UKC

Hi all, I've currently got what has to be the worst (though, to be fair, probably the cheapest) welder in the world!

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p23664?table=no

Not wanting to spend thousands and would probably prefer to buy a better second hand machine rather than a lower quality new one.

Any recommendations and any tips for a beginner?

Thanks.

In reply to Oceanrower:

Gas mig? I bought a cheap one a few months ago and it's excellent for what I use it for

In reply to Oceanrower:

Depends on what you want to weld really. That machine will be fine for heavy duty stuff, but no good for sorting out rust on a car body.

Try a specialist like:

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/

A lot of information out there.

In reply to Oceanrower:

I'm not a welder, but I suspect it'll help people if you say what you want to use it for? Also what kinds of metal you want to weld?

I've looked into it a bit and a gas TIG/MIG setup looks good, but you have to have a big gas cannister sitting around. If you have the space for that, then that seems like the way to go. But no actual experience.

In reply to Cheese Monkey:

Yes, that's what I'm looking for. I'm hoping for advice on makes, power outputs etc.

Just general DIY stuff and hobby car repair. Not commercial.

In reply to Oceanrower:

Well I got a cheap mig from Amazon- Wolf I think it is. Bought a load of Argon hobby bottles off eBay and I use it for the same as you. Never managed to reach its duty cycle. Gas switch on the torch has gone a bit iffy so need to fix that, but that's common on any torch. Power wise it will probably weld 6mm I would expect. Can be used with a 13A plug just not at full power.

In reply to Oceanrower:

Fixed up many old land rover chassis and built a roll cage for my ex-mil lightweight with a stick welder like that. Great for welding 1/8th or thicker steel plate together but anything thin like a car really needs a MIG with inert gas rather than flux wire. With arc/MMA, thin rods and bodywork/exhaust/etc the line between running the rod too cold to actually weld and blowing big holes in the thing you are repairing is extremely frustrating.

In reply to Oceanrower:

Stick is OK for heavier work and the odd bodge. With a few exceptions like cast iron work it's a poor choice.

Basic MIG kit is pretty versatile on steel, it's good put of position under cars and quite controllable with practice. 150a is plenty, for thicker sections you can take two passes. Can with care be used on very thin sheet.

Tig is vert versatile and great for bench work or where access is reasonable. DC is cheap and will also do stainless. AC is pricey but a must for aluminium. I have a single phase 200a set that's never used at full power, 120 to 150a is plenty and the torch doesn't overheat at that.

Gas for MIG and tig isn't cheap. For occasional use little bottles work but for a bigger project rent one. Co2 is cheaper than argon so use that if all you weld is steel.

Get a decent aito darkening mask. Don't weld galvanised steel, it's toxic.
Jk

In reply to jkarran:

Thanks, just what I was looking for.

In reply to Oceanrower:

Thanks for all your replies. Plenty to think about

In reply to Oceanrower:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/

In reply to Oceanrower:

For basic DIY steel I'd recommend gasless MIG. The wire is a little more expensive but has a flux core and negates the need for shrouding gas. I've welded c.1mm steel on an old Mini with one of these, with a few chill blocks. It's more happy on perhaps 2 - 8mm mild steel. Although it was about £50 cheaper when I bought mine...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig-90en-no-gas-mig-welder/

For doing a lot more work where you can justify getting gas bottles replaced/refilled then gas-MIG is the way to go.

IMO stick welders are a thing of the past for most people, and a DECENT TIG station will cost way too much for most DIY people.

In reply to Oceanrower:

A parachutist jumps from an aeroplane and to his considerable dismay both his main and reserve chutes fail to deploy. As he falls and contemplates his imminent demise, he meets a man in a welding mask coming the other way.

'Do you know anything about parachutes?', he asks.
'No. Do you know anything about welding petrol tanks?' is the reply