Fresh welder... What to get?

[Mike Hill]

I bought one of these.

 

Kemppi Mig Minarc Evo 200 - 240 volt | United Welding

WWW.UNITEDWELDING.CO.UK

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Why buy Precise weld quality and arc ignition 200 or 170 A of MIG...

 

It was pricey but it's all the welder an Arborist is likely to need.

 

Buy once,cry once.Its paid for itself several times over.It will weld well enough running off a small generator so that you can repair something in the field.

[donnk]

it does look a nice welder but can you honestly see that LCD still working in 10 years time.

[Will C]

Rtec inverter welders are good. The 250 amp Will do every thing you have mentioned, in mig or arc mode. The current one here is over 5 yr old a working like the day it was new.

 

just to add consumable and service parts service is excellent from rtec as well 👍

Edited January 3, 2021 by Will C

[topchippyles]

47 minutes ago, Mike Hill said:

I bought one of these.

 

Kemppi Mig Minarc Evo 200 - 240 volt | United Welding

WWW.UNITEDWELDING.CO.UK

---

Why buy Precise weld quality and arc ignition 200 or 170 A of MIG...

 

It was pricey but it's all the welder an Arborist is likely to need.

 

Buy once,cry once.Its paid for itself several times over.It will weld well enough running off a small generator so that you can repair something in the field.

Amazes me when people never read what has been posted ( Don't want silly money ) 

Edited January 3, 2021 by topchippyles

[doobin]

1 hour ago, Justme said:

 

 

And I would have to disagree with using a bolt to replace a safety device.

Wire it in properly from the start.

The stick bit of the combi machine will still out perform the mig amp for amp so my advice is still spot on.

Rtec are great machines but not everyone has £700-£1k to drop on a multi process inverter machine when an inverter stick can be had for a few hundred. 

 

If using a three pin plug to 16amp adaptor then the fuse is redundant so long as the adaptor cable is sufficent (2.5mm) It's not a safety device as the welder will draw more than 13 amps. If it makes you feel better he could just wire a 16 amp socket into the ring main, or even hardwire it, but the effect would be the same as running a proper 32 amp plug and  breaker. The only difference is that the 20 amp breaker might trip under sustained full chat. It's no less safe. A fuse is simply there to protect the appliance and wiring, which in this case is rated way in excess of the fuse. The RCD and MCB protect the user. All the pins in any socket are more than capable of handling the current- they go down to poxy 2.5mm wire don't they?? I've never used the stupidly massive 32 amp sockets, 16 amp is plenty.

 

 

An inverter mig can be had for a few hundred, so no, your advice is not spot on given the other facets of MIG welding such as heavy gas and multi pass that will allow the OP to use a technique he is comfortable with to get more than adequate results.

Edited January 3, 2021 by doobin

[Moose McAlpine]

1 hour ago, Mike Hill said:

I bought one of these.

 

Kemppi Mig Minarc Evo 200 - 240 volt | United Welding

WWW.UNITEDWELDING.CO.UK

---

Why buy Precise weld quality and arc ignition 200 or 170 A of MIG...

 

It was pricey but it's all the welder an Arborist is likely to need.

 

Buy once,cry once.Its paid for itself several times over.It will weld well enough running off a small generator so that you can repair something in the field.

 

I have the same machine, it's great. I take it out and do on-site work with it too.

[Mike Hill]

44 minutes ago, topchippyles said:

Amazes me when people never read what has been posted ( Don't want silly money ) 

It amazes me when carpenters spend half their life in an Arborist forum.

 

Then complain when they receive solid advice regarding tools?

 

Buy once cry once.

[Justme]

13 minutes ago, doobin said:

If using a three pin plug to 16amp adaptor then the fuse is redundant so long as the adaptor cable is sufficent (2.5mm) It's not a safety device as the welder will draw more than 13 amps. If it makes you feel better he could just wire a 16 amp socket into the ring main, or even hardwire it, but the effect would be the same as running a proper 32 amp plug and  breaker. The only difference is that the 20 amp breaker might trip under sustained full chat. It's no less safe. A fuse is simply there to protect the appliance and wiring, which in this case is rated way in excess of the fuse. The RCD and MCB protect the user. All the pins in any socket are more than capable of handling the current- they go down to poxy 2.5mm wire don't they?? I've never used the stupidly massive 32 amp sockets, 16 amp is plenty.

 

 

An inverter mig can be had for a few hundred, so no, your advice is not spot on given the other facets of MIG welding such as heavy gas and multi pass that will allow the OP to use a technique he is comfortable with to get more than adequate results.

3 pin sockets are rated for oh yes 13 amps per outlet. Pulling up to 20 for sustained periods is bad advice.

 

Lots of modern 13 amp plugs are made crap & get hot any where near that current. Especially the ones with the plastic safety cover on the pins.

 

An inverter mig that also has the tig & arc kits you recommended cant be had for a couple of hundred (cheapest I found for a 250amp was just over £300). You even recommend one thats a good £600+ & will still need extra bits too. Same brand inverter stick is £95.

 

He wants a cheap option. A stick (inverter or not) is just that option.

 

Personally I would multi pass MIG it. But I already have the kit to do so.

 

For occasional use with low start up & running cost stick are hard to beat.

 

If they have mastered MIG they will so get the hang of arc.

[topchippyles]

7 minutes ago, Mike Hill said:

It amazes me when carpenters spend half their life in an Arborist forum.

 

Then complain when they receive solid advice regarding tools?

 

Buy once cry once.

I actually read what people post and a 1k welder is not exactly on the lower scale is it. 

Post 1  ( Don't want silly money ) 

Edited January 3, 2021 by topchippyles

[Ratman]

I actually read what people post and a 1k welder is not exactly on the lower scale is it. 
Post 1  ( Don't want silly money ) 

I agree with Mike here Lesbert, £1000 might sound expensive........ but you pay for what you get, look after it and it’ll look after you, and if its looking after you, then it becomes a cheap investment in the long run.