getting a welder...advice

[gumtree]

what welder should i get to work on my car when things come up. i need one that u can weld on thin metal and thick metal and was told a mig welder can do this. was good at welding at high school but that was 8 yrs ago so im crap now and hav forgotten most things with welding. and tips?

[jav]

lincoln sp-170t. best welder I've ever had for the home unhandy man.

[Daisy]

lincoln sp-170t. best welder I've ever had for the home unhandy man.

what he said..

they're a good price and seeing one the other day.. very compact too!!

[tommyk]

I agree with the lincoln, I have a unimig 210 and its pretty good but when it comes to quality and reliability you cant go past a lincoln, and its less than half the size of the unimig.

[Sandy Rut]

recently bought a cig transmig200 and am pretty happy can do sheet thru to 8mm. Blackwoods have a sale on at the moment they are only $1050
Its not a compact portable jobbie though - i use an engine crane to lift it on and off the ute when needed

[Gwagensteve]

Yeah, a good quality mig with a 10A plug - it will be around the $1000-$1300 mark and you'll do pretty much anything you'd ever want to do with it.

I've had a 150 amp ESAB for 12 years now. It's the most useful tool I own, I've never replaced anything except nozzles and tips.

Lincoln, Esab, Transmig, Kemppi... go for a reputable brand that's used in industry, not a chinese knock off. You'll pay a bit more, but it'll last for years and years.

Steve.

[gumtree]

the lincoln sp-170t looks like the way to go. a neat little welder. so where can i get one from or a good deal from and someone told me they need a gas bottle. what is that all about?

[gumtree]

i just saw this in the for sale section. is it strong enough @120 amps and is that a good price? it deasnt say what brand it is.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=129341

[shakes]

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=129341

that the one your talking about??

my old man brought me one for chrissy and really all it's good for is tacking stuff together to take to my mate's place. I've only used it gasless so far but it take's a bit to get some heat into even 2.4mm steel to get a good bead down.

the unimig 240 or lincoln as said is alot easier for a novice to lay a "nice" looking bead.... (nice doesn't always mean good penetration)

[gumtree]

yeah thats the one, so not that strong. i rang a few places and glenfords have a migmate150 on special for $569 or peal industries at moss st have the lincoln180 (they said the sp175 was only in america) on special for $1060 down from $1400. sounds like a good deal but i dont really want to spend $1000 as i wont be using it that often. so what should i do?

[RoldIT]

Buy a stick welder

-much cheaper
-can weld heavy guage
-no gas required

... but not as pretty and can be difficult to weld thin gauge material.

[Gutless]

I Have a Lincoln sp-170t And a 255 Remote, and both are fantastic. The 255 is good for 12mm plate on argosheild with 1.2 wire, and can weld 2mm quite well with .9 wire and argo light.

With my sp-170 I run .8 wire and argo light, and it welds .9mm sheet with no probs.

I have used many migs overs the years, and recommend you stick with the Lincolns or ESAB. All the people I know who have Unimigs, or uniplas have ended up getting a Lincoln or ESAB cos there UNI product failed or caught fire (no $hit!!)

JMO

Peter

[carrot]

It all depends on what sort of quality you need, and what price you want to pay!

I've got a stick welder.. I think it was around about $100 from Bunnings, plus accessories. I welded up my side rails with it, the welds are pretty ugly (more to do with my lack of skill than the welder, I think), but it works. I'll probably use it 4-6 times a year, so I think I got the right one. But maybe you plan to use it more, or are more discerning about quality, or have more money than me!

[shakes]

spend the 1k + or dont bother if ya buying a mig. I'm spewing I didn't get told about it because I would of chucked in the difference to buy it.

just buy once man, don't buy something cheap and then work out it's not adequate and have to spend again.... once you've got it, you'll have it for the next 20yrs so work that out to $50 a year, plus some savings on fabbing stuff. sounds a lil better now ?

[80lsy gq]

go to a welder repairer and buy a second hand one...i got a migomag 240 for $1000 from Marx Welding Supplies at Helensvale..there is also a place at Wacol calleed Kuzma Welding Supplies (or something like that)...otherwise keep an eye on the Trading Post..my WIA 255 with remote wire feed came from there..got it cheap as cause the guy was going through a divorce and wanted to sell his stuff cheap to get rid of it..picked it up for $2200 and it had done no work at all..couple of hours at most(they are like $3800 new)

dave

[90Mav]

You would be better of getting a chinese one that is up to the job (but may have reliability issues), than getting a cheap 150 or whatever, that will be useless for everything.

I ues a Liquid arc 170 regulary, which is good for sheet, repairs, and light fab.. for barwork ect you really need something with more balls..

[Mark2]

Also consider an inverter stick welder. They are light and compact and produce a very clean smooth arc. The BOC one for $309 works fantastic and is very easy to use. Remember with a mig you need to pay gas bottle rental at about $150/year + gas @ about $75/ bottle depending on bottle size. Gasless wire is not worth bothering with IMHO.

[gumtree]

yeah was just thinking that 2, to get one from the tradingpost whenever one pops up. that way i get a good quality one that im happy with at a decent price.

[andrew e]

I ues a Liquid arc 170 regulary, which is good for sheet, repairs, and light fab.. for barwork ect you really need something with more balls..

i did all my barwork on the lockless with an sp170 running gas and when the gas ran out, i ran gasless NR211-mp wire. Worked fine. I have only ever had 2 problems with the sp170, that is it does have a duty cycle, so if you are welding on maximum (like 10mm) it cuts out after each run, and you have to wait 10 minutes for another run. The other problem is that it is bloody heavy!

I work for lincoln, how many would be interested in a group discount - They have said no before so don't get your hopes up, but theirs no harm in asking........

Also there is a new model available along side the sp170 for what i'm told is a similar price - SP180, which has an optional attachment aluminium spool gun (with 1/2kg spool mounted on the gun with a wire feeder) for an extra $250 or so. I haven't used this, but i have seen the results of it welding 1.2mm ally sheet, looked very nice. I want one.


Oh, and by the way if anyone gets confused, the RED Lincoln sp170t and BLUE liquid arc SP170i are exactly the same welder, however i'm pretty sure the liquid arc is cheaper. (rebadged like a patrol and maverick)

Andy

[zagan]

Go a Cigweld or a WIA, just for kicks

[80lsy gq]

one in the trader atm..

WELDER, MIGOMAG 195 : 6813609

WELDER, MIGOMAG 195 Single Phase, Top Machine, $600 PH: 0414 757 782 T


STATE: QLD FIRST PUBLISHED: 27 Dec 2007
SOURCE: Commercial Classifieds (Personal Trading Post)

[awill4x4]

Also there is a new model available along side the sp170 for what i'm told is a similar price - SP180, which has an optional attachment aluminium spool gun (with 1/2kg spool mounted on the gun with a wire feeder) for an extra $250 or so. I haven't used this, but i have seen the results of it welding 1.2mm ally sheet, looked very nice. I want one.
Andy

1.2 aluminium sheet, I don't think so. You're going to need a pulse on pulse Mig like the Fronius machines at over $10K to do that with any sort reasonable result. Even then, Tig will kick the Mig @rse on sheet that thickness.
Regards Andrew.

[Mark2]

Is this the sort of machine they'd use in the Quintrex etc etc factories making tinnies? Often wondered what they use..........

[rover1]

the new transmig twin pulse is a good machine...makes welding a dream.

as for buying a welder for home use once every blue moon, best option is talking your mate into buying one and borrow it.....

or take a gamble on a ebay special http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Brand-New-MIG-we ... dZViewItem

[crozza]

I own a Unimig 172 and a Toolex 215 turbo.

Unimig always jams in the liner. Welds ok, but the Toolex 215 is unreal.

Smooth, quiet, light but bulky. Does a great weld, mostly on alloy from 2mm to 6mm treadplate. cost $1400

[zagan]

Also there is a new model available along side the sp170 for what i'm told is a similar price - SP180, which has an optional attachment aluminium spool gun (with 1/2kg spool mounted on the gun with a wire feeder) for an extra $250 or so. I haven't used this, but i have seen the results of it welding 1.2mm ally sheet, looked very nice. I want one.
Andy

1.2 aluminium sheet, I don't think so. You're going to need a pulse on pulse Mig like the Fronius machines at over $10K to do that with any sort reasonable result. Even then, Tig will kick the Mig @rse on sheet that thickness.
Regards Andrew.

Pulse only helps to keep the heat down in the weld pool, I can weld 0.9 gal on high settings on a 330 mig 1mm wire without blowing holes through it.

The liquidarc 330 I use these settings 4 course 1 for fine wire feed around 12-13 on the traveller.

Noraml thickness for the stuff I do all day long is between 1.5mm to 2.4mm gal, gal will be a lot different to aluminium though.


all depends on how you deal with the heat build up and what your doing exactly.

[awill4x4]

Normal thickness for the stuff I do all day long is between 1.5mm to 2.4mm gal, gal will be a lot different to aluminium though.
all depends on how you deal with the heat build up and what your doing exactly.

Steel is far more forgiving than Aluminium, to consistently weld 1.2mm ally sheet you're going to need either a pulse on pulse Mig or to Tig weld it.
I hate welding gal and will avoid it at all costs the black snotty shiat that gathers in your nose gives me the heebie jeebies knowing I've been breathing in that crud.
Regards Andrew.

[AcTioN13]

and that over night flu bug you get from the gal fumes when having a fullday over the stuff without wearing a respirator

[lokka]

Also there is a new model available along side the sp170 for what i'm told is a similar price - SP180, which has an optional attachment aluminium spool gun (with 1/2kg spool mounted on the gun with a wire feeder) for an extra $250 or so. I haven't used this, but i have seen the results of it welding 1.2mm ally sheet, looked very nice. I want one.
Andy

1.2 aluminium sheet, I don't think so. You're going to need a pulse on pulse Mig like the Fronius machines at over $10K to do that with any sort reasonable result. Even then, Tig will kick the Mig @rse on sheet that thickness.
Regards Andrew.

I dont have any drama welding 1mm alloy with my migomag 260 and i can get good consistancy tho u have to know what your doing i run 1mm wire and with the right settings and weld speed this is easyly achived

And the best way to weld gal is to either run hotter and burn it off as ya go tho id rather grind the shyte off first to avoid spatter ...

For welding gal or alloy with a mig u should wear mask as the blue smoke from the alloy is just as bad as gal fumes

[gumtree]

im booked into a 4 week tafe course starting tuesday that my neighbour got me in and its free for me.

i will get to do all the types of welding such as tig, arc, mig etc.

i will get a welder prob after im finished coz ill have some idea then how to use them properly.