welders

[steptoe]

I know we have a couple of proper welders on here,

anyone got any opinions on this ?

Im not a welder, I do a bit of bird droppings now and again, thats it,

just wondering if it was going to be a total waste of money or not, it looks identical but for colour to the last one I had,['wolf' I think it was] which is still at my mates house, and only cost about 50

 

[NozSpark]

TBH I had a gasless mig years ago; the main problem with it was that it didn't have variable power settings, just high and low, so it either burnt through the material or didn't make the weld.

 

[Alwyn]

Perfect for tacking together. Lidl have a similar welder for

 

[Sidewinder]

I used an old SIP 130 model similar for years at home.

They are OK, just not powerful enough for anything above about 4mm really & 2.5 rods, using 10's they struggle, the OCV is also quite low.

 

[steptoe]

OCV? ah, get you now, yep, its only 48v, not that that really means anything to me. :C

SW. if Im using anything other than 1.6 or 2mm rods its a BIG job!

 

[ProDave]

I too have an ancient SIP 130 and it works okay with 2.5mm rods.

Certainly good enough for the few jobs I need to do, last of which was some alterations to my boat trailer.

 

[OnOff]

I have the slightly earlier version of this (135 from memory). Does what it says on the tin and easy to get spares. Used it on mild and stainless with various gas mixes.

Clarke 150TE (Turbo) MIG Welder - Machine Mart

 

[Andy™]

only problem with cheap welders like that is the duty cycle. you may not get much welding done before it shuts off for a 20 minute break. but if its only the odd short weld, then its unlikely to be much of a problem.

never had a problem with mine cutting out due to overheating... although it is a TP, 300a welder, thats so big / heavy its easier to have long leads than move it around. your welcome to use it, but probably a little too far away

 

[OnOff]

I hired a subbie at work and he turned up with all his kit. Helped him up to the roof with his welding screen, full size gas bottles, an extension lead and one of those folding plastic crates with his overalls sitting on top and a mini grinder sticking out. I said "Oh, so you're going to gas weld then?!. "No", he said "Arc welding, the gas is to apply the zinc stick coating afterwards!". I asked then where the welder was assuming he'd left it in the van. He lifted his overalls off the crate and pulled out the smallest inverter stick welder I have EVER seen. About the size of a box of tissues and so small it had a scrawny little shoulder strap on it. Thought he was taking the pi$$ until he started and I was gobsmacked. Reckons it's about

 

[Andy™]

seen them about a few times, small piece of kit, and much better than the basic welders. you can get a TIG torch to fit them (along with many other DC arc welders)

 

[steptoe]

[quote name='Andy

 

[Andy™]

now, that would be a LONG set of leads,,,!!!

VD may be a problem though...

 

[apprentice87]

Hi Steps, I have to go out right now, but when i get back i will write you a post with all you need to know!!

john..

 

[OnOff]

[quote name='Andy

 

[steptoe]

Hi Steps, I have to go out right now, but when i get back i will write you a post with all you need to know!!john..

thanks John, Ive really only done MIG/TIG in the past, but, as I said, I couldnt justify [or afford] buying a MIG right now, and I really dont want to buy a cheap piece of tat,

anyway, I got that little arc set today, pretty much like the one I had previously, and does what it says on the tin,

I reckon it'll be fine for the bits and pieces I'll be using it on for the time being, and at a reasonable enough price,

 

[Sidewinder]

I love TIG welding I find it very therapeutic!

I know very sad.

Ali is a pain, but st stl & lcs is a dream.

I got hold of a TIG set, but it had to go away!

I am looking for one, at the right price.

Got to be ac/dc though, ac for the ali to lift the oxide & dc for the thin steel.

 

[kerching]

My mate is a welder [used to weld TVR Chassis and later on Decompression chambers!] we were discussing Mig TiG, MMA plasma cutters etc on way back from a job today. He uses an absolutely knackered SiP 130...awesome results. Battered and knackered MiG set.....awesome results, gas set held together with jubilee clips and snot.......It's not the welding set it is the welder. Does my head in...mine looks like Flying Rat faeces, his does not even need the **** blethering off with a BFO hammer, just a tap with the stick and its sorted. He was bored the other day so made himself a hydraulic down stroking mini press-break!!!....... :coat

 

[OnOff]

My welding has been compared to Artex by the kind and "pan spatter" by the not so kind!

 

[Andy™]

Yep, he did mention he also did TIG with it. That's an art, I have a lot of ali and the finer st/st TIG welded at work. I also know a lad who TIG welds all his car bodywork rather than using the MIG (he's very keen).

i have a TIG welder. its a bit slow compared to stick for a few things, but the tig is much better at other work. also got a mig but i dont like it much - really awkward to get the right settings, and the lead is too short. i like long leads so i can leve the welder in 1 place and easily move around

can also gas weld, but lack of acetylene is a little problem

 

[steptoe]

I learned on gas waaaay back when I was a nipper, it was all my dad had, havent used it in over 20years now so wouldnt have a clue these days,

I learnt my MIG on a race truck we had, never had a MIG in my hand on the monday morning, by the end of the week I was pretty decent, you could see the welds I had done on the monday morning, and it was obvious the ones I done on friday afternoon,

I'll try get a pic scanned and posted, its only of the truck mind, not my welding, never really thought about that sort of thing then, and the weldings probably not really that good anyway.

the pic is actually of a bike I had at the time, but the truck is behind it.

---------- Post Auto-Merged at 22:07 ---------- Previous post was made at 22:06 ----------

My welding has been compared to Artex by the kind and "pan spatter" by the not so kind!

gawd only knows what they would say about mine?????????