Welder for doing roll cages?

[rix313]

I'm looking to get a welder with the view to welding my cage in. Can any one point me in the direction of what specs I should be looking for and makes etc? Got about £250 to spend?

[universal]

machine mart. they often do Vat free days, so look out for them. they have a good range of hobby/diy welders and spares are good.

[Andy325i]

Can you weld?

If you can great, but for me personally I would get my cage welded by someone who is A1, as my life may one day depend on it.

[BATTS91]

Can you weld?

If you can great, but for me personally I would get my cage welded by someone who is A1, as my life may one day depend on it.

Defiantly consider this first .

[rix313]

A pet hate of mine is people who say they can weld but clearly a pigeon can do a better job! The car isn't doing anything now over winter (not that it has all year) which gives me plenty of time to get practicing and get the money to buy a proper piece of equipment. I do a lot of sheet fabrication stuff and work with race cars every day in my job but one of my short falls is not having had experience welding so I want to get that sorted as well and have that skill too.

I haven't had a VAT thing from machine mart for a year or so now, normally make good use of them when they do come though

[kimbo]

I haven't had a VAT thing from machine mart for a year or so now, normally make good use of them when they do come though

Got one through the post this morning, so perhaps you'll get one too.
With regards the MIG, get one which will accept a re-fillable bottle for the gas, otherwise you'll be forever changing the throw away cylinders (and it'll cost a LOT more, in the long run).
And speak to your local college about a course for basic welding skills - save a lot of time and be confident that your cage will do it's job should (when) the occasion arise!

Kim

[Antoe30]

In Ireland the equivalent of £250 would get a handy welder for cages, SIP do cheap enough ones.
otherwise pick up a second hand one. Better getting a inverter welder unless you have a 3 phase power supply. Argo-shield is the type of gas required. Gas bottle rental can be pricey so make sure you have enough work for it.

[driftwood]

I bought a Sealey supermig 180 earlier this year. It's very good, plugs into a household 240v socket and comes with a euro style torch. Could do with a longer flex on the torch though. Cheapest gas supplier I found was hobby gas. I found a local stockist and paid 90 quid for bottle of argoshield stuff. That includes a deposit for the bottle but refills are only 30 ish and the deposit is refundable. No bottle rental. The bottle is the same size as a pub co2 bottle.

[handpaper]

It's Hobbyweld, actually ;)
I'm on my 3rd bottle of Hobbyweld 5, which is the same gas mix as BOC Argoshield Light. Other gases are available, including Argon (calling Uwe and other TIGglers!) and Oxygen, but no Acetylene

[randomspeedfreak]

try 'adams gas' for your gas.

we have a bottle from them it is very convenient -they will courier the bottle to you, you pay £50 deposit for the bottle, and then £32 for each refill.

there is no time limit or monthly rental so good if you have a slow project or need the welder hanging about with gas ready.

google it - id reccomend them

[MrBenn]

BOC now do a 2 litre bottle which they only charge £18 per year to rent and refill is £16. It hold the same as 8 disposable canisters which cost roughly £15 each. Perfect if your not using it much, maybe not ideal for doing a roll cage though.

[Karan]

Mig is very easy to learn especially if you learn it on just plain co2 gas to get the skills then switch to a mix with argon.

I've just ordered a custom cages clubman spec for my sre30 so have a look on my build as I will keep it updated as I put it together.

Ps I'm using a sea
Eh supermig185 for about 4 yrs now and it's been awesome.

Looking to get a tig now and start doing ally.

[Andy325i]

Karan, did you get the tig welder? It's something I've been looking into for ages, looks like fun