looking for a cheap welder

exosteve · 13-08-2014, 08:33

I'm currently working on making myself a workshop so I can start to make my own add on bits for my truck.

I don't think I will ever do any body work welding but want to make my own rock sliders and roof rack etc.

I understand mig welders are easier to use but I've never had a go of one.but I have when I was younger had a little arc welding experience.

I've come across some really cheap arc welders local to me on eBay for as little as £70.
But I'm not sure whether to buy arc or go for a mig and practice.
If I go for mig do I get gas or gasless?
Like I said I have no experience at all with a mig so it must be pretty user friendly.

Any advice for a novice please

RJL Services · 13-08-2014, 09:45

hi i bought a sealey gasless welder used twice the sold it as it was hard work bought my next one of ebay item number 301224763846 from the netherlands a 195 amp i also got a rent free bottle from my local supplier and regulator and used for the first time last week and al worked fine plus the welder takes 0.6 0.8 1mm wire on a 5kg spool a lot cheaper to buy than gasless wire which does not go very far and is over 10 quid for a little spool i paid 16.50 for my 5kg spools delivered hope this helps you out,rob

RJL Services · 13-08-2014, 09:47

i forgot to mention it had a little dent on the welder which i tapped out i contacted the supplier and got 20 quid refund so was even cheaper

elty001 · 13-08-2014, 10:23

ive got a Clarke en 151 turbo dual mig.
can use either gas or gasless.
gasless is ok on heavier stuff but not very good on thin plate.
had this set for about 12 years and aside from the general service parts never had any problems and its done some work.
can get gassless wire for under 5 quid a spool but as rambolane says they are only 1/2 kilo so don't go very far.
got my own gas cylinder so cheap as chips to swap it through work.
only thing with this set was it wasn't that cheap but its paid for its self 100 times over with the work I have done with it.

dave123 · 13-08-2014, 11:12

I never welded before and found a 50p size hole and a garage wanted £250 plus to weld it . because the interior needed to come out . so I went to but the Clarke 151 turbo from machine mart but found out it has to be wired on a 30amp fuse like a cooker does . so I was talking to my mate and he said only buy the ones that has a fitted plug not the ones where they wire straight in . because if you fit your own plug the grantee becomes void and they will not replace . so I brought a Clarke 135 turbo gas/gasless welder for £260 . spent about 2 weeks teaching myself with gasless on scrap 2mm metal plate and then I changed it to gas . got the bottle for £80 and regulator for £28 and a auto tint welding mask for £20 on ebay . since then I have welded my twice and showed my mate who welds and he said it looks like a professional weld on it . but this site help me lots http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/learning-mig.htm

dave123 · 13-08-2014, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by elty001

ive got a Clarke en 151 turbo dual mig.
can use either gas or gasless.
gasless is ok on heavier stuff but not very good on thin plate.
had this set for about 12 years and aside from the general service parts never had any problems and its done some work.
can get gassless wire for under 5 quid a spool but as rambolane says they are only 1/2 kilo so don't go very far.
got my own gas cylinder so cheap as chips to swap it through work.
only thing with this set was it wasn't that cheap but its paid for its self 100 times over with the work I have done with it.

how have you wired that 151 turbo in . not just on a plug ? as I was told if you plug it in to house hold sockets they will trip if you turn the power up

elty001 · 13-08-2014, 12:19

came with a plug fitted but I have had it 12 years so things may have changed a little since then.
never blew a fuse or melted a cable and I have run it on a long extenstion lead many times.

exosteve · 13-08-2014, 12:29

It won't be used a lot and it needs to have a regular 3pin plug.
The one you linked Pete is sold as spares.

But it seems I need to be looking for mig rather than arc and deffo with gas?

makeitfit · 13-08-2014, 10:18

"Cheap" hmmm, you may get lucky but generally buy cheap buy twice

Last year I think, I bought my son a new Sealy gas/gasless mighty mig for about 200 quid. It worked perfectly but just wasn't adjustable enough. Especially when doing bodywork stuff you need low down control, or holes get bigger

We stuck it out for a few months. Gasless was poo and expensive. So we did a deal and traded up to a bigger Sealy . Now with euro torch and much more control the difference is absolute.
We use argon mix gas 'cause it's easier to get a nice weld but CO2 pub gas will work and is cheaper.
As alwatys get as good as you can afford but this may be worth a punt http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/sealey-mig...item2a417f50ea
Parts are readily available

13-08-2014, 08:33	#1
exosteve Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: stoke on trent Vehicle: 2001 2.7 td lwb terrano Posts: 2,740	looking for a cheap welder I'm currently working on making myself a workshop so I can start to make my own add on bits for my truck. I don't think I will ever do any body work welding but want to make my own rock sliders and roof rack etc. I understand mig welders are easier to use but I've never had a go of one.but I have when I was younger had a little arc welding experience. I've come across some really cheap arc welders local to me on eBay for as little as £70. But I'm not sure whether to buy arc or go for a mig and practice. If I go for mig do I get gas or gasless? Like I said I have no experience at all with a mig so it must be pretty user friendly. Any advice for a novice please

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13-08-2014, 09:45	#2
RJL Services Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: southwest gloucester Vehicle: Nissan Terrano 2.7 2003 Posts: 615	hi i bought a sealey gasless welder used twice the sold it as it was hard work bought my next one of ebay item number 301224763846 from the netherlands a 195 amp i also got a rent free bottle from my local supplier and regulator and used for the first time last week and al worked fine plus the welder takes 0.6 0.8 1mm wire on a 5kg spool a lot cheaper to buy than gasless wire which does not go very far and is over 10 quid for a little spool i paid 16.50 for my 5kg spools delivered hope this helps you out,rob

13-08-2014, 09:47	#3
RJL Services Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: southwest gloucester Vehicle: Nissan Terrano 2.7 2003 Posts: 615	i forgot to mention it had a little dent on the welder which i tapped out i contacted the supplier and got 20 quid refund so was even cheaper

13-08-2014, 10:23	#4
elty001 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Aflreton,Derbyshire. Vehicle: 2000se+ 2.7tdi terrano II Posts: 6,832	ive got a Clarke en 151 turbo dual mig. can use either gas or gasless. gasless is ok on heavier stuff but not very good on thin plate. had this set for about 12 years and aside from the general service parts never had any problems and its done some work. can get gassless wire for under 5 quid a spool but as rambolane says they are only 1/2 kilo so don't go very far. got my own gas cylinder so cheap as chips to swap it through work. only thing with this set was it wasn't that cheap but its paid for its self 100 times over with the work I have done with it.

13-08-2014, 11:12	#5
dave123 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: exeter devon Vehicle: terrano 2 /2.7se tdi Posts: 519	I never welded before and found a 50p size hole and a garage wanted £250 plus to weld it . because the interior needed to come out . so I went to but the Clarke 151 turbo from machine mart but found out it has to be wired on a 30amp fuse like a cooker does . so I was talking to my mate and he said only buy the ones that has a fitted plug not the ones where they wire straight in . because if you fit your own plug the grantee becomes void and they will not replace . so I brought a Clarke 135 turbo gas/gasless welder for £260 . spent about 2 weeks teaching myself with gasless on scrap 2mm metal plate and then I changed it to gas . got the bottle for £80 and regulator for £28 and a auto tint welding mask for £20 on ebay . since then I have welded my twice and showed my mate who welds and he said it looks like a professional weld on it . but this site help me lots http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/learning-mig.htm

13-08-2014, 12:19	#7
elty001 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Aflreton,Derbyshire. Vehicle: 2000se+ 2.7tdi terrano II Posts: 6,832	came with a plug fitted but I have had it 12 years so things may have changed a little since then. never blew a fuse or melted a cable and I have run it on a long extenstion lead many times.

13-08-2014, 12:29	#8
exosteve Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: stoke on trent Vehicle: 2001 2.7 td lwb terrano Posts: 2,740	It won't be used a lot and it needs to have a regular 3pin plug. The one you linked Pete is sold as spares. But it seems I need to be looking for mig rather than arc and deffo with gas?

13-08-2014, 10:18	#9
makeitfit Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: on the beach WEST WALES Vehicle: Maverick TDi BLACK mmm Posts: 15,136	"Cheap" hmmm, you may get lucky but generally buy cheap buy twice Last year I think, I bought my son a new Sealy gas/gasless mighty mig for about 200 quid. It worked perfectly but just wasn't adjustable enough. Especially when doing bodywork stuff you need low down control, or holes get bigger We stuck it out for a few months. Gasless was poo and expensive. So we did a deal and traded up to a bigger Sealy . Now with euro torch and much more control the difference is absolute. We use argon mix gas 'cause it's easier to get a nice weld but CO2 pub gas will work and is cheaper. As alwatys get as good as you can afford but this may be worth a punt http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/sealey-mig...item2a417f50ea Parts are readily available