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MIG Welder

Hey Everyone,

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

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I cannot say which is best as i havent tried them all,  but would suggest a gas one, not the flux covered wire as i have only seen bad write ups about them.  For body work you dont need 500 amps probably a little 130 amp or there abouts. Personally i hate using pub gas and suggest proper mig welding gas (argon mix) can get decent size bottles rent free now …

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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..

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Getting yourself on an evening welding course at your nearest college is a good idea, if you've not much welding experience….. I've seen too many badly restored cars, with "pigeon poop" welding, which will literally break up if the car gets involved in a bump.

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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

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It would be interesting using one of those regulators, what the max flowrate from the cheap disposable bottle is. I never had much luck with them. Change to a proper bottle, and everything starts working properly.....its either the gas mix or the flowrate.

                                

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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!!

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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.

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It doesn't make sense to undertake a large project with the small disposable bottles.

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).

                                

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It depends on what your budget is, and how much welding you want to do, and how much welding experience you have.

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.

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I'm working on a project where welding is a crucial part of it. Never welded before and I've been checking classifieds here in Norway for the last month without finding anything.

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.

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[

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.

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https://www.toolden.co.uk/power-tools/welding/mig-arc-inverter-welders/parweld-xte-170-amp-240v-automotive-compact-mig-machine-with-torch-regulator/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn8vQm-_89QIVpYxoCR0DaQiAEAQYASABEgJKdPD_BwE

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.

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As my latest golf purchase has turned out to be an accident damaged rusty wreck and my mig is a good few years old i have taken your advice and ordered the one (parweld) you suggested...

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Good luck - let us know how you get on .....
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