looking for a cheap welder

[exosteve]

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]

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]

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

[makeitfit]

"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

[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.

[dave123]

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]

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]

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]

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?

[Fez_uk]

Have a look for local listings for welder on ebay. But as pete says there could be some crap out there.

Something like a 150a should do nicely. Go gas, so worth it. Initial outlay is a lot but longterm cheaper. Just remember to turn the gas off when you stop welding for the day
Non rent argon/co2 gas mix can be found at many local motorfactors (http://www.sgsgases.co.uk/ supply all over the uk)


Something that can run on 5kg rolls is also cheaper longterm. I can pick up a good roll for about £11 from my local motorfactors.

[Lazy-Ferret]

My Plasma Part, stick welder came with a 16amp blue plug on it, but I just use a converter lead to switch that back to a standard 13amp plug.

It only draws 16 amp, if I use the highest setting, which I have never needed yet, and should I accidentally set it too high, it will just blow the fuse in the 13amp plug, so no problems with burning out wires.

I have also fitted a 16amp socket for it in the garage, but I never seem to need to use it there

[AlexD333]

Go and see Rick for the day. Enough said

[makeitfit]

Originally Posted by exosteve

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?

Spares listing as knob missing and not used for a while but 30 quid

[dave123]

Originally Posted by exosteve

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?

this is the one I got https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...gas-mig-welder . it comes all ready set up for gasless and is the biggest one these sale with a 3 pin plug on it . but buy a full size regulator and bottle and you can weld with gas . I wanted one that could do both as I will be welding outside most of the time and with gas you can't when the wind is around . but if you really are thinking about it look at this site and forum as people will tell you about them and give you tips http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/learning-mig.htm

[Lincs Mav]

My Dad bought a second hand mig the other week. Its an old machine 180amp with full size gas bottle and 5kg of wire reg etc for the grand sum of £60 from a garage owner who has just retired. There are some good deals out and about.

Cheers Gav