What MIG welder
Posted
#1647834
(In Topic #232303)
Newbie
MIG Welder
I'm looking to purchase a MIG Welder to start work on my MK1 Golf 1.5 Cabriolet but have no idea what one to get.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Posted
Old Timer
Posted
Local Hero
On the drive
T25 Diesel…sameoldblueshi£ (currently under resto)
Rocco gt2….1990 secret 2…(currently under resto)
Mk4 99 1.8t indigo blue Gti with 43k miles
Caster 93 clipper JH Green cabby
Snowy 91 GTi White cabby( sat waiting for inspiration)
Myvalver 89 GTi Grey mk2 16v
Yuppy Flu 91 GTi Flash Red Sportline
Golf mk1 owner's club on Spotify
Mk1 golf owners club playlist: Golf mk1 owner's club playlist - YouTube
T25 Diesel…sameoldblueshi£ (currently under resto)
Rocco gt2….1990 secret 2…(currently under resto)
Mk4 99 1.8t indigo blue Gti with 43k miles
Caster 93 clipper JH Green cabby
Snowy 91 GTi White cabby( sat waiting for inspiration)
Myvalver 89 GTi Grey mk2 16v
Yuppy Flu 91 GTi Flash Red Sportline
Golf mk1 owner's club on Spotify
Mk1 golf owners club playlist: Golf mk1 owner's club playlist - YouTube
Posted
Old Timer
Posted
Old Timer
I can recommend something like this.
Posted
Settled In
Kenneth Cartwright said
Clarke 135TE Turbo MIG Welder - Machine Mart - Machine Mart get a proper gas supply /bigger bottle and some old panels to pratice on.. bigger units are easier to weld with,but cost 3x as much. machine mart prior to cv19 used to have a test/practice area..
Literally the one that I picked up on eBay for not a lot, has done well for the little jobs that I have done on the Golf.
After changing over like mentioned to the bigger bottles, has served rather well.
If you like the small bottles, or rather need them for storage reasons, there is a nice but slightly pricey regulator that can be had.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIG-Welding-Gas-Regulator-with-Hobby-Welder-Adaptor-Hose-Kit/174555242552?hash=item28a44da038:g:rQMAAOSwuihf05Df
Posted
Local Hero
Posted
Settled In
The regulator i linked to isn't all bad, passed onto a friend when i moved onto the bigger bottles, think he still has it and does the job quite well for light hobby work when started.
Gas mix like you say more than likely has a bigger impact, but depending on the size of the work to be done this could be ok to work around with.
Not sure i would want to weld half a car back together using only the little bottles!!
Posted
Local Hero
bucket said
I don't disagree, there is poor flow rate with the standard regulator that comes with the clarke welders, think it is just there poor design and being cheap.
The regulator i linked to isn't all bad, passed onto a friend when i moved onto the bigger bottles, think he still has it and does the job quite well for light hobby work when started.
Gas mix like you say more than likely has a bigger impact, but depending on the size of the work to be done this could be ok to work around with.
Not sure i would want to weld half a car back together using only the little bottles!!
AH ya just use more of them that one large bottle.
What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?
They all start with GOOD Grounds.
Where are my DIY Links?
They all start with GOOD Grounds.
Where are my DIY Links?
Posted
Local Hero
But at the same time, it doesn't make sense to rent a large cylinder to do a small/minimal repair either.
If the small bottles flowed properly, happy days. Gas mix is a secondary concern, they do 3 different choices of gas: CO2, Argon, and CO2/Argon mix. I think you could assume they are different, and will probably contain what it says on the label (but won't be quite as good as eg Argoshield Light, which contains 2% oxygen and helps make the weld smoother).
Posted
Old Timer
Best option is a single phase professional quality 130 - 180A second hand welder with euro torch - you can sell it when you're finished with it and get your money back. Also, if you're new to welding they are easier to use and don't mess up much.
The little 130A and lower power, non euro torch are ok for bits and bobs, but a complete pain to use if you're trying to get on with a bigger job, as they mess up often and cause you to have to stop and sort them out, plus the parts such as wire feeders are cheap poor quality and impossible to get parts for.
Posted
Settling In
Like someone said before me it depends in the budget, but I ended up buying a Spartus Easymig 215. Mainly because it helps me with tuning in the right settings, and it works like a charm!
So far I'm using it with Argon/co2 mix and 0.8mm wire, and I've been practicing on both 1mm sheets and 2-3mm steel without any hazzle.
Posted
Newbie
bucket said
Kenneth Cartwright said
Clarke 135TE Turbo MIG Welder - Machine Mart - Machine Mart get a proper gas supply /bigger bottle and some old panels to pratice on.. bigger units are easier to weld with,but cost 3x as much. machine mart prior to cv19 used to have a test/practice area..
Literally the one that I picked up on eBay for not a lot, has done well for the little jobs that I have done on the Golf.
After changing over like mentioned to the bigger bottles, has served rather well.
If you like the small bottles, or rather need them for storage reasons, there is a nice but slightly pricey regulator that can be had.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIG-Welding-Gas-Regulator-with-Hobby-Welder-Adaptor-Hose-Kit/174555242552?hash=item28a44da038:g:rQMAAOSwuihf05Df
I purchased the same one. I'm not a professional welder. I've never used a wire feed welder prior to purchasing this welder. I have a fair amount of experience with stick welders. The tig torch will have the hose for the gas it is not on the machine. With that being said this is an amazing little machine for the price.
Posted
Old Timer
I am a time served body repairer/restorer with 43 years experience, trust me, if you can go the extra on the budget go for one of these. I bought one recently, it was the cheapest professional quality welder I could find, and it works a treat for little jobs through to full restoration work. You have far more control over the voltage and wire speed, plus all components are of good build quality, and British made so spares are easy (should you need any) plus a standard euro torch. It will mess up less.
The Clarke 135 is fine for little jobs, but I wouldn't like to use one all the time, and I wouldn't want to learn with one either - it will make your learning process more difficult and time consuming through its own deficiency's. Plus, once you've had enough of the Grindy sparky arc eye and burns life, you can sell it used and get most of your money back.
Posted
Old Timer
Posted
Old Timer
0 guests and 0 members have just viewed this: None.