Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: Andy A on 01 July 2014, 09:42:00
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Can anyone recommend a cheap arch welder to re-weld a new flexi pipe onto the exhaust and weld some small plates on the front chassis legs?
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To be honest I personally wouldn't bother with an arc welder for welding anything car related.
A MIG welder is a much better tool all round.
TIG even better but to expensive for occasional use.
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It's possible to use an arc welder for those repairs, but if you're capable of doing it you don't need our advice!
Mig is what you want for car repairs, or oxy-acetylene.
I have a decent Tig set, but don't see much use for it on cars. Certainly not for either of the jobs mentioned here.
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I have just done a little reading on MIG welding. I will change the title. Thanks. :y
I have never done any welding before. It is something I have always wanted to do though.
Can anyone recommend a cheap MIG welder to re-weld a new flexi pipe onto the exhaust and weld some small plates on the front chassis legs?
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In all my years of selling tools and garage equipment there is no thing as a cheap welder and does a good job...The cost of a decent welder for what you want to do far outweighs what it would cost you to have the job done by a garage or maybe some one on this forum..... .Unless you are going to do a load of welding for mates..relatives etc......to try to get some outlay back it is false economy....And do not forget you have already said that you have never done welding before,So maybe it answers your own question realy.. :y
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understand you point flyer, however, what sort of price we looking at for a reasonable mig welder then. :y
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My view is that there are hobby welders and pro welders.
If going new, then about the only hobby MIG welder worth going for is the Clarke 135 as the likes of the SIP's etc. have a really naff wire feed. One of these will see you out as they say and do pretty much everything you would want to do.
I also have access to a number of 'pro' welders (from low amperage ones up to 400A buggers) and these are better, more rugged (the main difference) with improved wire feed and often a larger smoothing choke and better duty cycle. But, that's about it and hence a good hobby welder or reasonable second hand pro welder is ideal for 'domestic' use.
As for ARC, pretty much any old buzz box will do if you have decent rods and can handle a stick.
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My view is that there are hobby welders and pro welders.
If going new, then about the only hobby MIG welder worth going for is the Clarke 135 as the likes of the SIP's etc. have a really naff wire feed. One of these will see you out as they say and do pretty much everything you would want to do.
I also have access to a number of 'pro' welders (from low amperage ones up to 400A buggers) and these are better, more rugged (the main difference) with improved wire feed and often a larger smoothing choke and better duty cycle. But, that's about it and hence a good hobby welder or reasonable second hand pro welder is ideal for 'domestic' use.
As for ARC, pretty much any old buzz box will do if you have decent rods and can handle a stick.
Thats the one I was looking at from Machine Mart. The Clarke 135TE MIG Welder @ £288. :y
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I'll agree with everything Mark said, except for the Clarke welder as I have no experience of them. Friends have them and get good results. SIP wire feed mechanisms are terrible, and most small, cheap welders don't have enough settings.
Stepping up to a small professional machine improved my welding as much as swapping to Argoshield did. The wire feed is strong and consistent, plenty of adjustability, good duty cycle and replaceable euro torch. It is a pain to store and move about, but that's worth the hassle.
Another important tip is that you MUST use a proper cylinder of the correct gas. Anything else is a false economy, and will make your learning curve MUCH steeper.
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I'll agree with everything Mark said, except for the Clarke welder as I have no experience of them. Friends have them and get good results. SIP wire feed mechanisms are terrible, and most small, cheap welders don't have enough settings.
Stepping up to a small professional machine improved my welding as much as swapping to Argoshield did. The wire feed is strong and consistent, plenty of adjustability, good duty cycle and replaceable euro torch. It is a pain to store and move about, but that's worth the hassle.
Another important tip is that you MUST use a proper cylinder of the correct gas. Anything else is a false economy, and will make your learning curve MUCH steeper.
I've read that Argon mix gas is good. What is your opinion?
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Small welders will use BOC's Argoshield Light, which is CO2 and 5% Argon. Or equivalent, as BOC are damned expensive.
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whats the opinion on this gasless one
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http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p68022
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whats the opinion on this gasless one
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http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p68022
Don't.
They're terrible for sheet metal, and an arc welder does thicker stuff better for less.
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I use Argoshield (or equivalent) and straight pub CO2, no issues with either to be honest.
Argoshield makes it a bit easier.
Argo for TIG or aluminium MIG.
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Sealey supermig 150 retails around £420 but is generaly on offer for around £250....they are fine for d.i.y.....if you want a more professional unit then they increase dramatically .......The thing about selling sealy is that they are good products and they carry spares for at least ten years...and i never had a great deal of problems or returns on them.....as for gassless i never sold very many of them as customers did not like them mainly because if they were welding outside on a windy day it blew the gas away from the nozzle causing probs with their welding....but again each to their own ...
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If considering the professional ones upwards of the Supermig 150, then bear in mind that you are now over the limit for your 13A domestic mains supply, my Supermig 180 for instance needs a 32A mains supply to run it.
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Yep very true...you would be amazed at the people who use an extention lead to use the mig welder and then wonder why it fails to operate correctly.....they do not read the labels or instructions at all.. :y
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Looking at the different prices for new/used, is the Clarke 100E suitable for diy automotive work :-\
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Actually, you cant use anything above about 130A on a 13A socket and even then, keep some spare 13A fuses about as they will age with every use and blow on occasion. :y
100e should be fine up to about 2mm steel
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Actually, you cant use anything above about 130A on a 13A socket and even then, keep some spare 13A fuses about as they will age with every use and blow on occasion. :y
100e should be fine up to about 2mm steel
???
Machine mart recons Mild steel welding capacity of 4 - 5mm :-\
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Actually, you cant use anything above about 130A on a 13A socket and even then, keep some spare 13A fuses about as they will age with every use and blow on occasion. :y
100e should be fine up to about 2mm steel
???
Machine mart recons Mild steel welding capacity of 4 - 5mm :-\
It will if you prep and V the joint first.