E30 Zone

My old mig welder is dead - so I've decided to buy a newer, smaller gasless unit - anybody with any serious recomendations?

Thanks

Paul

Well to start off I am not a fan of flux core wire, especially on thin metal. I only tried it once using a friends setup (so not much time getting settings right to be fair) but it was enough to put me right off.

Only thing I would say is if you are thinking of it for body panels, I would get a good try first, and/or get them to demo it on thin sheet.

I haven't moved from 0.6 solid wire and argoshield light, although I am looking for a new machine myself with the stuff I have to do but personally won't touch gasless.

My thoughts too - my old gear had full size gas and everything - my experience is with this and gas welding and brazing - so I'm a bit wary of flux - but some people reckon its fine if you have a decent rig.

I'll have to find something to try out.


Paul

What I found when I tried gasless was it seemed quite fierce and was more prone to blow through than I was used to with the full size kit. It was a while ago but it gave off a stink and not something I would use in a small workshop, don't know if it is something that has improved but maybe something to look out for when demo-ing

Thanks for the heads up on that...doesn't sound great...maybe it'll have to be a new gas rig!

Paul:-)

flybynite wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 24, 2020 7:26 pm

What I found when I tried gasless was it seemed quite fierce and was more prone to blow through than I was used to with the full size kit. It was a while ago but it gave off a stink and not something I would use in a small workshop, don't know if it is something that has improved but maybe something to look out for when demo-ing

As i understand gasless is designed for 3mm thick metal, of course one can weld on thinner, but as you stated it is fierce and more prone to blow through.

I am a novice and am just learning as I went on a welding course (dangerous I know) and I bought a Sealey Supermig 140 which uses the disposable gas canisters if I start using it more often then I will get a gas canister and valve/gauge from Hobbygas the 150 I believe comes with a "proper" valve.

I have a Sealey SuperMIG 150. You can use it with both flux cored and normal wire up to 5kg reels and can use the small (very expensive) gas bottles with the regulator supplied or you can use the proper sized bottles with a proper regulator.
Personally the flux cored wire is only useful if your welding agricultural stuff and don't care how it looks.
I think the 180 version has better controls but costs more.
If I had to buy again I would get a R-Tech MIG. (£500ish)
HTH

Get the best of both worlds. buy a WITH gas model and adapt it so you can run gasles too,

All that's needed is to make the polarity switchable on the OUTLETS and change the roller for a knurled one so you don't crush the fluxed wire,

If you get a WITHOUT gas one to start with you would need all the gas stuff like solenoid valve, tubing, change torch for one with gas feed etc. all that in a gas version.

BIG downsides of gas are bloody expensive! Big bottle of gas 97€ small disposables 27€ and your lucky to get half an hour out of one. Can't use out of doors without a screen as the wind blows the gas shield away.

Most people who complain about gasless have run fluxed wire in a gas welder without swapping polarity, DCEP, must be DCEN, this causes hot running and splatter as mentioned above.

I've got a Clarke 151 te turbo and I'm quite impressed with it

It gives me decent enough welds. This is the sill on my Range Rover classic I have been welding up in the last few days

Not perfect, but good enough for me.

boiliebasher wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:08 pm

IMG_20200301_185928708.jpg

It gives me decent enough welds. This is the sill on my Range Rover classic I have been welding up in the last few days

A grinder hides a lot but to be honest that looks more than a decent job, your worst would still be better than my best

Bonymaenjack wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:34 pm

boiliebasher wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:08 pm

IMG_20200301_185928708.jpg

It gives me decent enough welds. This is the sill on my Range Rover classic I have been welding up in the last few days

A grinder hides a lot but to be honest that looks more than a decent job, your worst would still be better than my best

Thanks for the kind words. I grew up welding up old fords so well versed in cutting out tin worms out of old cars lol.

If you actually look carefully in the photo, my welds haven't actually been ground down at all. It's exactly how they are, I can assure you. They where simply cleaned off with a wire brush and nothing more.

All done on my Clarke 151 te turbo using 0.6mm wire and argon/co2 mix gas. Gives pretty decent enough results and perfect for the average diy'er

boiliebasher wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:20 am

Bonymaenjack wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2020 10:34 pm

boiliebasher wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:08 pm

IMG_20200301_185928708.jpg

It gives me decent enough welds. This is the sill on my Range Rover classic I have been welding up in the last few days

A grinder hides a lot but to be honest that looks more than a decent job, your worst would still be better than my best

Thanks for the kind words. I grew up welding up old fords so well versed in cutting out tin worms out of old cars lol.

If you actually look carefully in the photo, my welds haven't actually been ground down at all. It's exactly how they are, I can assure you. They where simply cleaned off with a wire brush and nothing more.

All done on my Clarke 151 te turbo using 0.6mm wire and argon/co2 mix gas. Gives pretty decent enough results and perfect for the average diy'er

After being the "proud"owner of numerous mk1 & 2 cortinas I know exactly what you mean , Sorry I wasn't inferring that your work had been ground down , to me it looks good. My welder in the past was SIP 120 arc welder ) it worked to a fashion and kept my cars on the road but I must have spent more time on refilling the additional holes I created than the repair itself

Hobbyweld do rent free gas the deposit is high but at least you don't end up in monthly contract.

I used to buy my gas from BOC, first time was expensive as you fork out for the bottle, but then you pay just for the refill.

I must admit that that was when I lived in Highbury during the early stone-age, so things probably changed.

Paul

paultv wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:53 am

I used to buy my gas from BOC, first time was expensive as you fork out for the bottle, but then you pay just for the refill.

I must admit that that was when I lived in Highbury during the early stone-age, so things probably changed.

Paul

Things where cheaper in the 1960's Paul.........