I know it's been done before.. but which mig welder?

[craz3d]

Hey all, I was wondering which MIG would be suitable for the purposes of installing the Locktup classic front and rear suspension kits, general automotive bodywork (thin) and making bars like a rear wheel carrier.

Before anyone comments, yes, I am proficient enough in welding (have at least 240 hours behind a MIG). I learned how to use them at school using their unimigs with gas, and hence I'm after one that both uses gas and gasless for outdoor work where it might be windy, but primarily for the installation of this suspension kit.

I've got no idea which brands are good/which models and amperages I should get, only that the unimig I used seemed good enough for what I was doing at school, and might be ok for this?

I have a budget of up to $1500, and I want it to LAST.

thanks for any help you guys can give, this must get really tiring after a while.

keith.

[Emo]

I've got a Lincoln SP-170T which is a great welder. It's portable so you can take it places without too many dramas. It's got a reasonable amount of grunt if needed and will also do thin stuff. New they are $1200 - $1300.

[troopymad]

ive got a lincloin 180c
i think you may find they r doing specials on them around the place as they are the new model
$1200 odd bucks

[Petes]

I have a 250 Esab and it is exellent. One of the slightly smaller ones should be about on budget with a bit of haggling.

[Slunnie]

We use Unimig, BOC(Empi), ESAB and SAF (Airliquide). The best of the lost has been the SAF by a long shot, followed by the ESAB and then the BOC (Kempi) and then the Unimig.

All are 190-200amp.

[Weiner]

I love my Migomag 215 although out of your price range its worth it

[brooksy]

WIA 250 .
sorry just read price range, my unit is over


brooksy

[RV80]

Shop around you should be able to get a decent 220amp job.

[fumduk3]

BOC175 and 190/5 have copped a flogging at work for 8 years only fault worn out handpiece and how much they cost. me getting the BOC250 cos i can!

[chunderlicious]

Thought about a renegade frome trade tools. They come with a 12 month waranty and use all binzel pieces for the gun etc. I have a 250 and I've been happy welding 1 mm steel and 10 mm just as nice as each other and both have go full penetration

[craz3d]

trade tools looks like a fantastic site!
even their little $400 jobbie looks like it'd be a lot better than the ebay POS's you find.

thanks for all your input guys, i'll look into one of those renegade ones or perhaps the unimig procraft on there, thanks chunder.

What do you guys do for gas bottle rental? i hear it costs around $100 per year or so for rental and then gas is extra?

[chunderlicious]

i get an E size bottle. lasts about 4 hours of welding approx. rental is $80 a year roughly and refill is $79 from boc, air liquide is like $75 a bottle and rental fee is slightly lower also.