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[Webby the Bear]

Arternoon

Symes kindly gave me a master class of MIG welding (really appreciate that mate) a few weeks back and I'm now in a position where I'd like to take this further on my own.

Now of course, only having one day lesson I'm not ready to start doing wheel arches  but I figure if I get myself a Fisher-Price ''My First Welder'' and a mask I can buy some metal and practise welding in the back garden. Then move on to bending metal and making shapes. Then finally get to the point where I'm confident and ready to do some welding on a car (the Omega will be done by then  )

So, I have some questions

1.) Can anyone recommend a MIG welder that utilises the small gas bottles widely available. Symes had an awesome one that would be great for first use but I cant remember brand/model etc.

2.) The welder we used had wire coming out of it (I presume its this wire that melts and makes the ''filler'' between the two metals). What's this wire called? Is it readily available? Are there different grades of thickness, material etc? Is it easy to replace when needed?

3.) Other than having the metal clean (de-rusted) and prepped and then putting the ground connection on the metal that's it really isn't it? i.e. its then just down to how well I can get beads (which will come with practise). pretty much thinking its plug n play? 

4.) The dials: on Symes welder there was a two dials. What dials are they and what do I set these at when welding? When do I alter the dials?

If you could help that would be awesomes

Thanks

[davieboy0312]

Get yourself a welder that takes the small bottles then get a converter to take the bigger bottles. Small bottles are £14 each i can get a garage sized bottle for £27. The wire i use i get from helfrauds. About £25 a roll.
The dials on the welder one controls wire speed and other will control power of welder(welding thicker plate needs higher power setting)
the gas i use i co2 argon mix i find it doesn't splatter as much but you need to find what you like best

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks Davie, just the info I was looking for! 

So, re the bottles.... is it not all the same stuff then?

Re the wire is it all same diameter? If not any ideas whats the best or does that again depend upon application?

So what wire speed should I set it at? And is there a generic power setting?

 

[aaronjb]

Tons of information here: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/mig.htm

[Webby the Bear]

Tons of information here: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/mig.htm

Thanks Aaron. I did read that previously but thought it'd be nice to have a discussion here cos its real world 

[davieboy0312]

You get different gas for different metal. Argon is for mild steel. Co2 argon mix is for stainless steel but i find its good on mild steel. In helfrauds its all the same thickness wire. If all your going to do is arches then a roll of wire think its 8 gauge wire remember get nozzles the same thickness as the wire. Get a few bottles of argon. If its just arches and panel work. Personally i have wire speed on medium a low power setting. If your power is to high or your not moving fast enough you will blow holes. And remember dont weld arches in a continuous line. If you where welding a foot long panel tack one side then the other then middle then middle left then middle right and so on if you weld in a continuous line you will warp the panel. Am i making sense?

[Webby the Bear]

Yeah that makes perfect sense thanks mate.

So if im trying to do a bead weld (not on arches, say chassis rail etc) then I can have the power on low so I don't warp it and I can go a bit slower?

[davieboy0312]

For chassis rails i would still have wire speed on medium but power on medium to for better penetration chassis rails are 1.2 mm steel i think so more power. And yea a continuous bead is ok for chassis

if you pick it up and enjoy then invest in a mig welder gas bottle conversion kit. Well worth it. They small bottles dont last long
i was £40 for the kit
£60 for empty bottle (refundable)
£27 for a refill of argon

before that i had already bought 12 bottles of gas so speaks for itself.

i got one of those auto dimming helmets from ebay £20 well worth it to. You only get one set of eyes mate

[Kevin Wood]

All good advice.

Wire diameter depends on the material you want to weld. I'd say 0.6mm wire will do you if you're gravitating towards bodywork and lighter welding jobs. You need a correspondingly sized tip for the welder.

MarksDTM recommended the Clarke 135TE to me when I started out and I can't fault that recommendation. Cheaper machines are available but the last thing you want when you're learning the ropes is a dodgy welder where you're not sure if your technique or the welder is failing you.

I would also say see if you can find an introductory welding evening course at a local college. I attended one of these and it was a godsend for getting practice and the course cost was more than compensated by the amount of consumables I got through. It's also an opportunity to sample all types of welding and on top class machines.

[davieboy0312]

I got a sip migmate pretty bullet proof. But its whatever you fancy or cam get hold of. If you find a welder do your homework on it before you buy it. Plenty help on here though

[Marks DTM Calib]

I personally would not touch the SIP machines as the wire feed is inferior to other units available (bitter experience and backed up by online info to where a number of people have posted some mods but it never really fixes it, if you have one then do fit a wire liner to the torch, net curtain cord is perfect!). 

If going new than Clarke 135TE is about the best of the budget ones.

Alternatively you could chance your hand on a semi pro second hand one.

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks guys. Some great advice I think 

Definitely would like a good welder so as you say, im not wondering if its me or the welder lol

just got to make bit of room in the garage lol

[Webby the Bear]

I personally would not touch the SIP machines as the wire feed is inferior to other units available (bitter experience and backed up by online info to where a number of people have posted some mods but it never really fixes it, if you have one then do fit a wire liner to the torch, net curtain cord is perfect!). 

If going new than Clarke 135TE is about the best of the budget ones.

Alternatively you could chance your hand on a semi pro second hand one.

Thanks mark, will defo look at that Clarke one 

I read somewhere that you can do away with gas by having flux wire?

[davieboy0312]

Maybe sip are inferior now but i have never had a problem with them. But mine is about 6 year old maybe more maybe the wire feeds have changed since i got it

[Olympia5776]

Maybe sip are inferior now but i have never had a problem with them. But mine is about 6 year old maybe more maybe the wire feeds have changed since i got it

I've spent a year completely restoring the bodywork on an E24 BMW using my SIP 150T migmate that I bought new 21 years ago. I've used four 9 litre bottles of Argon/C0 mix so you can understand the amount of welding done and it never gave me any problems . Modify the tensioner wheels and fit a steel liner and it is transformed.