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Jan 19, 2013 23:08:57 GMT
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Hi guys, Sorry these are noob welding questions. After many an occasion of needing something welding and having to wait litrally months for mates to pull their fingers out I finally did a C&G Level 2 welding course about six months ago. Since then I've been wanting a welder but haven't had any spare cash, now though I shoud be in a position to buy one. I've been having a look round but I have no idea what I'm looking for. I would be using it mainly for vehicle repairs, but there would be the odd occasion where I'd weld thicker metal. I read that it's best using gas if your working on thin metal, is this correct? If so, what's the best way of going about getting gas? or is best using a gasless? If I think of any more questions I'll stick them up. In the meantime, have some cars that could probably do with seing a welder.
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Jan 19, 2013 23:31:34 GMT
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Jan 19, 2013 23:31:54 GMT
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I have a snap on mig made by cebora,its about ten years old and has been and still is worth its weight in gold
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97 volvo 940 turbo wagon 87 fiat strada abarth 78 gs1000 82 katana 1100 84 gsx1100 efe
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Jan 19, 2013 23:42:05 GMT
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Ah, budget. Forgot that. I was looking at about £250, although I need to get a new mask within that too.
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Jan 19, 2013 23:42:47 GMT
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Forget your gassless welders they spit and snot your weld The Snap on one is brill, but bloody expensive, my garage buddy has a Snap on welder only good if you are going to profit from it, or are minted, second hand ones are going, but depends how much you are be going to be welding I guess its up to everyones preference Ive used the Clark ones and found them to be reliable but there are many others going
like cecotto479 says budget good link as well from him
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Jan 19, 2013 23:44:54 GMT
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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LowStandards
Club Retro Rides Member
Bigging Up The Sum Sum Man Since '99
Posts: 2,665
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Jan 19, 2013 23:46:46 GMT
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I suggest getting one with the lowest power you can find, 30 amps is much more usefull than 200 amps for vehicle repair. You'll find that the handful of times you do want to weld 8mm plates that you'll normally have access to both sides anyways.
I have a Murex, its an amazing machine, drops down to 15 amps, but I hear good good things about Portamigs.
CO2 can be had from pretty much anywhere, i've never had a bottle of argon, but I imagine you'd have to have a contract for that?
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Jan 19, 2013 23:50:09 GMT
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You want a Snap-on/Cebora/BOC Turbo 130.
Available s/h from about £100 - £150. Great quality hobby mig from a professional manufacturer -Cebora. Been on the go for years - spares available. Great starter Mig.
Get a Parweld auto darkening helmet for about £40
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Jan 20, 2013 12:47:29 GMT
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Mines a miller, Very respected in industry , expensive tho. Was talking to the bloke I bought it of the other day and he offerd me what I paid for it back, We were talking about single and three phase welders, he didnt rate single phase, but three phase isnt an option for everyone. I would go for Miller if possible every time.
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MK5 Transit MK1 capri
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Jan 20, 2013 15:29:03 GMT
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IMO any welder with settings on buttons is pants for the inexperienced. If you can afford to, get one with current settings on a dial. I'd avoid pub gas types too, the regulators are curse word and difficult to get the right amount of gas coming out. Spend as much as you can on a second hand, but well recommended make, ie cebora, murex, etc. A miller will probably be out of budget, but from experience they are the dogs danglies. We have 2 grands worth of 3 phase miller welding porn at work and its the easiest and smoothest welder I've ever used.
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Jan 20, 2013 15:41:30 GMT
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Mines a miller, Very respected in industry , expensive tho. Was talking to the bloke I bought it of the other day and he offerd me what I paid for it back, We were talking about single and three phase welders, he didnt rate single phase, but three phase isnt an option for everyone. I would go for Miller if possible every time. You'll not get a Miller for £250. However, I agree with the general principle. I have a Migmatic 171 and it is fabulous - a pleasure to use.
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spacekadett
Part of things
F*cking take that Hans Brrix!!
Posts: 830
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Jan 20, 2013 21:12:23 GMT
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A lot of motor factors are doing co2 argon mix bottles without a contract, you pay a deposit and then a smaller charge to change bottles when you need to, or or get your deposit back Much nicer to use than plain co2 if you're less experienced. As for welders we've got two, a Sealey Mightymig 130 which is a hobby type one that we've had probably 15 years or so It went back to Sealey for a repair once but to be fair it has repaired or rebuilt all mine and my 3 brothers cars in that time ;D Saw these on offer for £200 new too over christmas. The other is a Sealey 185 Supermig iirc that's a proper workshop jobbie. We got it for virtually nothing as it needed a new wire feed motor which was no bother to get or fit myself. It's more controllable than the Mightymig, and the lead and torch are better in tight spaces, and it will weld the thinnest to the thickest I'll ever need it to, but if it hadn't turned up cheap I'd still be happily using the 130
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Mechanic's rule #1... If the car works, anything left on the floor after you finished wasn't needed in the first place
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ezzysi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,189
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Jan 21, 2013 13:53:34 GMT
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My advice would be to avoid the SIP's
I've had mine for years and had lots of problems with wire feed despite doing the mod's that are advised on t'interweb. A mate had the same one and he's long since given up with his in favour of a Cerbera (which is fab apparently)
I certainly won't be buying another one when this one dies.
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1991 Mk2 Golf Gti 8v 2005 Passat tdi (daily) 1971 Mk1 Escort 2004 Touran (her's)
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Jan 23, 2013 11:20:29 GMT
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Avoid Sips like the plague.
People sell Migs second hand for one of 2 reasons - Moving on to a better welder or it's worn out. Most tend to be worn out (or rubbish to start with).
I use one of the Big red clarke Migs and it's streets ahead of the blue Clarke one I had before (think that was the pro 90, it was rubbish). This one was actually gasless when new but has been converted to a gas welder and it's a lovely thing to use.
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had my Cebora/snap on for 10-15 years never had any problems with it, i fitted a euro torch conversion in the end, cause like most for sale the torch will be knackered, part are available, but expensive £100 for the Cebora torch assembly, £80 for a euro torch conversion, made it a no brainer. moved to a portamig, and its a great machine, expebnsive new and 2nd hand, but worth the extra money, if you cant afford it, save some more as good as the cebora was, the portamig is so much better, avoid sips as above, and you should be more interested in what the welders lowest capacity is, ceboras are 30 amp portas 15 amp, the lowest amperage=the ability to weld thinner metal £250 is your budget? id buy a ceborasnap on and fit a euro torch conversion
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Jan 24, 2013 16:09:37 GMT
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Couldn't agree more with the above advice... I've got a Cebora Turbo 130 (it's actually a 'pocket turbo' - wouldn't want to meet the guy that slings that in his jeans...) which sits on my workbench and performs light duties. As has been said, they are quality bits of kit and the spares backup is fantasic; I've had mine for years (10ish) and all that it has needed in that time is a feed motor and that wasnt dear. It has obviously had liners, tips and shrouds in that time, but these are cheap consumables anyway. I couldn't recommend it enough as a great starter set, it will go nice and low as well as being able to do reasonably thick stuff too. I paid about £150 for mine and it came with a CO2 regulator and a pub gas bottle, which has done me fine.... Along with the Cebora, I also have my pride and joy.... I payed good money for this a couple of years back, can't remember exactly, but it was either £200 or £250. The difference over my other set is night and day. The power is more controllable and the wire feed more precise and constant. It lays down lovely welds and has a drisp sharp sound as you go! I run this with Argon mix, which costs me £65 a year for rental - the place I get my gas from also does a rent-free option, which works out cheaper if a bottle lasts for ages! Also; I feel I must be the only one who doesn't get on with the cheap auto tinting masks. I've always found them to react a bit slow, letting you see the arc if you don't blink as you strike. I would rather spend my money on the welder and just use a normal head-mounted mask; it only takes a nod of the head to drop it down once you're ready to go! Joe
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Last Edit: Jan 24, 2013 16:15:03 GMT by Deleted
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Jan 24, 2013 21:18:17 GMT
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I have a cheap 20quid auto tint mask from jtf, and while I do agree with the above statement, I find its just something you get used to, kinda like getting used to driving a new car with a much lighter clutch. I'm actually looking to buy a cebora off someone who's hopefully soon to let me know if I can have it (long story but he needs to get it back from someone), hoping it comes with a midi bottle like in the picture above.
What I want to know though is if I get a welder with a bottle, will anywhere take it as a "refill", or will I be stuck with an empty gas bottle and have to start a new deal for gas with another bottle?
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Jan 24, 2013 22:20:02 GMT
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Cheers for the input guys.
Got my eye on a few of the ones mentioned above.
I did have an autotint helmet a while ago. The night of my final welding exam I dropped it an cracked the sensor. Had to do the exam with my eyes closed. Wasn't the greatest, but passed.
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Jan 26, 2013 21:04:45 GMT
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Right, thanks to the input of you guys I've won myself a welder on eBay A Cebora Pocket Turbo 130. Just got to sort a mask and some gas now.
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Jan 26, 2013 22:25:41 GMT
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I have a spare fixed mask, upgraded to an nice auto one plus have another statice for when i need. Your welcome to it, bit grubby but will get you going
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