Recommend me a welding kit. - SV650.org

Bluepete · 28-02-11, 04:56 PM

I'm after a basic welding kit for home use. Making bits'n'bobs, fixing things, etc etc...

I've no idea what's what, TIG, MIG, gassless and so on.

What's best, good names to go for and best value for money please.

Pete

timwilky · 28-02-11, 05:01 PM

what materials and thickness do you want to weld.

Mild Steel
Stainless Steel
Aluminium.

sheet, plate,

Bluepete · 28-02-11, 05:03 PM

I'm hoping to get an old car to renovate. So something automotive.

Pete

28-02-11, 05:07 PM

Don't buy a Sip welder!!
I've got a Sip turbo 150, it's quite poorly designed.

After speaking to someone the other week, there is some mods that can be done to make it work a bit better.

The Clarke mig welders seem pretty decent for the money.

If you can afford it, buy a 2nd hand industrial mig welder off eBay or somewhere, its easier to weld with a quality welder.

timwilky · 28-02-11, 05:09 PM

so then you would really need a small mig. I would suggest 150amp which should cope with both body panels and chassis members.

If doing body panels I would also suggest you invest in a compressor and air hacksaw as this would enable you to place new panel over old, cut out and only have to weld up the thickness of a hacksaw blade.

So many makes to do the job. but I would suggest argoshield or an argon/co2 mix.

I learned the old fashion way with oxyacetlene, not advised as the heat distorts a greater area, kicks of oxidisation on the back of the panel you cannot paint etc. and if like me you are just doing a quick bodge, you set fire to the lining inside the car etc.

yorkie_chris · 28-02-11, 05:12 PM

Yeah MIG or gas are good for that sort of thing. Gas better but much more expense, risk and skill.

timwilky · 28-02-11, 05:14 PM

Oh and if you are just going to stick panels on a reasonably modern old car, a spot welder is the way forward.

Bluepete · 28-02-11, 05:34 PM

this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wolf-Mig-140-G...item5641a56c4a then?

or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEALEY-100Amp-...item563c72ed72

Cheers for the opinions fellas.

Pete

yorkie_chris · 28-02-11, 05:36 PM

Well worth getting a proper gas bottle instead of disposables. Pub gas can be used. Try mig-welding.co.uk forum

28-02-11, 05:43 PM

Yep I've got a pub c02 bottle, I can't get mine refilled though as I bodged it to fit a reg I had, but that's fecked now so it wasn't worth it in the end

28-02-11, 04:56 PM	#1
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	Recommend me a welding kit. I'm after a basic welding kit for home use. Making bits'n'bobs, fixing things, etc etc... I've no idea what's what, TIG, MIG, gassless and so on. What's best, good names to go for and best value for money please. Pete

28-02-11, 05:01 PM	#2
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. what materials and thickness do you want to weld. Mild Steel Stainless Steel Aluminium. sheet, plate, __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated.

28-02-11, 05:03 PM	#3
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. I'm hoping to get an old car to renovate. So something automotive. Pete

28-02-11, 05:07 PM	#4
Specialone Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. Don't buy a Sip welder!! I've got a Sip turbo 150, it's quite poorly designed. After speaking to someone the other week, there is some mods that can be done to make it work a bit better. The Clarke mig welders seem pretty decent for the money. If you can afford it, buy a 2nd hand industrial mig welder off eBay or somewhere, its easier to weld with a quality welder.

28-02-11, 05:09 PM	#5
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. so then you would really need a small mig. I would suggest 150amp which should cope with both body panels and chassis members. If doing body panels I would also suggest you invest in a compressor and air hacksaw as this would enable you to place new panel over old, cut out and only have to weld up the thickness of a hacksaw blade. So many makes to do the job. but I would suggest argoshield or an argon/co2 mix. I learned the old fashion way with oxyacetlene, not advised as the heat distorts a greater area, kicks of oxidisation on the back of the panel you cannot paint etc. and if like me you are just doing a quick bodge, you set fire to the lining inside the car etc. __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated. Last edited by timwilky; 28-02-11 at 05:12 PM.

28-02-11, 05:12 PM	#6
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. Yeah MIG or gas are good for that sort of thing. Gas better but much more expense, risk and skill. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

28-02-11, 05:14 PM	#7
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. Oh and if you are just going to stick panels on a reasonably modern old car, a spot welder is the way forward. __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated.

28-02-11, 05:34 PM	#8
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wolf-Mig-140-G...item5641a56c4a then? or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEALEY-100Amp-...item563c72ed72 Cheers for the opinions fellas. Pete Last edited by Bluepete; 28-02-11 at 05:36 PM.

28-02-11, 05:36 PM	#9
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. Well worth getting a proper gas bottle instead of disposables. Pub gas can be used. Try mig-welding.co.uk forum __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

28-02-11, 05:43 PM	#10
Specialone Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Recommend me a welding kit. Yep I've got a pub c02 bottle, I can't get mine refilled though as I bodged it to fit a reg I had, but that's fecked now so it wasn't worth it in the end

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