Best welder for the job

[DXROLLA]

Looking at buying a mig welder for some jobs on my truck, dont want to spend to much but after doing some research it seems you realy need to spend at least a grand to get a decent welder.
What does everyone use and how does it go?
Main jobs ill be doing is some exhaust work, want to make a cargo barrier and some bar work

[Bling]

I have a BOC MagMate180P welder, has done me well so far. No longer available I don't think. You can buy a 150A version though: http://www.boc.co.nz/shop/en/nz-boc-ind ... agmig150-p not sure if +GST or not. But I find mine great, easy enough to use. No experience with other cheaper welders so can't comment on others. You can buy cheap welders, but you do tend to get what you pay for. If you plan to keep it long term, and use it quite a bit, it's money well spent.

I've used mine for car panel welding (even some panel which was about 0.5mm thick, right up to welding 12mm reinforcing rod together to make a table for someone. Realistically, 150A would have been fine for those jobs, it wasn't available when I got my 180A welder.

[DXROLLA]

Cheers Bling, looks like a good welder. I was looking at the al cheapo ones from the likes of Bunnings, but after reading some reviews on them i just dont think its worth it and better off spending a bit more like the one you posted.
In the long term they would pay for themselves with the amount of things you could make

[Dell'Orto]

You'll regret buying a cheap one the first time you have a fiddly job that requires consistent wire speed.
I bought an ExcelArc 210 several years back, its good, though not that flash at low amperage welding. Smokes heavy stuff though

[edwagon]

Forget about the cheap ones - junk - waste of time and money

A second hand Lincoln 170 or Unimig 210 etc would be $1000 well spent if you don't have the budget for new.
The ExcelArc seem pretty good too


Make sure you use the right size wire to suit the type of work you are doing!

Makes a HUGE difference

0.6 for panels and 0.9 for general purpose is my preference

[fangsport]

hunt out a transmig 130 twin or similar
cheap
reliable
most parts still available
gas/gasless

STICK TO KNOWN BRANDS