What Welder have you got?

[Billy]

Im currently inthe marlet for a welder preferably quite a big used one. so wa sjut wondering what everyone else has and what you think of them?

[agg221]

Mine isn't big, quite the opposite in fact, but it's good - it's an ESAB Caddy, so truly portable stick/TIG and I really like it. Not sure where you are, but would thoroughly recommend Tecweld in Gravesend, who refurbish top end kit and sell it on at very reasonable prices. Also very realistic with their advice on what features you do/don't really need for a particular line of work.

 

Alec

[tommer9]

I think its caled an Arclite? Its a heavy old stick welder that suits my level of (read lack of lol) skill, but is very reliable.

[robbo 110]

if you can go to spending up to £500 then a 200amp mig/mag on a 30 amp single phase will last you a lifetime, drop roughly to £400 for a 180 amp welder on a 13 amp plug,

 

mig is really easy to learn compared with other methods, make sure the metal is clean & away you go, as a rough guide 180 amp welder will give a good weld on 3mm plate, up to 5mm if you 'v' the edges, arc is a cheaper way but harder to learn!

[treequip]

Three phase is cheap second hand and your best value, if you are buying single phase make sure the motor mount is beefy enough, some are plastic and the idler bearing is crepe which gives feed problems.

 

 

I once had a SIP welder that was absolute pant’s and I would rather stick hop pins in my eyes than own another

[niftysteve]

esab 160 migwelder here, it welds anythingive ever needed too

[GardenKit]

Mig welders are great, they are cheap to run on wire as opposed to electrodes.

Very easy to use and fast, ideal for fabrication.

But.. the work must be clean, they will not weld well through paint or rust, and they are next to useless outdoors if there is any breeze it blows away the inert gas shield. The gas can be expensive, especially if you have to rent the bottle. Shop around to compare rental prices.

There are some suppliers who charge only a minimal rent upfront for a 3 year period, then you just pay for your refill. Dont be tempted to use the small diposable bottles.

If you need to weld outdoors on dirty material then it has to be an arc (stick) welder. The modern inverter types are light and powerful, ideal for portabilty and are ideal for repair welding.

[niftysteve]

Mig welders are great, they are cheap to run on wire as opposed to electrodes.

Very easy to use and fast, ideal for fabrication.

But.. the work must be clean, they will not weld well through paint or rust, and they are next to useless outdoors if there is any breeze it blows away the inert gas shield. The gas can be expensive, especially if you have to rent the bottle. Shop around to compare rental prices.

There are some suppliers who charge only a minimal rent upfront for a 3 year period, then you just pay for your refill. Dont be tempted to use the small diposable bottles.

If you need to weld outdoors on dirty material then it has to be an arc (stick) welder. The modern inverter types are light and powerful, ideal for portabilty and are ideal for repair welding.

 

air liquide have been doing a deal on gas a one off payment £170 you own the bottle and only pay for the refills

the bottles regulator is fixed so when you refill the new bottle comes with regulator refills are about £37

[GardenKit]

air liquide have been doing a deal on gas a one off payment £170 you own the bottle and only pay for the refills

the bottles regulator is fixed so when you refill the new bottle comes with regulator refills are about £37

just checked my paperwork, I started my agreement with Inverter Fusion Ltd at Honiton in dec 2010. Paid £30 deposit on 10l bottle of "garage gas", £48 "right of use" for 3 yrs, and £28.00 for each fill.

[Peter]

Oxford 280 amp single phase mig, on a 32 amp supply. Good solid british made welder, 280 amps is enough to weld 10mm thick steel.

 

Looked for a second hand one for ages, but single phase welders fetch silly money secondhand, if you have a 3 phase supply then you will get a much better deal on a secondhand machine, plus 3 phase is better for welding anyway.