Thinking of my 1st MIG welder

[SteveR]

Hi all.

Could folks with some experience answer a few Q's.

Have done a bit of basic arc welding before, metal gates and window grills etc, I'm bad and always needs loads of grinding down after to look passable.
looks like MIG is easier to get better looking results.

Fancy having a go at sliders and under body protection, possibly in aluminium ( is it possible with MIG and correct wire ? )

So for working on car body panels ( thin ) and steel door / gate construction max 5mm what do I need.

Range 30 Amps to 150 Amps ok ? Is 30Amps low enough for body panels.
Will be going gas route but is it worth paying £30 more for option of gasless also.
Clarke not available here in Italy, have you got anything to say on telwin brand( Italian make but guess inside made in china), looking at Telwin bimax ( gas & gasless ) 152 Or Telwin telmig 150 ( gas only). Both 30-145 amp range.

Any other makes to look for in £300 range mark.

thanks
steve

[twiss]

Definitely go MIG I got one a couple of years ago and its not hard when you get the hang of it!

I've got a Siegen (a brand which is basically Sealey) 150a welder and it works well with thin and thick metals! Personally I wouldn't bother about gasless when you can have gas!

Mine was about £220 when I got it!
I'll see if I can find one!

[Jordi]

Don't bother with gas less at all.

Ideally get a fan cooled model for a better duty cycle.

I've got a 150amp Clarke and it's handy for all DIY bodywork jobs. No experience of any other makes though.

[ROBBIE]

I've got a Clarke 160amp with fan good bit of kit

[SteveR]

Thanks so far

After bit of research seems that clarke are made here in Italy by telwin brand, they are the same apart from colour and switch positions.

Can someone tell me if 40 Amps is low enough for thin bodywork or do I need to get a 30 Amp.

The danger of looking on internet, now seen models more fancy and thinking can i spend a bit more without wife and kids finding out. Problem here is house electric supply is only 3KW !!!
If i buy a new inverter model mig they use less current for given output so I'm told.
the joys of Italy, can't have the toaster on at same time as washing machine, and when welding have to turn off everything in the house.

So low setting 40 Amps OK or must be 30Amps ?

Thanks
Steve

[twiss]

My one goes down to 30a but I've never used it that low down, not even for the thinnest bodywork!!!

I just leave the power up a bit weld faster

[dan_2k_uk]

My Cebora has a 40A to 140A range.

Does everything I need to do although struggles a little on really think metal if its in a position where it can't be chamfered to help with penertation.

[arreff77]

I've got a cebora boxer185, don't know what it's lower amps setting is. But using .6 wire it does body work quite nicely. Personally I wouldn't like to weld anything thicker than 6mm with a single pass, I'd weld 8 or 10 as a maximum using .8 wire and a multi pass run. Personally If you can do some night classes it. Would be well worth it that way you can get the basics and practice at home.