Welder wanted

[makeitfit]

My son's just finished his first mechanics course in local college and has really shone at welding :D
I'd like to get him a welder for crimbo . Advise please :)
He's mad about cars and modding them, so I thought something that's good for body work, but doesn't cost a fortune :augie

[extreme-4x4]

i have a welder you can borrow for a while, try before you buy kinda thing if its any use

[kitchenman]

Aldi & Lidl had them recently, I think my local Lidl had some last week in Southend

[larson]

if hes not doing much i would look at gasless. the only problem is you pay through the nose for the wire. i did buy one from screwfix that was gas and gasless and it seems ok.. £150 @ 150amp if i remember corectly.

i would look at a secondhand welder on ebay. search nearest first as everybody is skint and with christmas around the corner they will be some bargains to be had..

[spudd]

yes and plenty of rot box terranos to practise on.

[supergnome]

If he 's used to college welders he may not be happy with just a stick. I would go for gas/gasless. Deep pockets may be required. David.

[Fez_uk]

i'd get a 150a mig one, does most things.

Most can run both gasless and gas, It costs quite a bit to first get all the gear for gas. When I used gasless it was ok for the thicker stuff 2-4mm and did a good job, But the reels came with my welder, Not sure on the price of them. Expect £6ish each small reel (0.45kg) locally.

I picked up one for about £120 2nd hand locally.

Then you can either get a big gas bottle (I think you have to pay yearly subscription for that bottle but refills are fairly cheap or find a mate in the pub trade and use co2 pub gas)
or a meduim one (which at e&m in aber you pay £20 deposit for the bottle, and then £20 per refill)

You will also need a regulator for the bottle £40-50

Have a look here, this is what I did before I bought one: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk

I am still new to it but this is what I have learnt

[makeitfit]

Cheers guys will have a rummage down the back of the couch :augie The gas/gasless option seems a good compromise .
He's got plenty of rotten projects on the wish list already and his own Fiesta mk2 and ofcourse he really needs to practice on my Maverick :sly
I can get pub gas for a few quid a bottle and strugle through a pint going to fetch it :lol

[fridgman]

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

Nice link. :thumbs

[kitchenman]

If you are starting out get a helmet like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=auto+welding+helmet&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=17028862314&ref=pd_sl_98u2kg8v_e
Makes life easy

[makeitfit]

If you are starting out get a helmet like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=auto+welding+helmet&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=17028862314&ref=pd_sl_98u2kg8v_e
Makes life easy

Good idea, I think his sisters maybe getting that :thumbs

[larson]

i bought a cheep one on ebay £35 and it was very good. the one i use at work id £150 and it was on a par until one day the auto dark system stoped working and i got a small flash..

the little bugers made it to be thrown away when the batteries ran out (there soldered in).:doh:doh:doh

im just going to get a small battery holder and fix it to the inside of the helmet and run some small wires to the controls.

you get what you pay for it seems.

[Bee Elzebub]

The only problem with Co2 pub gas is that it can often leave slag-like deposits on the weld surface, but more vitally, it can in fact induce 'porous' welds (ie: looking like the inside of an Aero choccy bar - and with about the same tensile strength!). Best to buy the proper small bottles of argon-mix gas (10%argon/90%Co2, or close enough) - the welding goes far smoother, and of course is best done in shelter from anything more than a gentle breeze...

[Bee Elzebub]

....Anyway - given the different processes of welding, which one did your son excel in? We have to face the fact that MiG welding is largely doddle to master in workshop environments, whereas Arc/MMA welding is a different kettle of fish, and needs a good steady grip and control, etc (bit like having fun with yer missus, in principal!:lol ); oxy-acetylene gas welding is a bit dicier, given the naked flame & fuels volatility (and gas welding buckles the bodywork like mad, anyway) - although TiG welding is the business on thin (Jap) bodywork, as it's low temp'/low distortion, but takes as much skill and dexterity as gas welding.

Gas welding kits are hard to buy & get bottles for due to licencing and insurance restrictions, arc welding kits are cheap and plentiful (but will blow-away any bodywork, as the lowest they'll go is usually 40amp); MiG welders are only a little more expensive, but again, for car bodywork, you need low-amp flexibility or risk the blow-away problem as in arc-welding, so 140 or more amps is great for chassis', etc, but if it won't go down as low as, say, 25amp with 0.6mm wire, you'll struggle (unless you can clamp a copper block behind the piece you're welding, to take away the heat).

The choice, as the old saying goes, "makeitfit", is all yours! No doubt you'll both have fun & games with whatever kit you get..or end up with a vehicle full of "burnworm" holes! :D:lol