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Jun 28, 2008 20:37:22 GMT
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...But Ill tell you what - I'm getting the right hump with my welder. Its a SIP topmig 170 turbo, which sounds terribly imprssive, but yeah, they really are as pish as everyone says and what annoys me is its unpredictability. I can cope with the gash wire feed and adapt my welding to suit - although I suspect I would get on a lot faster if I had a decent machine in the first place. The thing is, one minute I'm laying down fantastic fish-scale welds that a pro would be proud of, then seconds later on the same bead, having changed nothing, it gives up and starts randomly chucking out splattery, stringy birdcrap welds that barely stick to the surface of the steel I'm spending a third of my time welding, a third grinding off the pish bits, and the last third re-welding them, which I have to spend a third of that time grinding off the pish bits ad-infinitum.... Its power settings go from 1 - 6. 1 and 2 seem completely useless and I cant get a bead of any sorts on them. 6 instantly melts anything you point it at and would probably allow me to burn through the earths crust and 5 is fine for heavy stuff like fixing gateposts etc. That leaves 3 and 4 for everything else, and invariably, 3 is a little too low and 4 a little too high Then there is the wire-feed speed. Its right down on minimum and I still would like it to go a little slower My grandad always said "Buy cheap, buy twice" - he was bloody well right too. I might have to raid the piggy bank for a new welder soon as I can see myself loosing the rag with this one sometime. I wont be getting another SIP.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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B-8-D
Posted a lot
down to one car!!
Posts: 4,038
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Jun 28, 2008 20:53:59 GMT
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most of these cheep sip/sealy/clark etc welders are not worth the money really.. ive known people who've had them and think they are great but tbh just spend the dough and get a decent mig.. something like a migatronic or even a cebora ceboras are quite good value but all the ones ive had/used have been really good.. si
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dannyb
South East
Posts: 1,049
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Jun 28, 2008 20:55:59 GMT
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why don't you get someone to look over it? i have just started a new job and they have the 180 turbo and its a great welder to use. i have used a few migs in my career and i enjoy using this one.
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Jun 28, 2008 20:58:34 GMT
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I stripped, cleaned, modified and rebuilt it not that long ago, plus I posted about how to do it on the mig welding forum. Although that helped a hell of a lot, it doesnt stop it being basically curse word. The only thing I can think of fault-wise is a problem with windings breaking down as it heats up, which is possible I suppose. apart from that chance, its just down to it inherent crapness.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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dannyb
South East
Posts: 1,049
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Jun 28, 2008 21:07:39 GMT
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how much do these welders cost (if you don't mind me asking) its just that in my last job the welder cost £3,000 and that was $hit compared to what i'm using now.
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Jun 28, 2008 21:12:32 GMT
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I got mine for £50 at a bankrupcy sale, I suspect they are about £200 new.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Jun 28, 2008 21:21:21 GMT
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Dave - I'm having the exact same trouble. I have a SIP Handymig. It's been worked into the ground as me and my bro share it, but it does exactly what you describe. I was welding my exhaust today - lovely fat welds for a few moments, the splattery pigeon sh*t all over it the next.
We've repaired it a million times. Tried to be patient as it ballses up every single fecking job we point it at... but no.
I feel your pain.
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dannyb
South East
Posts: 1,049
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Jun 28, 2008 21:22:39 GMT
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wow that is cheap. just read your first post again and i use mine around the 3,4,5 settings and the wire speed is around the 9,10 o/clock position. idont know the differance between yours and mine but having the wire speed at its slowest i'd say there is a possable fault.
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rtlkyuubi
Posted a lot
Low and Slow
Posts: 2,922
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Jun 28, 2008 22:44:47 GMT
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I have a sip and I get the same problem! lol though mine is an old beut that I won off ebay for £30 I'm gonna service it with a new metal liner and a few other bobs and use it till I can afford £300+ on a bloody good one that will outlast me EDIT: least you get 6 power settings: its supposed to go down to 35amp but on minimum it nukes car body work!
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Last Edit: Jun 28, 2008 22:46:07 GMT by rtlkyuubi
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edhall
Part of things
Posts: 88
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I had exactly your problem. I had a SIP 105 TURBO (albeit not as clever as yours) and it was rubbish. It made me think I was the worst welder on the planet. Now I've got a Clarke 135TE (I think) and it's just brilliant. Welding is now a pleasure not a confidence bashing chore. There's a lot on the welding forum about SIP's curse word wire feed, yet somehow they seem to win mag tests. I'd love a heavy duty welder but for now my little Clarke is just great.
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Escort Mk1 1300E – SOLD! Escort Mk2 Trials Car – SOLD! Porsche 924 Jaguar XJ6 4.0 Sovereign – GIVEN TO DAD! LDV Pilot Campervan – SOLD! VW Polo Mk2
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Big thumbs up for my Clarke 151EN too - cost me £140 brand new and it's been nothing but perfect. Well, technically it had a problem with the circuit board but that was just a dry joint which took all of 5 minutes to diagnose and fix!
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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I've had the usual cheap hobby welders. All off them did the job, but I always thought i was never good at welding, found it hard to get that sizzling bacon sound. I got offered this a few years back for a bargain price. Its a 1975'ish NBC(butters), its huge, I had to collect it in a trailer. It will weld all day, no worrying about it overheating, and its the difference between a lada and a rolls royce. i still not the best welder in the world, but at least I know its down to technique and not the tools. My only worrys are when it eventually dies, parts are pretty much unobtainable, and I couldn't have a hobby mig again.
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1992 Citroen zx
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I feel your pain - hobby MIGs are great for allowing the ordinairy bloke to get welding, but the inconsistancy is a nightmare.
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My SIP works fine. I made the mod with the brace over the wire roller clamp which improved feed very well.
I do find with this one though that it's very important to make sure the actual wire tube to the head makes a nice smooth curve on the floor, ie; no tight turns around my leg or the workbench etc.
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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dannyb
South East
Posts: 1,049
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i think wire size helps alot, in a previous job i used to use 0.6 and had loads of problem with feed and snagging so i changed 0.8 (great feed a no more snagging). don't sound alot but it made a hell of a differance.
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Jun 29, 2008 10:57:22 GMT
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i got a clarke 150e turbo thing & that is great imo. welds cars on it's lowest setting & i have done 6mm plate with it too all on 0.8 wire.
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Its power settings go from 1 - 6. 1 and 2 seem completely useless and I cant get a bead of any sorts on them. 6 instantly melts anything you point it at and would probably allow me to burn through the earths crust Much like your average toaster then
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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Blast it! Having said how I've been doing fine with my SIP, I got some SIP brand gas yesterday, and it may be coincidence or a jinx from this thread, but my welds have gone bad
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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bigrod
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,654
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Jun 30, 2008 10:34:47 GMT
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I bought a 'nutool' thing from some bloke that repaired the factory returns and sold them on. It joins metal together very well.
I have to say though I'm glad I'm not the only one who suffers the 'welding's perfect like a pile of dimes for a while then for no reason goes to hell in a handbasket'! I though it was just me.
Perhaps we're overworking the poor wee things!
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If I have to explain, you won't understand. Maximum signature image height = 80 pixels
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