Which MIG Welder to buy?

[menmyclassics]

Dear All
I'm going to buy a Gas MIG Welder but which one?
I won't be doing a lot of welding, but don't want something that'll drive me mad every time I use it.
My first job is a new jacking point on my MGB.
Then from time to time, I expect I will probably do some small repair piece panel work.
PC Magazine apparently gave a good review of the Weldmate T130 Gas/Gasless Welder.
Initially I was thinking of spending £200-£300 and this fits the budget at around £250.
I'd be grateful to hear from anyone that has experience of this piece of kit or other recomendations.
Thanks
Steve

[tractorman]

Try this link, it's much the same sort of question!

http://www.practicallyclassics.co.uk/vi ... ?f=8&t=875

Coincidentally, I'm about to have a welding session with my Clarke welder today - it needs to produce a perfect weld as it's doing something that's technically illegal.....

[TerryG]

it needs to produce a perfect weld as it's doing something that's technically illegal.....

We have told you before that you can't clone yourself with a welder!

[tractorman]

Aw Nuts!

Mind you, I don't think anyone would want another me (especially my mother)! It may be good as a decoy though!!

[menmyclassics]

Thanks for pointing me in that direction Tractorman.

[m.thaddeus]

If I managed to perfect cloning I would be beside myself.
But until then I can say that SIP make a nice 150amp gas/no gas machine. Or it might pay you to check out welduk on the net.

[arceye]

If I managed to perfect cloning I would be beside myself.
But until then I can say that SIP make a nice 150amp gas/no gas machine. Or it might pay you to check out welduk on the net.

Agree the SIP machines are o.k, I went for their Weldmate T130 last time as it wont blow an ordinary 13 amp electric ring where a bigger machine might and It will weld most you need power wise.

Downside of the SIP range or at least my version is the wire feed, the tensionable top roller is only held on one side and after a few uses the plastic takes a twist and the rollers wont grip the wire to feed it through. Simple enough to fix by adding another bracket to the side of the pivot to keep things in line, other than that its done some serious work for a "hobby" welder without any problem, oh, the bit that holds the tip on the torch burns itself away over time but these are cheap enough to replace.

Another alternative would be the old Snap On mig welders, as sold in the mid - late eighties, dont know who really made them but I had mine for twenty year and really wish I'd mended it rather than replaced it with the SIP. They come up on Ebay from time to time.....

[m.thaddeus]

Hello Again

The popular Mig which was sold by Snap-on ( or Blue-point more correctly) was made by Cebora, it was also sold by BOC under their name, and is a brilliant little machine. Dont know if there was a no gas option.

[arceye]

Hello Again

The popular Mig which was sold by Snap-on ( or Blue-point more correctly) was made by Cebora, it was also sold by BOC under their name, and is a brilliant little machine. Dont know if there was a no gas option.

Thanks, I'll make a note of those names, keep getting tempted to find another for when the SIP gives up. I don't remember ever seeing a gasless one, so if there was I'd imagine they are thin on the ground. I'd never go gasless though personally, I always find them a bit fierce and rough in comparison to a gas version. Downside of gas would have to be the little bottles but I've used pub gas for years and find it pretty good for basic welding.
Does anyone know the pricing of the non rental "proper" bottles that are now available, would be interested in those if their at all competative with brewery bottles, if we can get them up here.

[toyotalover]

pub gasputs more carbon into the weld i heard and makes it more brittle.
Saw a mig scratch tig and stick welder combined the other day. looked good and was about £500. only thats £500 more than ive got right now.