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[HolyCount]

Just to add, normally 130 (true!) amps or so is about the limit for machines that plug into a 13 amp socket. Larger welders will need a higher rated mains connection although you may get away with very intermittent use or use at a lower than maximum current from a 13 amp socket with regular fuse changes(!).

If money is tight and the welds aren't going to have to be pretty mma (arc) welding might be worth considering. No gases required and you'll get better penetration per buck. Aldi had mma welders for 30 quid the other week. Might well have been rubbish but perhaps worth a punt if you're on a budget?

There's more to worry about in a cheap MIG welder.. Wire feed mechanism, for example, whereas an MMA welder is just a power supply really.

Kevin

I gather mma arc welding is a little more difficult to master -- the rod being hand held and it's an art to feed it fast enough without touching the work with it !!!!!!

Alf ---- with the gasless -- is that the one that uses a fluxed wire  Tell me more  

[Justdave]

If you go for a Mig it might be worth looking the gasless type if you intend working outside as the gas can quite easily blow out with a bit of wind, have you thought about a small arc/electric type ! just a thought.    

[Marks DTM Calib]

Get a gas MIG.....the Clarke ones are about the best budget ones (unlike SIP which are totaly shite with crap wire feeds).

Its easy to convert to gasless (but you never will) by swapping the polarity round although in reality, I have never had an issue outside because the flow of gas around the tip where you are welding normaly takes some shifting and the cored wire suffers similar issues and generally poorer joints.

135amp is the peak off a 13A socket and even then keep some spare 13A fuses about as they do fail due to the strike stress ageing them.

I personaly would avoid the non domestic socket based ones unless you really need much higher current as they are very limiting for general hobby use in general

Get an auto dimming mask and if you can 'obtain' a pub CO2 cylinder for general mild steel work.

[miggcddave]

Get a gas MIG.....the Clarke ones are about the best budget ones (unlike SIP which are totaly shite with crap wire feeds).

Its easy to convert to gasless (but you never will) by swapping the polarity round although in reality, I have never had an issue outside because the flow of gas around the tip where you are welding normaly takes some shifting and the cored wire suffers similar issues and generally poorer joints.

135amp is the peak off a 13A socket and even then keep some spare 13A fuses about as they do fail due to the strike stress ageing them.

I personaly would avoid the non domestic socket based ones unless you really need much higher current as they are very limiting for general hobby use in general

Get an auto dimming mask and if you can 'obtain' a pub CO2 cylinder for general mild steel work.

i use a 130amp mig have used it for years on cars gates bkts and all sorts of steel . even welded 5mm box steel frames it welded with no probs . and the frames are still together and going strong

[unlucky alf]

Just to add, normally 130 (true!) amps or so is about the limit for machines that plug into a 13 amp socket. Larger welders will need a higher rated mains connection although you may get away with very intermittent use or use at a lower than maximum current from a 13 amp socket with regular fuse changes(!).

If money is tight and the welds aren't going to have to be pretty mma (arc) welding might be worth considering. No gases required and you'll get better penetration per buck. Aldi had mma welders for 30 quid the other week. Might well have been rubbish but perhaps worth a punt if you're on a budget?

There's more to worry about in a cheap MIG welder.. Wire feed mechanism, for example, whereas an MMA welder is just a power supply really.

Kevin

I gather mma arc welding is a little more difficult to master -- the rod being hand held and it's an art to feed it fast enough without touching the work with it !!!!!!

Alf ---- with the gasless -- is that the one that uses a fluxed wire  Tell me more  

i know the wire is impregnated with something i assumed it creats its own Co2 or something like that,  :-/ there seems to be a difference of opinion as to what you should go for, im only sticking with the gas one because thats what ive been used to for about 30 years , mind you as MDTM says the gasless can be converted over without much hassle but when i used it it was fine as gasless, the first ever mig i had was an old live tip one which was a bit iffy to use & i soon got rid of that

[unlucky alf]

just to add the pub Co2 bottles are fine but definately better with the Co2/argon mix but less available on the cheap

[Marks DTM Calib]

just to add the pub Co2 bottles are fine but definately better with the Co2/argon mix but less available on the cheap

Yep, but for general use, wind the gas flow up (on a pub cylinder this is not a big issue)

I use Argon for Aluminium but, the gas is not cheap!

Its easier to convert a gas mig to flux cored gasless than the other way round  

[miggcddave]

Just to add, normally 130 (true!) amps or so is about the limit for machines that plug into a 13 amp socket. Larger welders will need a higher rated mains connection although you may get away with very intermittent use or use at a lower than maximum current from a 13 amp socket with regular fuse changes(!).

If money is tight and the welds aren't going to have to be pretty mma (arc) welding might be worth considering. No gases required and you'll get better penetration per buck. Aldi had mma welders for 30 quid the other week. Might well have been rubbish but perhaps worth a punt if you're on a budget?

There's more to worry about in a cheap MIG welder.. Wire feed mechanism, for example, whereas an MMA welder is just a power supply really.

Kevin

I gather mma arc welding is a little more difficult to master -- the rod being hand held and it's an art to feed it fast enough without touching the work with it !!!!!!

Alf ---- with the gasless -- is that the one that uses a fluxed wire  Tell me more  

i know the wire is impregnated with something i assumed it creats its own Co2 or something like that,  :-/ there seems to be a difference of opinion as to what you should go for, im only sticking with the gas one because thats what ive been used to for about 30 years , mind you as MDTM says the gasless can be converted over without much hassle but when i used it it was fine as gasless, the first ever mig i had was an old live tip one which was a bit iffy to use & i soon got rid of that

gas less wire is crap and dear to buy . you wont get better than gas there are loads of different gases . but pub gas is ok for car welding but it spits a bit to much

[Marks DTM Calib]

The spitting is usualy the rust etc so happens on all gases.

I know when I did the lambda bosses on Mick Dundees car (using pub gas) and about 90 amp (1.6mm steel on the exhaust) there was no spitting at all just that nice fizz when you have the feed set right and the current spot on.  

[miggcddave]

The spitting is usualy the rust etc so happens on all gases.

I know when I did the lambda bosses on Mick Dundees car (using pub gas) and about 90 amp (1.6mm steel on the exhaust) there was no spitting at all just that nice fizz when you have the feed set right and the current spot on.  

ive been spoilt im using cougar 20 nice clean weld off it  

[unlucky alf]

ive always found that no matter what mig welder you use, they always rely on the job being clean & free from paint,rust or oil/grease

[miggcddave]

ive always found that no matter what mig welder you use, they always rely on the job being clean & free from paint,rust or oil/grease

cougar 20 is a gas mix of argon carbon dioxide it burns hotter at the arc gives better welds

[Marks DTM Calib]

It shouldn't burn at all!

I know a man with a very large bottle of Nitrogen (a forum member on here).

Its just to bloody large to move in order to get a loan!

[miggcddave]

It shouldn't burn at all!

I know a man with a very large bottle of Nitrogen (a forum member on here).

Its just to bloody large to move in order to get a loan!

sorry  i know the gas dont burn its a shield but gases do make differance to welding .but on cars it dont matter so much

[Martin_1962]

Hmmm I think I know where I could get some Argon if I got one.