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[F1 9LFG]

Hi all

I'm looking to purchase a cheap welder for home use, welding odds & sods up to a max of 4mm. I've never used a welder before...

Looking at https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/010110125

from what I gather from google I'm best off getting a MIG welder and maybe a gas-less as it's simplier - I know the welds will not be as clean but from what I'll be doing that won't matter.

Can anyone offer any advice/point me in the right direction?

Thanks all!

[Webby the Bear]

That looks like a nice piece of kit especially as it will weld gas or gasless.

Mig is certainly the one that most people start with as teaching yourself using the welding forums as guidance is very achievable.

I bought the Clarke 135te as it came with everything I needed inc. gas, wire, tips, nozzle etc.

The review on the one you're looking at says it has 135 amps. If you use the calculator on the migwelding forum it tells you that the max you'll be able to weld with full penetration is 3.5mm. MarksDTM told me it's nearer 2.5mm and having done loads of oractise I'm inclined to  agree
. However, if the work you're doing isn't critical (I.e. If you get it wrong you're going to die) then 4 mm is probably achievable.

I'm not the sharpest of cookies but I've got comfortable with mig now after a few hours of practise. Some guys say you should be laying beautiful welds in half hour lol 'dangle berries' 

As long as you have lots of time to learn you'll be good 

[Webby the Bear]

Oh and check out chucke2009 on YouTube. Mig welding 4 part series from real basics like setting up your welder, through how to strike an arc, stick out etc right through to vertical up welding. In an easy to understand format.

HTH 

[TheBoy]

I really must get my Clarke 135TE out of the box 

On the upside, I shoved a plug on the plasma cutter at the weekend, and get started cutting anything I could find 

[Entwood]

I really must get my Clarke 135TE out of the box 

On the upside, I shoved a plug on the plasma cutter at the weekend, and get started cutting anything I could find 

so .. now you have the cutter and the welder .. when are you going to start doing lambda sensor moving in exchange for beer tokens

[TheBoy]

I really must get my Clarke 135TE out of the box 

On the upside, I shoved a plug on the plasma cutter at the weekend, and get started cutting anything I could find 

so .. now you have the cutter and the welder .. when are you going to start doing lambda sensor moving in exchange for beer tokens

Mine don't need doing

Always willing to practice...  ...as long as its not my car

[Webby the Bear]

Got your metal today TB. Will pop up hopefully this weekend 

[TheBoy]

Got your metal today TB. Will pop up hopefully this weekend 

Shit, that means I'll be forced to open the welder box

No hurry, honestly.

[Webby the Bear]

Got your metal today TB. Will pop up hopefully this weekend 

Shit, that means I'll be forced to open the welder box

No hurry, honestly.

  Yep you need to pull ya finger out! 

[F1 9LFG]

thanks for your posts Webby - I brought the welder today so hopefully I'll have a crack tomorrow.

Is there anything I need to know about if I plan to spot weld some 2.5mm galvanised steel wire? I'm going to attempt making a dog cage that fits in the car.....

Looking to buy some 6'x3' mesh panels tomorrow.

I know I'll need to grind off the galv coating to where I want to weld.

Thanks

[TheBoy]

Practice on the offcuts first. You don't want a weld to fail in life, as the sharp edges won't do woofy any favours

[r1]

Practice on the offcuts first. You don't want a weld to fail in life, as the sharp edges won't do woofy any favours

do it outside
and buy a mask!

[Webby the Bear]

+1 to both the above comments. I've never welded galvanised steel but you need to be dang careful with regards to fumes. Do it outside (easy for you as you've gone gasless) and wear a respirator.

And as TB says, don't go straight on to a project having not practised cos you will mess it up. Trust me, it's an art. And with any art you need practise. As mentioned before there's loads on the net saying you should be laying good welds within an hour with mig. Well to lay a good bead took me around 5 hours of trigger time! Yeah, a long time but I'm glad I took my time to learn as now if something's not right I generally know what's going wrong.

One final point. As you are going to be using flux core wire you will need a slag hammer and chip the slag off each weld. Or you can cut a sharp piece of steel with an angle grinder and use that.

. . . .  Which brings me on to another point. Get a cheap Argos angle grinder and some grinding and cutting discs to be able to fabricate your steel 

[symes]

fumes from galvanised metals give off cyanide--yellow smoke--makes you sick or worse--please be careful

[EMD]

Hi all

I'm looking to purchase a cheap welder for home use, welding odds & sods up to a max of 4mm. I've never used a welder before...

Looking at https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/010110125

from what I gather from google I'm best off getting a MIG welder and maybe a gas-less as it's simplier - I know the welds will not be as clean but from what I'll be doing that won't matter.

Can anyone offer any advice/point me in the right direction?

Thanks all!

Let us know how you get on with that welder , not a bad price