Welders, welding where to start?

rossymtb said:

Can i ask, How about arc welders?

Any easier to use compared to gas mig welder. is it more like soldering, more smoother and doesn't tend to catch/stick so easily?

Will be my welding skill's which make it stick but im just curious.

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i've just started to mess about with stick. so this is from a newbs perspective

it isn't like soldering at all. it sticks a lot and is harder to pick up.

having to remove the slag is a pita, also keeping the arc length takes a bit of practice.

rods don't last long at all, so after a short run, you need to reprep it all again. it's also harder to do overhead/verticals.

it's nice and handy for taking the lil buzz boxes to the job though.. and no gas is cool.

but they are for different jobs.. you wouldn't want to use one on thin metal like a car else you'd blow holes all over the shop.

Try looking for a used larger machine, they tend to handle almost any work much better than the tiddlers.

Wire feed is the biggest problem on small welders, while the bigger sets are more professional about it.

We've got a 250A Oerlikon, needs a 32A supply which we have at the factory, but all our welding gets done there so no problem.

Welding with gas tends to be easier and more reliable, gasless I wouldn't use unless I was desperate.

Wire is far cheaper in the 15kg reels, look at prices on ebay, you'll see what I mean.

We use Coogar Co2/Argon mix in a full-size industrial bottle.

Peter

I'm keeping a look out on ebay for a large machine that's in good condition thanks Peter

trax said:

your choice.. why 5mm anyway? if it's now and again, you can get away with a v root on a lower spec.

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Thinks 5mm is the thickness of the box section I want to stick on as sills/rock sliders

Forget Arc unless you are working on 3mm plus thickness steel. They won't do thinner steel unless you are experienced at Arc welding and are harder to use as you manually strike the arc, not just press a button like a mig so the flux coated rod sticks more easily than with mig. You also have to move the rod holder as it burns away, whereas the mig feeds the wire itself. A decent mig is much more useful

Read the forum in the links above. Avoid SIP but Clarke are good. CO2 is fine but argon mix makes nicer welds and less splatter.

My mig is a 200 amp and I mostly use it at home and never trip the fuse box. I have never had it up above 7 out of the 12 settings so no need for the 3 phase or any bigger supply.

When I get the money for it in about July time I'll have a look on ebay, see what's about, if not look at them Clarke ones if there said to be good.

Again thanks for all the info I know what to look out for and have a better idea on what I need

Arc welders are much cheaper (missing all that wire feed mechanism), more portable, but I found it impossible to use, as the distance from your hand to the work, particularly with a new rod, made it very difficult to position - so the arc kept going out, or the tip sticking.

Personally, I got on best using a gas torch. There is not sticking issue at all, and I think it is best for thicker metal.

I tried out all the options on a course, and would use a gas torch if possible, or MIG as a second choice.

Get yourself on the mig welding forum - loads of good help and advice. I also did an evening class which was invaluable....

Would love to do a few evening classes but yet to find one local, I do however have a workmate I'm tempted on asking to give me a little tuition on getting started.

Have a look on youtube on how to mig weld, it will give you a idea it works.

Personally I wouldn't bother with buying a new Clarke machine. Your best bet is to keep an eye out on eBay and gumtree for a second had machine. A few to look for Kemppi Cebora Murex Miller and Thermal arc.

I'm a welder/fabricator so have used lots of different sets and have used a couple of cheap sets and just really don't like them.

90neil said:

Personally I wouldn't bother with buying a new Clarke machine. Your best bet is to keep an eye out on eBay and gumtree for a second had machine. A few to look for Kemppi Cebora Murex Miller and Thermal arc.

I'm a welder/fabricator so have used lots of different sets and have used a couple of cheap sets and just really don't like them.

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Recently I've been looking on ebay for second hand units as as soon as you buy something new it looses a lot of value.

I am the type that would choose higher spec but older machine over new machine lower spec