hi all im after a welder as i think it would be useful and want to teach myself to weald, i have been looking at the ones in machine mart and have a budget of around £200 any thoughts? i want a gasless one and will only be using for little projects

ect.http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/dual-purpose-and-inno-gasin-mig-welders

I used gasless for years then bought a much more expensive gas machine. Tbh totally regret it, I’m going back to gasless as I’m fed up with the cost of hiring and filling the cylinders. Plus the gas is a PITA outside as it just blows away.

You need one with a fan to cool it down (Turbo as they call it) and about 140-170 amps is ideal for chassis work, 100-130 amps for car bodywork only. Avoid cheap budget machines as they won’t last very long, plus try to get one with a metal wire feed liner as the plastic ones just stick and wear through in not time.

0.8 wire is the most useful to use. You can buy a spray to put on the wire reel to help prevent wear in the liner, don't use WD40 etc.

[Edited on 19/10/09 by Mr Whippy]

Join the forum on http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/ and send a message to weldequip. He give good advice and very keen prices on Clarke products.

For me I always seem to get more heat into the job with gasless, and so better penetration. The end result is always messier though.

I have just bought a 185 Portamig off weldequip on the mig-welding.co.uk.

I'll just say I'm mighty impressed and after two practise runs to get the wire speed set I'm off into mig heaven.

12 settings, auto wire speed adjust, its mint!

i quite like the look of this one

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/search/dual-purpose-and-inno-gasin-mig-welders

the Clarke MIG151EN but the power supply says 230v, 1ph power supply (30 amps minimum).
dose this mean i could not use this at home?

i had a look on that website some good info there and they seem to like the clarke stuff.

It will run on 13amp supply but might blow fuses at full power. Some earth trips are sensitive to welders as well. If you have the gas and no gas option you might pick a co2 bottle up somewhere and a regulator for £20ish at a later date. I never have any problems with gas blowing away when working outside, just shelter your weld with something like a piece of metal.

Another vote for weldequip!! I bought a portamig also so much better than the Clarke but then it should be for the price £500