Advice on first welder.

[eddie1980]

Something I have been putting off buying for years and years but I really cannot keep leaning on friends to stick stuff together for me in my hours of need. So after some advice on what's a good starting point.

It will be getting some use, more then "occasional" you could say ideally I want something that's going to be easy to use and reliable, with a good parts supply.

Looking at a MIG, will more then likely be using gas, but want something that can run gas less wire as at times I will be welding outside in the wind. Need something with a 13A plug so I can take it to the work as it wont always be possible to bring the work to it. What should I get? I have been told the Clarke stuff is a good starting point but not sure. Also what's a good helmet to get?

Don't want to spend a fortune as I am not a professional and no amount of investment will flatter my inexperience for now!

[stifler]

Clarke would be good for a first welder. But you have to think about how many years you will have it. I would recommend getting a slightly bigger one than you actually need at the moment, as the projects WILL become more complicated and bigger. The smaller ones tend to suffer from more wire feed issues than the larger ones.
I have always used a Cebora machine, I don't know how much parts commonality there is between the manufacturers. The Cebora has been faultless though. Go for a Euro type gun though, they are easy to get parts for and the copper tips will be standard.

Another tip is, use proper welding Argon gas. Don't use pub cellar gas unless you are only tacking the metal together. It is not that suitable for structural welding. It is more expensive but you get a better finish and better strength.

[headcase]

Ive got a clarke 150T, had it for several years and works well, with all MIG welders you are suppost to change the liners when switching from wire to 'gassless' wire or from ally to steel wire, keeping that in mind it will work with all. What do you intend to weld? If its mainly thick stuff (5mm+) then a boggo arc welder (MMA/stick welder) is all your gunna need and they are alot cheaper, if you going to weld mostly thinner stuff like car body panels then a mig is the way to go. CO2 is ok for mild steel but an argon mix is better. Also plenty of spares available of them.
As for a face shield i just bought a cheap one, it does the job, i never bothered witho one of those fancy elctro ones, the amount of welding i do i couldnt really justify the cost of them.

Edit to add, welding is just like plastering, it looks dead easy but you will find out it really isnt, its one of those practice sports get yourself a grinder too so you can grind the welds down before anyone sees them :P

Edited by headcase on Tuesday 11th August 17:32

[netherfield]

And lots of offcuts of metal to practice on,before blowing holes or leaving birdst on something you prize.

You will find MIG is more forgiving when welding vertical or overhead than with a stick.

[King Herald]

Most obvious question is: what are you going to be welding? is it thin sheet metal, car body, fabrication, heavy steel etc.

I have a 160 amp arc welder from Screwfix, that is good up to about 3/8" steel, but for lighter stuff I use my SIP 130 amp Mig welder. that cost but £80 about five years ago.

For any quantity of welding you'll really want a proper gas bottle with correct mix in, but you can also buy small bottles at Halfrauds if need be.

A bigger bottle involves caving a contract with BOC or similar: £65 a year for rental alone, on a smallish bottle, 14 litre I think.

Flux cored wire gives passable welds, but you'll need to change the wire every time you want to go back to gas.

People used to use pub gas (Co2) a lot, but I beleive they are really clamping down on it now, adding something to the gas to stop you using it, or some such treachery. You can weld quite well with C02, despite what experts will tell you to the contrary.