MIG Welder advice

Hi,

Can anyone please advise if the following is a good spec for an mid range welder?

Sealey MIGHTYMIG170 Professional Gas/ No Gas MIG Welder

Maximum Current:..........................................................................................170A
Wire Capacity steel:...........................................................................................5kg
Duty Cycle:...................... ..100% @ 55Amps, 60% @ 70Amps, 15% @ 140Amps
Cooling System:......................................................................................Forced Air
Gas Type:..................................................................CO², Argon & CO²/Argon mix
Torch:................................................................. Euro Non Live - BINZEL® MB15
Power Input..............................................................................................230V 1ph
Absorbed power............................................................................................5.4kW
Case size.......................................................................................................Large
Weight...........................................................................................................41.5kg

Cost without gas is £316 including VAT

Many thanks!

The annoying thing about most of these welders is they dont give a min amp setting. Ideally you want something that'll go down to 40 amps if you want to weld <1mm.

Looks to have a better number of power settings than most though and unless your wanting to weld rsj's should have plenty of omph

Yes, I know, been reading up on this on Welding - The DIY Guide and have been looking for the low amp info but not every manufacturer or reseller gives this. Could be they are not giving it because the lowest amp setting is not so good.

Appreciate the feedback blue beasty, after reading the specs on about 6 welders you start to forget what you are comparing between them.

blue beasty said:

The annoying thing about most of these welders is they dont give a min amp setting. Ideally you want something that'll go down to 40 amps if you want to weld <1mm.

Looks to have a better number of power settings than most though and unless your wanting to weld rsj's should have plenty of omph

Click to expand...

The truth teller is open circuit voltage and duty cycle

Hi pressbrake,

I thought the duty cycle looked ok even with the max amps being 140.

Just looked up what OCV refers to but can't work out if you are saying it is good or bad on this welder.

i fancy one of those old bantam arcs

for keeping chickens in? or is that a Bantam Ark?

Ulsterman said:

for keeping chickens in? or is that a Bantam Ark?

Click to expand...

well you could try a chicken in it.. wouldn't take long to roast

Check out Mig Welding Forum as well before making a decision - loads of infer re machines on there...