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[Kevin Wood]

Yeah, I had to buy a valve and tube for mine.

That's the sort of thing I got. You'll want to get a better visor than that too, one that goes on your head rather than a hand held one. Get one of the electronic ones, you can adjust the sensitivity of when it goes dark, and how dark it goes. You can get a decent cheap one for £30 ish.

Absolutely, it's a waste of time trying to learn to weld one-handed.

Auto-dimming mask also available to borrow, Chris.

[aaronjb]

Something basic
http://www.powertoolwarehouse.co.uk/draper-11972-90a-230v-gas-gasless-turbo-mig-welder-mwd100at.html

Borrow Kev's for a play before you buy you can't harm the machine I don't think - just either not weld things or blow holes in the metal, depending on what you've got wrong..

I'd want more than a 90A machine though - get the biggest you can comfortably run of your supply (I think 130A is about the biggest off a 13A plug, more if you have a feed capable of supplying a commando socket).. and FWIW, I'd go gas and forget about gasless.. in the little I've done, anyway, that seemed to work best

[Kevin Wood]

Agreed. You can always get a bigger machine and run it from a 13A plug at reduced current, of course, but you need to decide what you are going to want to weld and work out the current you require. I'd say you're unlikely to want more than 130 for most automotive purposes (although the rather great 3 phase machines at college were much nicer even with the current wound right down). Budget is a factor too, of course. Better to get a lower current quality machine than an (allegedly) higher current machine where the wire feed jams every 30 seconds IMHO.

Can't believe how much the 135TE costs now. When I got it it was under 200 inc VAT IIRC, and I got it on a VAT free day.

[Lazydocker]

Gas less is ok to a degree but I've always preferred gas. I love using argon (I think) but it gets expensive so switched my fittings so I could use CO2 from a large cylinder... The type that Pubs use

Of course, the fact that I happen to know a publican rather well had nothing to do with that thought

[aaronjb]

Can't believe how much the 135TE costs now. When I got it it was under 200 inc VAT IIRC, and I got it on a VAT free day.

They all seem to have gone up a lot in the last few years since I started looking - which is weird, since they all* seem to be made in China now..

(*Most, anyway)

[Andy B]

.... Get one of the electronic ones, you can adjust the sensitivity of when it goes dark, and how dark it goes. You can get a decent cheap one for £30 ish.

IMHO you need to spend more than that. They bought us an el cheapo electric screen at work ............ it wasn't much good. 

[Lazydocker]

.... Get one of the electronic ones, you can adjust the sensitivity of when it goes dark, and how dark it goes. You can get a decent cheap one for £30 ish.

IMHO you need to spend more than that. They bought us an el cheapo electric screen at work ............ it wasn't much good. 

Pot luck really, as with all egay cheapies. I managed to get mine for about £40 delivered and it was good "optics" in a cheap mask/helmet so works well but the mask fractured after a fall of about 2 feet That said, a bit of gaffa tape and it's still going strong

[TheBoy]

Can't believe how much the 135TE costs now. When I got it it was under 200 inc VAT IIRC, and I got it on a VAT free day.

Clucking Hell , they have gone up

Think I paid £175ish for mine (VAT free day), and was annoyed with myself that I hadn't bought earlier as I thought that was expensive

[markrnorton]

basic, well get the best you can afford, 130amp is good.
buy plenty of tips, a clamp and you can get some decent 'reactive' masks as stated.
and dont forget to buy the right gas for the job.

[TheBoy]

Oh, and start with clean mild steel, as thats the easiest.


I should point out, my welding is shite! With the winter coming, I'm hoping for more nights "playing" in the garage. Once I've tidied it up. Again.

[Kevin Wood]

Might be in your area later, Chris. Want me to put it in the boot of the car?

[TheBoy]

Might be in your area later, Chris. Want me to put it in the boot of the car?

As someone who has been on the course, I reckon we should have a mini-meet halfway between the 3 of us one weekend, and you can show us

As it happens, I could do with some bumper bracket welding doing.  Oh, and then curry. Lets not forget curry. Never, ever forget curry.

[aaronjb]

Oh, and start with clean mild steel, as thats the easiest.

I started with rusty mild steel.. I like a challenge

I was starting to get the hang of it by E & F and the top most weld on the little bit of modern art I created:


 

Speaking of tools - I put my 10t press together today.. whoever said they could fire things a long way wasn't kidding, nearly shat my pants when I fired the socket drift out that I'd got stuck in the upper wishbone

P.S. if you're having a "Kev teaches welding" day, can I blag a place?