Outer Limits 4x4 Board

What deals have you seen getting around at the moment?

I'm after a MIG at about $800-$1000.

Best performance/value.

Portability is a concern, so 'smaller' the better. It would get taken to mates places on a fairly regular basis, so monster machines are out. Used for smaller jobs, something like 8mm max, with mostly smaller work (>2mm-5mm)

Looking for quality to last (so would consider smaller machine, with better rep).

Would consider 2nd hand- based inner east Melbourne. Anyone know of a repairer or such that I could approach?

Any thoughts? If nothing is really going to work for me, I'd consider an inverter ARC as I never really really had the pleasure of being able to work without chipping slag.

Also, are there different size gas bottles available??

Cheers,

You should be able to get a Cigweld 165 for about $800. Thats what I payed for mine over a year ago. just make sure you shop around.

Its small, gas and gasless and a quality brand.

Yes, there is about 4 different sizes of gas bottles.

supamig, also known as migomag are doing some awesome deals at the moment.

Have a look at the Lincoln 180C. You will pick one up for $1000, good quality, stepless, well built with heavy duty wire feed, and it will do all you need and more.

Wondering who sells Lincoln? Cigweld are everywhere (ie united tools etc) but where does one go for Lincoln?

I'd prefer a Lincoln after reading about 14million posts during research phase, they just seem to get a better rap overall, not that there is anything wrong with a Cigweld.

thanks for the comments, and if anyone knows someone who'll do a deal on Lincoln, PM would be great

ash_on_mtb wrote:Wondering who sells Lincoln? Cigweld are everywhere (ie united tools etc) but where does one go for Lincoln?

I'd prefer a Lincoln after reading about 14million posts during research phase, they just seem to get a better rap overall, not that there is anything wrong with a Cigweld.

thanks for the comments, and if anyone knows someone who'll do a deal on Lincoln, PM would be great

Have a look here

http://www.lincolnelectric.com.au/

I know Complete Welding Hire in Braeside sell them.

http://www.completewelding.com.au/

Bywise should be still doing a couple deals.

180amp, uni-mig mig with free stand/helmet/gear and maybe a 5kg reel of mild wire.

for $1100

Then you have the stick/tig portable kit for $700.

To me prices seem to have gone up a tiny bit of late which is understandable.

The lincoln prices that I have seen have been well over $2500 for a 180 single phase mig.

Anyone seen prices on a miller or where to get one I'm thinking of grabbing a mig myself, I never tried out a miller they seem like the CIG/WIA but no idea, anyone know what they are like?

cheers weiner, I'll give them a bell

can't find any info on Lincoln site for 'retailers'...

we've gotta keep the lid on the price, still need to hire a bottle, get it filled and actually need a mask as well... *sigh*...

Anyone know of prices online for bottles etc?

ash_on_mtb wrote:cheers weiner, I'll give them a bell

can't find any info on Lincoln site for 'retailers'...

It says to give them a call for resellers

ash_on_mtb wrote:cheers weiner, I'll give them a bell

can't find any info on Lincoln site for 'retailers'...

we've gotta keep the lid on the price, still need to hire a bottle, get it filled and actually need a mask as well... *sigh*...

Anyone know of prices online for bottles etc?

Shops generally have a helmet added as a pack, but a cheappie helmet is only around $15 $20 anyway.

Gasweld has Lincoln welders and had a good sale last time i was there

Bought my 180c from dandygas in dandenong bout 4 months ago for $1000 plus GST and a $99 cigweld auto dimming mask which is awsome.


Craig

hey guys i am a field service boilermaker and have used a far few welders but the lincoln 180c i just purchesed is fantastic another tradesman from my work has an older model is still going strong and has had an absouite hidding and if you want a good auto darkening mask get a cig weld number they are simply fantastic and well under priced for there quality that is the best advice i can give you

p.s the lincoln has a very big parts back up so if you do go for a differant brand see how good the parts back up is

Pricing from Complete Welding Hire & Sales Pty Ltd

The Cigweld Transmig 165 MIG $900 inc GST
The Lincoln Powermig 180 MIG $1,080 inc GST
Unimig 165 inverter MIG and arc $1,150 inc G

The lincoln is firming up as favorite...

Standard lift front welding helmet: $22 inc GST, Cigweld Weldskill automatic welding helmet $120 inc GST, Miller Elite automatic welding helmet $490 inc GST, Black & Gold welding gloves $5.50.

Seems a little more $$ than others, but its something.

Phone calls to make - dandygas, Gasweld, who else??

only problem is you will have to open an account with a gas outlet to get gas or just use gassless cored wire. (unless you have a mate in the game that can borrow one on the never never

hollywood wrote:only problem is you will have to open an account with a gas outlet to get gas or just use gassless cored wire. (unless you have a mate in the game that can borrow one on the never never

Think my gas for an E size is about $14 a month.

Weiner wrote:

hollywood wrote:only problem is you will have to open an account with a gas outlet to get gas or just use gassless cored wire. (unless you have a mate in the game that can borrow one on the never never

Think my gas for an E size is about $14 a month.

Yeh about 12-14 p/month from BOC, not much at all once you purchase the full bottle of gas to start with.

Cheers

Anyone familiar with Weldmaster machines? Made in China (where else ) but they have an invertor mig/arc machine 190A. Anyone have a Weldmaster? What r they like?

opening an account shouldn't be an issue should it??

Gas suppliers?

BOC...?

I'm assuming a phone call and some paperwork will get me an account?

Weiner wrote:

hollywood wrote:only problem is you will have to open an account with a gas outlet to get gas or just use gassless cored wire. (unless you have a mate in the game that can borrow one on the never never

Think my gas for an E size is about $14 a month.

& annual bottle rental on top of that.

About $140 pr yr?

ash_on_mtb wrote:Pricing from Complete Welding Hire & Sales Pty Ltd

The Cigweld Transmig 165 MIG $900 inc GST
The Lincoln Powermig 180 MIG $1,080 inc GST
Unimig 165 inverter MIG and arc $1,150 inc G

The lincoln is firming up as favorite...

Standard lift front welding helmet: $22 inc GST, Cigweld Weldskill automatic welding helmet $120 inc GST, Miller Elite automatic welding helmet $490 inc GST, Black & Gold welding gloves $5.50.

Seems a little more $$ than others, but its something.

Phone calls to make - dandygas, Gasweld, who else??

I'd go the for 180C with the Cig lid at those prices
At 30 odd kg it's still reasonably portable - your mates will be stoked.
I've sold/used heaps of these and have only had good feedback.
The Cigweld 165 are good too but IMO the little extra for the Lincoln is money well spent.

As for gas....what about running CO2 rather than argomix? A little more spatter but heaps cheaper than argo.
Buy a cylinder of your own (or a fire extinguisher if steel cylinders are not available - I don't know the regs in Aussie as I left 5 years ago). Have a std valve fitted then run it thru your argon reg or if you don't already have a reg buy a heated CO2 one.

sudso wrote:

Weiner wrote:

hollywood wrote:only problem is you will have to open an account with a gas outlet to get gas or just use gassless cored wire. (unless you have a mate in the game that can borrow one on the never never

Think my gas for an E size is about $14 a month.

& annual bottle rental on top of that.

About $140 pr yr?

I don't pay an annual bottle rental, just the monthly and when I refill it

hey weiner,

how's that work for you??


And I'm new to this welding thing - argon vs CO2? Is it a realistic alternative?

ash_on_mtb wrote:hey weiner,

how's that work for you??


And I'm new to this welding thing - argon vs CO2? Is it a realistic alternative?

stright argon is only use for TIG welding. can use it on mig but only realy to weld aluminium with mig.

i would say a bottle of argoshield light would be our best bet if you mainly doing up to 5mm

ash_on_mtb wrote:hey weiner,

how's that work for you??


And I'm new to this welding thing - argon vs CO2? Is it a realistic alternative?

I can't complain.

I use Argosheild Universal, find it better than Light, I get e better weld or some reason.

ash_on_mtb wrote:hey weiner,

how's that work for you??


And I'm new to this welding thing - argon vs CO2? Is it a realistic alternative?

pure argon with mig mild/stainless... you'll be up higher on settings, not much splatter, quite nice to weld with I prefer it over CO2 myself but not really good for thick welding.

Co2 mix with mig... lower settings but will be messy unless you have good welder setting in which case really reduced splatter but you'll always have some splatter.

ash_on_mtb wrote:Pricing from Complete Welding Hire & Sales Pty Ltd

The Cigweld Transmig 165 MIG $900 inc GST
The Lincoln Powermig 180 MIG $1,080 inc GST
Unimig 165 inverter MIG and arc $1,150 inc G

The lincoln is firming up as favorite...

Standard lift front welding helmet: $22 inc GST, Cigweld Weldskill automatic welding helmet $120 inc GST, Miller Elite automatic welding helmet $490 inc GST, Black & Gold welding gloves $5.50.

Seems a little more $$ than others, but its something.

Phone calls to make - dandygas, Gasweld, who else??

I find the lincoln welder to be a bit half arsed, the wire feed range is too small for the corse/fine settings across the board and I've used 280. 330, 450amp lincoln welders plus liquidarc 330 welders for years but some people love the lincoln welders think their the best in the world so I've just giving my exp with lincoln welders.

I've been swapped to a weld well welder (british company) it's a bit weak even at full pelt but could be an old and tired welder but would be great for car panel welding.

alas though I would say to get the lincoln only because it's the highest amp welder on your list at a good price really but see if you can give them a try out the cig and unimig will be pretty much the same where as the lincoln will be different to the other 2 welders.

As for gloves if your going to be doing a heap of welding over a decent length of time the kevlar gloves around $15 are super great should be blue coloured ones last for months even with heavy welding plus don't get cut up with sharp edges and stuff, a good tip is to get a set of rigger gloves then use those to pick up steel with etc as you'll wear out the welding gloves a lot quicker if you use them for everything.

The lefties/righties from elliot are utter crap not really worth the money unless you can get them for free

the mid gloves red colour are ok but won't last for long maybe 1 month maybe a bit longer.

I suppose it depends on how much welding your doing in a day.

made a call to the company that Lincoln suggested in the bayswater area - price they quoted was 1400 for the 180c

Complete welding are looking like they have my business!!

ash_on_mtb wrote:made a call to the company that Lincoln suggested in the bayswater area - price they quoted was 1400 for the 180c

Complete welding are looking like they have my business!!

yep and that's cheap as well, the lincolns are imports from the us, so you won't get them super cheap.

I paid $1000 for my 180c with a Unimig auto helmet at Christmas time.

I have seen them down to $940 a couple of months ago.

http://www.nationalwelding.com.au/ at Wetherill Park has them listed for $1100.

Better still.... http://www.machines4u.com.au/view/?advert_id=4321 has them listed for $910 inc gst (show demos)