low power arc welder , anybody used one ?

Hi Chris, where have you been!

The wire feed is a bit cack on the SIP 105, I've found it doesn't grip the wire very well, the rollers don't meet squarely because the plastic holding the rollers flexes. I've modified/bodged mine a bit so its better. I have seen other cheap migs with more problems with the feed though.

Mines a few years old so maybe it been improved  :dontknow:

As for the tube to the handset… I havent really had any problems, you just need to keep it as straight as you can and don't lie on it too much! I expect other cheap models are the same.

I'll get a pic of the bodge if you like

Hehe - I have been a bit absent from the forums over the last few months I have to admit  ops: . Guily of letting the crap weather and non running Campaign dampen my interest in all things Mk1, along with settling into a new job and all that entails!

If I'm honest I still haven't summoned up the courage to get the Mk1 hoisted aloft in the garage and start the LONG list of things that need doing to get it shipshape again:

• brake lines and the flexi hoses
• fuel lines
• blowing exhaust manifold
• fix leaking cooling system
• cylinder head swap

I just have this feeling that once I start dismantling things I won't know where to stop!!!!

Anyway, back on topic, as I figure some welding may be on the cards when I start dismatling things  :wink: .

Anyone used / heard anything about the slightly more expensive Butters or Sureweld units? Granted they are a bit more expensive than the equivalent Clarke / SIP, but I'd hate to buy something that gives me grief and then end up wishing I'd spent just a little bit more to get a quality item……

http://www.buttersamt.com/

Anyone got any good sources for online suppliers of other MIG manufacturers aside from Clarke and SIP?

From what I have read a lot seems to come down to the quality and consistency of the wire feed mechanism……

Chris

Found that SIP migmate 105 whatever even cheaper here http://www.toolsnstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?pName=Migmate-105-Turbo-DP&products_id=136&osCsid=0eb64b78fc7a58c790ee83be44be40f3&cPath=1_22

Just need to shop around, but seems pretty reasonable to me.

Do a Kelkoo or similar search and see what it comes up with.

The Cosmo range of MIGs are re-badged SIP units but cheaper - I don't know if all components are same or cheaper tho? Looks the same.

paul_c said

I bought some consumables from a B&Q superstore recently. A bottle of Argon/CO2 gas was ?7.98 from them, compared to ?13.50 from another shop and ?10 + VAT + delivery from www.toolsbypost.com, so I think that's a decent price!

Just as a bit of feedback, this bottle produced crappy welds compared to the CO2 I got with the machine; and it ran out in an incredibly quick time. So I think I got a dud. The shop is too far away to make a fuss of going back, etc and they'd never refund my travel costs or the time spent having to grind out dodgy welds, etc.

So I went to a proper gas place - just my luck, their computer was down, and these days you need a computer to give you gas. This might be of interest, though:

http://www.bocindustrial.co.uk/

Its ?45.30/year for the gas bottle and ?27.14 for 2 m3/3.4kg of the gas (Argoshield Light), which comes in a 19kg bottle which is around 1m tall. For comparison, thats ?4.81 per 600g, compare that with the little disposable bottles.

Cheers for the info Paul :wink:
Do you get the regulator from them too? :dontknow:

Hairyarse said

Cheers for the info Paul :wink:
Do you get the regulator from them too? :dontknow:

You can buy the regulator from BOC, but when I picked up the gas today they didn't have all the bits. So, I went elsewhere for the regulator. You also need some other adapters:

Regulator ?40
AK9 Gas adapter kit (the tube) ?8
3/8" BSP R/Hand nut ?1.28
3/8-3/18 Hose nipple ?1.28

All plus VAT. So I'm a bit over budget after all this! Basically, if you mention you are connecting it up to a MIG welder, they should sort you out. The guy at BOS who I dealt with was very helpful, so I can give them a big thumbs up!

Nice one - thx again for all info, big help!