Auto welding masks?

[NTECUK]

There is no local supply close to me so for the few times I use it the disposable route is ok.

Originally Posted by aesmith

Thanks everyone, both for relevant recommendations and for general welding stuff. As you might have guessed I have a low end welder (SIP Migmate 150), so I'm probably limited to disposable bottles or "gas less" flux cored wire.

On the original subject I think I might splash out on that one for £42.

Woa!!!

Dont do Gasless welding its very difficult and only really should be used outdoors in conditions like wind make it impossible to use a gas shield, believe me its crap.

My first welder was a SIP Migmate 130, bought it because it was cheap and read on the internet how to make the Migmate from a fairly crap welder into a good one. The Migmate has a problem with its wire feed system, get rid of the plastic liner and upgrade to the metal liner from a SIP weldmate and rough up the feed wheel, I would also check the tension on the wire and the gun nossle.

I would also upgrade the gas feed system so you can take larger bottles its easy to do, then you will have a decent welder.

I now have a SIP Weldmate 170 which is a great welder, in my group of friends most who weld all prefer to use my MIG than theirs its so nice to use and has a great range of settings, I deffo recommend it if you get offered one.

I also sold the Migmate for twice as much as I bought it for with the mods

Im glad you didnt buy a chinese welder though

[Kenzie]

I have a Clarke 130En Gas/gasless. I bought a gas kit and use this on it:

http://www.boconline.co.uk/en/produc...eld-light.html

Not too big, works out cheaper than the little white bottles.

[yorkie_chris]

Fook me don't try the disposabottles they're absolute w*nk and you will run out in the middle of a job. A proper bottle will pay for itself almost immediately. In region of about £110 first time and £50 for a refil... somewhere in that order of magnitude anyway...

Stated before £60 for first time about £20 a refill for a medium bottle (stands about 3 foot high) that will last for ages that's with boss gas about 6 months ago and still going strong after doing loads of welding

I also suggest welding up a trolley to put the welder and bottle onto a set of wheels so its nice and easy to move around. Made mine out of a metal trolley that supermarkets use to move trays of bread around

Quick picture of my welding rig that fits nicely under the bench when not in use

[_Stretchie_]

Originally Posted by aesmith

Thanks everyone, both for relevant recommendations and for general welding stuff. As you might have guessed I have a low end welder (SIP Migmate 150), so I'm probably limited to disposable bottles or "gas less" flux cored wire.

On the original subject I think I might splash out on that one for £42.

I bought a regulator for about £40 and then a bottle of co2 from a brewey shop for £15

[Bibio]

one of the nicest light gauge migs i ever used was a Cebora Autostar 180. very very smooth. if you could track one down it's worth getting.

[dirtydog]

I use a gasless mig for welding as 99% of my welding is done outside (like yesterday doing a patch on a car sill in the pouring rain ) and its hard to get a decent weld, I used a mates gas mig before and it's much easier to get a decent weld out of it.

I also use a auto mask, cost me about £50 with a couple of spare lenses for it, adjustable tint, grinding setting, adjustable for the time it takes to go dark etc. all in all a decent mask for the money.