Advice on buying a welder please

[terranosaurusdoug]

Hello everyone, i want to buy a welder so I can learn to weld and repair my truck, I know there are some guys on here that weld, some even do it professionally I think.

I've researched a bit and spotted this one, looks like a good one with lots of settings adjustments, what do you think, ideally I would like to spend a little less but I want a decent one. Thanks, Mark

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIG-Welde...791521?hash=item43cfd72221:g:9xgAAOSwtnpXle5e

 

[RJL Services]

looks like a nice welder i use a gys smart mig which is similar with the euro torch type fitting and you can buy longer torch for them i have a 3mtr torch on mine plus i have a full size adams rental free mig gas bottle the disposable ones are a waste of time and money as they do not last very long :thumb2

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Yeah the cheapo ones don't have removable/replaceable torches and leads.

What gas mix do you use?

 

[jims-terrano]

Looks a nice unit. Beware of cheaper ones as they can have fixed torches and odd sized tips and nozzles. Bought ours second hand off a member from here so it didn't matter about the fixed torch. My son converted it to a removable torch with standard sized tips.
We use hobby weld 5 bottles. Bottle hire is £60 refundable and refills are about £30 to £35 depending where you go. We have an agent near us so works out well for us.

 

[Fez_uk]

To be honest if it's just truck work a simple mig welder will do.

Something around 150a should be sufficient

Theres nothing really wrong with a fixed torch, yes some may have an odd size but if you go with a decent make spares are easy enough to get.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Cheers Jim, I'll research the gas, found a youtube vid on it.

erm p.s. mate, you need to update your signature, I think there is a Terrano near me for sale that needs some work if you want me to look into it?

 

[Fez_uk]

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

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

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

Cheers man, that's an awesome site :thumb2

 

[jims-terrano]

Cheers Jim, I'll research the gas, found a youtube vid on it.

erm p.s. mate, you need to update your signature, I think there is a Terrano near me for sale that needs some work if you want me to look into it?

Cheers, forgotten about that but it's sorted out now.

I'm hanging on a bit before we get another truck, got some finances coming through but also waiting to see what happens on the employment front too. Thanks for thinking about us though mate cheers.

 

[solarman216]

The welder you saw me using was £175.00 Rick

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

The welder you saw me using was £175.00 Rick

What is it Rick?

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

:bow

The welder you saw me using was £175.00 Rick

Looks a nice unit. Beware of cheaper ones as they can have fixed torches and odd sized tips and nozzles. Bought ours second hand off a member from here so it didn't matter about the fixed torch. My son converted it to a removable torch with standard sized tips.
We use hobby weld 5 bottles. Bottle hire is £60 refundable and refills are about £30 to £35 depending where you go. We have an agent near us so works out well for us.

I've picked up a hobby five bottle this morning :thumb2

That Terrano is £250, rotten wings and sills, SE with leather seats , if I learn to weld fast enough and can get mine done I might get it and do it up :naughty

 

[Banshee]

:bow



I've picked up a hobby five bottle this morning :thumb2

That Terrano is £250, rotten wings and sills, SE with leather seats , if I learn to weld fast enough and can get mine done I might get it and do it up :naughty

You want to start with that body mount first mate before your truck collapses!!!

Are you still driving it at the moment?

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

You want to start with that body mount first mate before your truck collapses!!!

Are you still driving it at the moment?

No mate it's no mot, that mount then the sills are first on the hit list, then I'll probably get carried away :lol, will be making a hidden winch mount thingy though sometime, like that with the red truck, I can't remember his name:doh

 

[Banshee]

No mate it's no mot, that mount then the sills are first on the hit list, then I'll probably get carried away [emoji38], will be making a hidden winch mount thingy though sometime, like that with the red truck, I can't remember his name:doh

BonesXU1, me too, next mod in my signature :sly

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

You want to start with that body mount first mate before your truck collapses!!!

Are you still driving it at the moment?

BonesXU1, me too, next mod in my signature :sly

I can't wait, literally, I think i might drive to Gloucestershire in the morning to pick it up (the welder), I've got the weekend free to practice and it beats wasting time and money in the pub, I am planning to make the sills heavy duty with rock sliders

 

[rustic]

I can't wait, literally, I think i might drive to Gloucestershire in the morning to pick it up (the welder), I've got the weekend free to practice and it beats wasting time and money in the pub, I am planning to make the sills heavy duty with rock sliders

If you are going to replace the sills, making an improvement, justifies the cost then...:clap:clap
Will they have jacking points? But you are lifting the body, not the chassis.

Rustic

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

If you are going to replace the sills, making an improvement, justifies the cost then...:clap:clap
Will they have jacking points? But you are lifting the body, not the chassis.

Rustic

I've got a few ideas in my head about jacking points, definitely not an option to put some in the sills, needs fixing to chassis, maybe similar to the man steps when they were on :nenau

I've always wanted to be able to weld and now I can afford to :lol, my welder will see many many projects, I will be making myself a long T bar for reaching awkward stop taps in for example, anything could happen :lol

 

[jims-terrano]

No stopping him now is there

 

[rustic]

What goes with a welder is an angle grinder of course. Proper gauntlets, fire proof overalls, face shield etc. No exposed skin to be burnt by UV light.

One of my friends fabricates with steel, when I visited him once, his guys were busy with angle grinders... I said they are busy... he said what worries him is every time they use an angle grinder they are probably grinding off welds that are wrong lol....

Not far off the truth there lol...:augie