weld on a petrol tank!!!!

Bare skin + welding radiation = bloody sore skin.
Always wear eye protection when someone is welding, as the radiation from the arc wil burn your cornea (known as Arc Eye) and feels like sand in your eyes. Simple saftey glasses will stop it OK.

Best welder to get is one that's bigger than you need - 200A will last longer on car welding than a 150 or less, cos it won't be gettign thrashed (bit like driving a 1.0 litre Corsa from Brighton to Edinburgh every day - a big Omega is a far better tool for the job).

Can't say I ever have, especially on an omega with it being plastic and all.

[ScottieMV6]

[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/CaptainZok/06060002.jpg[/ING]

Best tip I can give you is to get a self darkening shield, the Gnome won't use the old green glass type after trying one.

Best tip I can give you Captian Zok, is not to weld on a petrol tank!!!!

Bare skin + welding radiation = bloody sore skin.
Always wear eye protection when someone is welding, as the radiation from the arc wil burn your cornea (known as Arc Eye) and feels like sand in your eyes. Simple saftey glasses will stop it OK.

Best welder to get is one that's bigger than you need - 200A will last longer on car welding than a 150 or less, cos it won't be gettign thrashed (bit like driving a 1.0 litre Corsa from Brighton to Edinburgh every day - a big Omega is a far better tool for the job).

I think that it is a back box or silencer of some sort. I had to look twice though!! 

[CaptainZok]

[IMG]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/CaptainZok/06060002.jpg[/ING]

Best tip I can give you is to get a self darkening shield, the Gnome won't use the old green glass type after trying one.

Best tip I can give you Captian Zok, is not to weld on a petrol tank!!!!

Bare skin + welding radiation = bloody sore skin.
Always wear eye protection when someone is welding, as the radiation from the arc wil burn your cornea (known as Arc Eye) and feels like sand in your eyes. Simple saftey glasses will stop it OK.

Best welder to get is one that's bigger than you need - 200A will last longer on car welding than a 150 or less, cos it won't be gettign thrashed (bit like driving a 1.0 litre Corsa from Brighton to Edinburgh every day - a big Omega is a far better tool for the job).

I think that it is a back box or silencer of some sort. I had to look twice though!! 

Go outside and look under your car and all should become clear (unless you've had new centre sections).

[Pedro]

 
That'll teach me to look properly next time (probably won't tough! LOL!!!)

[unlucky alf]

That'll teach me to look properly next time (probably won't tough! LOL!!!)

thats what arc eye does for you pedro 8-)

[unlucky mark mv6]

Done mig welding for 12 years making safes,and yes it is the easiest.Arc welding is a nightmare,and a lot more messier job.With mig you can actually fill any gaps and holes,unlike arc it just keeps blowing the edge of the steel if your not careful.

[tunnie]

make sure its student friendly   

[Omegatoy]

come over to swindon in the workshop here got a nice mig welder here you can practice on some scrap steel mate!!
, would have to say as to choice of welder hobby welders by thier very nature are built down to a price,
so you have a choice of sip, clarke, etc etc buy the best and biggest you can afford!! 

[Marks DTM Calib]

The Clarkes are the best all round hobby Migs, the SIP's have vey poor wire feeds.

Remember that 135-140A is the most you can run off a domestic 13A socket.

A 135TE is a nice unit (and you have used one before!)

[TheBoy]

Gas or gasless? Can get gasless from screwfix for £90.  Clarke 135A is £250 from machine mart.

[TheBoy]

The Clarkes are the best all round hobby Migs, the SIP's have vey poor wire feeds.

Remember that 135-140A is the most you can run off a domestic 13A socket.

A 135TE is a nice unit (and you have used one before!)

Yeah, thats the £250 one I mention above. Reckon thats a good start? What about gasless - much cheaper.

On the upside, I do have a 10% code for machine mart

[Welung666]

Much cleaner, stronger weld with gas, especially if you use 02/Argon mix

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yep, much better weld with gas....and as said, Argashield is superb....but you have to consider your use and budget (that Clarke one has really shot up in price, I paid about 150 quid on a vat free day 3 years ago)

[TheBoy]

Much cleaner, stronger weld with gas, especially if you use 02/Argon mix

Yeah, know why you have inert (or semi inert) gases. The gasless mig ones use a gas flux in the wire from what i can gather?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Indeed, which is quite a big compromise.

[TheBoy]

Yep, much better weld with gas....and as said, Argashield is superb....but you have to consider your use and budget (that Clarke one has really shot up in price, I paid about 150 quid on a vat free day 3 years ago)

welcome to low interest rates 

[TheBoy]

Indeed, which is quite a big compromise.

So the gasless (or gas in wire) type best avoided then?

[Welung666]

Indeed, which is quite a big compromise.

So the gasless (or gas in wire) type best avoided then?

It's OK if you do a lot of welding outside in the wind. I tend to rig a windbreak if it's windy though as I prefer to use gas.

[unlucky mark mv6]

Much cleaner, stronger weld with gas, especially if you use 02/Argon mix

Totally agreed lee,but cant really comment on gasless as i have never used one.One advantage of the gasless i suppose is when your welding outdoors in a breeze.it wont blow the gas away and the weld bubbles up.

[Welung666]

Much cleaner, stronger weld with gas, especially if you use 02/Argon mix

Totally agreed lee,but cant really comment on gasless as i have never used one.One advantage of the gasless i suppose is when your welding outdoors in a breeze.it wont blow the gas away and the weld bubbles up.

Mine is gas/gasless and can run either way (with the correct wire of course), when using gasless I tend to weld more holes into my clothes than I do metal to metal

[Marks DTM Calib]

Gasless spits more (the core only turns to a gas as its hot).

Never had a problem outside, I just turn the shield gas pressure up a bit.

And its Ar/CO2 not Ar/O 

If you wnat to move onto alloys etc then gas is the only way to go.....

[unlucky mark mv6]

Much cleaner, stronger weld with gas, especially if you use 02/Argon mix

Totally agreed lee,but cant really comment on gasless as i have never used one.One advantage of the gasless i suppose is when your welding outdoors in a breeze.it wont blow the gas away and the weld bubbles up.

Mine is gas/gasless and can run either way (with the correct wire of course), when using gasless I tend to weld more holes into my clothes than I do metal to metal

A welder is designed to weld steal lee not clothes.

[Welung666]

Gasless spits more (the core only turns to a gas as its hot).

Never had a problem outside, I just turn the shield gas pressure up a bit.

And its Ar/CO2 not Ar/O 

If you wnat to move onto alloys etc then gas is the only way to go.....

That's what I meant but I was thinking about my mobile phone bill at the same time

[TheBoy]

OK, looks like I should get a traditional gas one.

Next step, which make/model do people thing I should get?

[unlucky mark mv6]

OK, looks like I should get a traditional gas one.

Next step, which make/model do people thing I should get?

I know clarke and sip are supposed to be good.  :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

SIP are shite

[lee4206]

The Clarkes are the best all round hobby Migs, the SIP's have vey poor wire feeds.

Remember that 135-140A is the most you can run off a domestic 13A socket.

A 135TE is a nice unit (and you have used one before!)

I've got the clark 151te and that runs fine with a 13amp fuse and pluged in to a normal socket  :-/(it lasted ok to weld two sills on a fiesta with no probs).
Found it easy to use no problems with it in the 2 years i've had it so id recomend it .
lee

[Pedro]

Agree - SIP is crap. Not only por wire feeds, but built down to a price and my old one kept cutting out at only 6 months old - not due to overheating, either!
Clarkes are good all-rounders - I think the Snap Off ones are made by Clark?

I would say a better welder would be fan-cooled aswell.
Hadn't taken into consideration the domestic electric supply when I said about 200A, but worked for me!

I have used gasless to try it on a Cav Mk2 sill, done outside in a mid breeze, and worked pretty well, but I prefer gas as the weld is cleaner and easier to dress.
Been weldin

[Welung666]

SIP are shite

Completely agree, the wire feeds jam up faster than my auto darkening helmet! Mines a Clarke 150 turbo, never had a problem with it.

[Debs.]

SIP are shite

Brilliantly succinct!

[Kevin Wood]

I would add to the above - check what your local colleges offer in terms of evening classes.

I booked into a 10 week "Introduction to welding" evening course at Basingstoke. Cost 70 odd quid for 10 weeks, two hours a week.

The course was 100% practical once we'd fast-forwarded through the obligatory H&S video. They had a workshop set up with MIG, TIG, Arc welders, Oxy Acetylene, spot welders, gas cutting torches - you name it.

10 of us on the course and all welding 100% of the time. No waiting for kit to become available, just choose your weapon and have a go! Instructor floated around giving tuition and advice where required but essentially letting us play.

I got through many times more than 70 quid's worth of consumables and sheet metal, I can tell you. 

I was, admittedly, probably lucky in that the instructor was great and the course was underpriced but, unless you have a project in mind, you soon get bored with MIG welding bits of scrap in your garage and wondering if you're on the right track.

It was also a great opportunity to try all types of welding so you have an idea of the pros and cons of each.

Kevin

[neilr]

I have a gasless type from machine mart it serves its purpose as i only use it occasionally. i have not had any issues as long as the surfaces are clean. mine is not the neatest of welds but it has been o k for mot standards and putting exhausts back together(off car).i have also managed repair panels on fiesta wheel arches.sometimes it takes awhile to dress the area after but the angle grinder comes in useful. hope this helps.

[Darth Loo-knee]

Jaime, I bought this welder about 3-4 years ago and it has done every job I have thrown at it brilliantly. I have use it off an electric extension at home and never had a missed beat.
 
 http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/150te-turbo-mig-welder/path/diy-mig-welders

[CaptainZok]

Jaime, I bought this welder about 3-4 years ago and it has done every job I have thrown at it brilliantly. I have use it off an electric extension at home and never had a missed beat.
 
 http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/150te-turbo-mig-welder/path/diy-mig-welders

Does it come with a toastie loaf for welding MX5s?

[unlucky mark mv6]

SIP are shite

Completely agree, the wire feeds jam up faster than my auto darkening helmet! Mines a Clarke 150 turbo, never had a problem with it.

You should sell it me then lee.

[Ian_D]

Gas Mig is the way to go mate!

Clarke are fairly good for the price, but avoid the cheap units, as they are.... well... cheap! 

Cant think what model my mates is, I know on full power it requires more than 13amps (seem to think about 15-16ish), but he never uses it on full power anyway. Its a fantastic welder, and built fairly solidly too.

Think it was just over 300 quid, but that was over 4 years ago now, so prices may have changed a bit.

[Ian_D]

Just had a quick look, my mates is very very much like this one: http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mig160tm-welder/path/automotiveindustrial-mig-welders

Thats a new model though, so guess its the one that replaced my mates older model maybe?

[unlucky mark mv6]

I would add to the above - check what your local colleges offer in terms of evening classes.

I booked into a 10 week "Introduction to welding" evening course at Basingstoke. Cost 70 odd quid for 10 weeks, two hours a week.

The course was 100% practical once we'd fast-forwarded through the obligatory H&S video. They had a workshop set up with MIG, TIG, Arc welders, Oxy Acetylene, spot welders, gas cutting torches - you name it.

10 of us on the course and all welding 100% of the time. No waiting for kit to become available, just choose your weapon and have a go! Instructor floated around giving tuition and advice where required but essentially letting us play.

I got through many times more than 70 quid's worth of consumables and sheet metal, I can tell you. 

I was, admittedly, probably lucky in that the instructor was great and the course was underpriced but, unless you have a project in mind, you soon get bored with MIG welding bits of scrap in your garage and wondering if you're on the right track.

It was also a great opportunity to try all types of welding so you have an idea of the pros and cons of each.

Kevin

Mig welding is not really rocket science anyway,just basically down to a steady hand,thats what i find anyway.

[ians]

I would add to the above - check what your local colleges offer in terms of evening classes.

I booked into a 10 week "Introduction to welding" evening course at Basingstoke. Cost 70 odd quid for 10 weeks, two hours a week.

The course was 100% practical once we'd fast-forwarded through the obligatory H&S video. They had a workshop set up with MIG, TIG, Arc welders, Oxy Acetylene, spot welders, gas cutting torches - you name it.

10 of us on the course and all welding 100% of the time. No waiting for kit to become available, just choose your weapon and have a go! Instructor floated around giving tuition and advice where required but essentially letting us play.

I got through many times more than 70 quid's worth of consumables and sheet metal, I can tell you. 

I was, admittedly, probably lucky in that the instructor was great and the course was underpriced but, unless you have a project in mind, you soon get bored with MIG welding bits of scrap in your garage and wondering if you're on the right track.

It was also a great opportunity to try all types of welding so you have an idea of the pros and cons of each.

Kevin

Kevin - where exactly was this?   Sounds tempting to keep me occupied on the dark nights..

[Kevin Wood]

I would add to the above - check what your local colleges offer in terms of evening classes.

I booked into a 10 week "Introduction to welding" evening course at Basingstoke. Cost 70 odd quid for 10 weeks, two hours a week.

The course was 100% practical once we'd fast-forwarded through the obligatory H&S video. They had a workshop set up with MIG, TIG, Arc welders, Oxy Acetylene, spot welders, gas cutting torches - you name it.

10 of us on the course and all welding 100% of the time. No waiting for kit to become available, just choose your weapon and have a go! Instructor floated around giving tuition and advice where required but essentially letting us play.

I got through many times more than 70 quid's worth of consumables and sheet metal, I can tell you. 

I was, admittedly, probably lucky in that the instructor was great and the course was underpriced but, unless you have a project in mind, you soon get bored with MIG welding bits of scrap in your garage and wondering if you're on the right track.

It was also a great opportunity to try all types of welding so you have an idea of the pros and cons of each.

Kevin

Kevin - where exactly was this?   Sounds tempting to keep me occupied on the dark nights..

It was a course offered by Basingstoke college http://www.bcot.ac.uk/everyone/courses/course.asp?course=547 but the course was actually hosted by BETA http://www.beta-training.org.uk/. I see it's advertised at £84 which is a bargain. 

BETA were talking about organising their own courses independantly so it might be worth checking both.

The guy who lead my course was very good and it was the Tuesday evening course. I will dig up his contact details when I get home so you can find out what courses he's doing next time. It took the Wednesday course quite a few weeks before they even touched a welder so clearly that's important.

Kevin

[ians]

Thanks Kevin