Recommend Me a Mig Welder

[Big Supes]

Looking for an entry level mig welder for my Fairlady project. Something that is easy to work with and will get the job done.

 

Any recommendations?

[Mk4Gaz]

My advice would be to think of the thickest metal you're likely to need to weld, and go from there.

You should also go for one that uses gas for shielding, rather than gasless as you need special wire for the latter.

I've got a basic sip 130 migmate, and that will just about handle 4-5mm thick material.

 

 

[and1c]

I've got one of these and it has been superb tbo, depends what thicknesses you want to weld really but it has done everything I ever needed car wise.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/135te-turbo-mig-welder/

[samdale]

Ive got a Clarke MIG. There is a difference in quality between those with a straight metal handle and those with a curved plastic one. The latter being the ones to avoid. Depends on how much power you need but i bought the most powerful one fitted with a 13a plug. Obviously if you have a workshop with a 16a round plug supply then this isn't an issue.

 

You may also want to look into gas bottles as the disposable bottles I use would be quite expensive if doing a lot of work.

 

ETA: ^^ that might be the one I have also.

[Big Supes]

My advice would be to think of the thickest metal you're likely to need to weld, and go from there.

You should also go for one that uses gas for shielding, rather than gasless as you need special wire for the latter.

I've got a basic sip 130 migmate, and that will just about handle 4-5mm thick material.

 

/QUOTE]

 

At the moment, it seems to be areas of the body that are quite thin, but later on down the line I will need it for thicker materials when fabricating engine mounts, etc. I've tried gasless welding in the past and it was a complete PITA.

 

It really is a minefield choosing the right welder! I'll check out your machine. Thanks mate.

 

I've got one of these and it has been superb tbo, depends what thicknesses you want to weld really but it has done everything I ever needed car wise.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/135te-turbo-mig-welder/

 

That actually looks ideal and not bad on price either!

[Big Supes]

Ive got a Clarke MIG. There is a difference in quality between those with a straight metal handle and those with a curved plastic one. The latter being the ones to avoid. Depends on how much power you need but i bought the most powerful one fitted with a 13a plug. Obviously if you have a workshop with a 16a round plug supply then this isn't an issue.

 

Ok, thanks. I'll bare that in mind. I am limited by 240v so 13a plug would be my limit.

[samdale]

I did a lot of googling at the time but got chatting to the lad in machine mart who did quite a lot of welding. He said he'd rather not sell me one of the curved handle ones (the only feature i could distinguish them by) and he didn't know why they stocked them with the amount of returns they'd had. Different quality altogether though you'd never know as they all look part of the same range!

 

 

[Big Supes]

I did a lot of googling at the time but got chatting to the lad in machine mart who did quite a lot of welding. He said he'd rather not sell me one of the curved handle ones (the only feature i could distinguish them by) and he didn't know why they stocked them with the amount of returns they'd had. Different quality altogether though you'd never know as they all look part of the same range!

 

/QUOTE]

 

Good lad. It's nice when you find someone who is open and honest about their products.

 

TBH, I find the whole Clarke range confusing and hard to decipher what separates them all (apart from the power).

[GreaseMonkey]

Another Clarke Owner here too. I've used/ owned a Clarke 150TE Welder and had done me well on all of the Vehicle Body repairs & General Metalwork repairs I've carried out over the 15 years approx I had it. Found it to be a very good welder to start with (compared with other welders I've used that Friends have had) and ideal for home Vehicle resto/ hobby use.

 

Does'nt take up too much room/ easy to store and move about/ put in car, runs on normal 3 pin plug 240v mains etc. and Gas bottles & Welding Wire easily availible from Machine Mart. Manual had useful recommended settings chart for Different Wire Gauge & Metal Gauge. Was also Auto Express Best Buy.

 

Only minor complaint with the 150TE I had is keeping an eye on the welding wire reel drum as not driven/ just a drum on a threaded post (the wire is pull fed through) as sometimes found some welding wire would un wind from the drum like a clockspring, but found other wire ok so could be down to how tightly it had been wound when packaged?.

 

Anyways the 150TE has been upgraded to 151TE as per attached link https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/151te-turbo-mig-welder/ .

[samdale]

Keep in mind the date of this linked thread so the range may have changed again since then, but these were my findings at the time

 

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/can-someone-explain-clarke-model-differences.51591/#post-600511

[Big Supes]

Another Clarke Owner here too. I've used/ owned a Clarke 150TE Welder and had done me well on all of the Vehicle Body repairs & General Metalwork repairs I've carried out over the 15 years approx I had it. Found it to be a very good welder to start with (compared with other welders I've used that Friends have had) and ideal for home Vehicle resto/ hobby use.

 

Does'nt take up too much room/ easy to store and move about/ put in car, runs on normal 3 pin plug 240v mains etc. and Gas bottles & Welding Wire easily availible from Machine Mart. Manual had useful recommended settings chart for Different Wire Gauge & Metal Gauge. Was also Auto Express Best Buy.

 

Only minor complaint with the 150TE I had is keeping an eye on the welding wire reel drum as not driven/ just a drum on a threaded post (the wire is pull fed through) as sometimes found some welding wire would un wind from the drum like a clockspring, but found other wire ok so could be down to how tightly it had been wound when packaged?.

 

Anyways the 150TE has been upgraded to 151TE as per attached link https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/151te-turbo-mig-welder/ .

 

It's starting to look like the 150TE or 151TE is the way forward.

 

Regarding the wheel drum unwinding and getting tangled, I've experienced this before with a reel drum that was driven and couldn't work out why it would happen. It must be something to do with the tension in the reel from when it was first produced.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys, I think I'm going to go with either the 150TE or 151TE.

[GreaseMonkey]

Oh and just to add, Machine Mart have VAT Free/ discounted offers which when purchasing something as expensive as the welder etc can make a considerable saving.

[rider]

I hate welding because I'm no good at it.

 

Have had an arc welder for years that I use on metal gates, railings and massive swing hinges. I decided to buy a Clark flux core welder which I have used on one of my cars and it must be one of the crappy ones because it has the curved wire feed and only cost £150 which definately isn't the cheapest. Never had any problems with it at all, other than my welding ability. But thats what grinders are for anyway.

[Big Supes]

Oh and just to add, Machine Mart have VAT Free/ discounted offers which when purchasing something as expensive as the welder etc can make a considerable saving.

 

O'rly?! Get in!

 

Thanks mate.

[GreaseMonkey]

Yeah it's Vat Free (20%) on Clarke Products & 10% on other brands. I think (go in store and double check/ ask) to get the voucher you have to initially purchase something from them and sign up to mailing list to get an invite/ Discount voucher (Which must be presented upon purchase) for the specific days they have it. The next one they have at the Portswood Branch in Southampton is Sunday 23rd April & Sunday 30th of April. The Voucher can only be used once so I tended to make a list of stuff to buy and wait for the VAT Free offers come through via Email or post.

 

Other Items I use and recommend is the Clarke Welding Gloves (prevents the ol' hands getting too toasty) as they are cheap and effective https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/rodo-red-welding-gauntlet-gloves/

 

The Blue Peter stylee Welding sheild supplied with the welder is very crude and poor to work with. Would recommend a welding mask with an auto dimming Viewing lens as will make welding soo much easier to see when initially positioning prior to pulling the trigger & whilst welding. I can't comment on Clarkes own brand auto dimming Masks, never used them so maybe worth a look. I however had a Snap On Dealer at work who had a Speedglas 9000F (Shade 3/11) which I purchased on a clearance Sale and have been very happy with it. The batteries for it are normal watch/ Remote Key batteries which have never died on my mates one in the same time/ 15yrs approx yet, although I change them in mine every 2yrs out of habit.

[Big Supes]

Yeah it's Vat Free (20%) on Clarke Products & 10% on other brands. I think (go in store and double check/ ask) to get the voucher you have to initially purchase something from them and sign up to mailing list to get an invite/ Discount voucher (Which must be presented upon purchase) for the specific days they have it. The next one they have at the Portswood Branch in Southampton is Sunday 23rd April & Sunday 30th of April. The Voucher can only be used once so I tended to make a list of stuff to buy and wait for the VAT Free offers come through via Email or post.

 

Other Items I use and recommend is the Clarke Welding Gloves (prevents the ol' hands getting too toasty) as they are cheap and effective https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/rodo-red-welding-gauntlet-gloves/

 

The Blue Peter stylee Welding sheild supplied with the welder is very crude and poor to work with. Would recommend a welding mask with an auto dimming Viewing lens as will make welding soo much easier to see when initially positioning prior to pulling the trigger & whilst welding. I can't comment on Clarkes own brand auto dimming Masks, never used them so maybe worth a look. I however had a Snap On Dealer at work who had a Speedglas 9000F (Shade 3/11) which I purchased on a clearance Sale and have been very happy with it. The batteries for it are normal watch/ Remote Key batteries which have never died on my mates one in the same time/ 15yrs approx yet, although I change them in mine every 2yrs out of habit.

 

I've just got off the phone to a chap at MM Southampton and he said I won't be eligible for VAT free unless I already have the voucher. He was pretty useless, TBH. Your classic "computer says no" order taker. I think I may have to chew pillow and allow Mr VAT man to do his thing...

 

I'll pick up a set of the of the Clarke welding gloves and definitely agreed on the auto dimming visor... especially in tight spaces under cars!

 

Thanks for the advice mate. We must get all us local peeps out for a mini meet at some point. It's been a while!

[boostman]

I also have the Clarke 150 turbo, I havn't found a problem yet! Great both with and without gas.

Had it for 2 years now

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/151te-turbo-mig-welder/

 

 

[Big Supes]

Good to hear positive feedback about the Clarke range of welders. I've just placed an order for the the Clarke 151TE. Looking forward to getting stuck in with it.

[GreaseMonkey]

I've just got off the phone to a chap at MM Southampton and he said I won't be eligible for VAT free unless I already have the voucher. He was pretty useless, TBH. Your classic "computer says no" order taker. I think I may have to chew pillow and allow Mr VAT man to do his thing...

 

I'll pick up a set of the of the Clarke welding gloves and definitely agreed on the auto dimming visor... especially in tight spaces under cars!

 

Thanks for the advice mate. We must get all us local peeps out for a mini meet at some point. It's been a while!

 

That's not good about useless Shop assistant . Usually fairly helpful there times I've been .

 

No drama's dude , glad to shed some light on your enquiry as have been in same situation.

 

Yeah must try get together, just bogged down with Work & DIY at the moment which has kept me from the Basingstoke meets . Doubt I'll have my Supra out this year again tbh other than for MOT and awaiting a bit of future proofing TLC.