Welders - whatcha got

[Warren]

Hey Guys

Just wondering what sort of welders people use out there.

I currently have a CIG Handyman Arc welder and a Dillon oxy welder but I have been toying with buying myself a MIG/TIG welder for Xmas, one like This

Any points worth considering please post em.

So what have you got, pro's and cons.

Warren   

[booga]

have you ever used a tig before? some of the cheaper ones are good but you need a start button or pedal to make it easier.

also you want to make sure you can upgrade to using one if you dont want to buy the fuul kit strait up.

Ben

[BusyKiwi]

I just use mig, current one is 170 but usually have around 200

welding can be very expensive, with mig you just need wire and argon shield (gas), with tig you need argon (gas) and welding rods and quite often tips (don't use cheap tips).

I built my very first custom van with an arc welder, panelled side windows, side skirts and all

I perfer mig, a lot easier to work on vans and things as the tig is very tight to work with - not easy to get up to weld gutters etc or move around like mig

160 amp would be the minimum to go for, they have no problem with panel steel all day but anything thicker and they start to overheat and auto cut out

[Merlin]

I have a 260 amp mig for my structual work and 200 amp variable program ac/dc hf tig for my panel work (its not advisable to hammer work mig welds as the weld bead is harder due to the higher silica content in mig wire) hope this helps 

[TOOLKING]

Ive never used this one but I have seen a demonstration..
Amweld or henrob looks clean and does light guage work.

I also looked at a water plasma welder new russian invention last year uses water rather than air the  amazing thing will weld .6mm sheet with ease, up to 13mm steel plate ,clean strong and doubles as a cutter  damn expensive though about US$2900

[ben]

gee thats expensive ay.. far out!

i paid 400 bucks second hand for my cig mig.. 180amp i use .6 wire all the time cause most of the time i use it for panel work. i have wanted to get a tig for a while..  but now busy says he prefers mig, maybe ill have a re think..



cheers
ben

[BusyKiwi]

Don't get me wrong Ben, tigs are great. At the end of the day it's user preference - example, you're using .6 wire and I'm using .8

A welder is like a motorbike, a woman or even your computer, knowing them, knowing them well will give you the highest return, having them set up to your style works better than just off the shelf.
They reckon it takes about 1000k's to get used to a motorbike
I reckon it takes about 25+ years to slightly understand a woman lol
I doubt anyone in the world uses their computer to 100% of it's capability 

[TOOLKING]

Busy I think you might be right there..

coz Ive just worked out what ESC does on my computer.
now If I can just find the same button on my wife  hmmmmm???


( only joking baby . . . oh  no  no no baby not the fryingpan  ouch ouuuuuuuchhhh dong boing bang)

bye guys

[Warren]

have you ever used a tig before? some of the cheaper ones are good but you need a start button or pedal to make it easier.

also you want to make sure you can upgrade to using one if you dont want to buy the fuul kit strait up.

Ben

Hey Ben

I'm in telecommunications now, sitting in front of a pooter all day, but in my past life I was a fitter and turner.

I am a competent welder and have done years of ARC, a bit less MIG, and some TIG.

I'm also good at fusion (oxy) welding, so I'm not daunted by TIG.

I want something I can do panel work with, as well as light fabrication, doesn't have to be a top of the line unit as it will only get used on a hobbyist level.

I understand you get what you pay for but I don't want to over capitilise as well.

I have been reading a few welding forums and well opinions are like ass holes - everyones got one, and everyone Else's stinks

But I have gathered that for panel work, using a Mig to tack and hold in place the panels, then TIG or fusion welding the joints seems to offer the best results.

Warren

 
 

   

[booga]

hey warren, yeah you definantle dont want to over capitilise.  you also dont want a cheap welder that is useless, but at least you have done it before.

i bought a kempii second hand and its great, but unless you know someone who is parting with it for cheap cheap then they are too much.

my first one that i used (which you are welcome to try) is just an electra beckum inverter (140 amp) with a $110 tig kit. works well providing you can arc it without killing the electrode... took me abit of getting used to.

but you can get a pedal or button for these also... hopefully you get one thats easy enough to use anyway...
Ben