Yet more welder related questions....

[Mr Revhead]

So, hopefully buying a mig next week. Use will 99% be restoring old cars.
Still deciding on which one to get.

Two local engineering places have offered me two options

http://www.weldingsupplies.co.nz/shop/M ... P+KIT.html

My doubts over that are the 40a minimum. I feel it might be too high for panel steel.

The other is this:
http://www.hugongwelds.com/products/han ... _180A.html
Note the pic is not the actual machine.
I haven't seen it yet, but they are getting one in for me to view.
Obviously my doubts about this one is the chinese aspect.
Has anyone here seen and/or used one of these? Thoughts?

I'd rather if your reply is "It's chinese so it will be shit" you don't bother posting I'm after facts from those who have one or have used one etc.

[iOnic]

I'd go for the first one. Minimum current will be fine. Can manually pulse to reduce heat input but I doubt you'll need it. I've got one like the second one but different chinachina brand. All good at high voltage/wire speed settings but it's too inconsistent at low wire speeds. End up having the zap-zap-zap effect (as opposed to steady flow of wire with the sizzling bacon sound) as the cheap wire feed motor can't maintain an accurate enough wire speed. It was good when I first got it but a few months later it turned to shit.

If you weld thin stuff often. ^ this is bad.

[evil_si]

Im organising a group buy on some xcel arc 190's

As featured in this months trade zone magazine for $1955
http://www.tradezone.co.nz/caliper/page19-full.htm

Same machine just no spool gun at group buy price

Machine, mig torch, regulator, and arc leads looking at Approx $1250

[Bling]

You already have my input.
So, It's Chinese it will be shit. Aren't they pretty much all made in China these days, no matter what brand in that price range? Unless of course you spend $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[GTsedan]

I think lincoln do an entry level welder for about $1200 which would suit your purposes. I bought a cigweld about 18 months ago for around that price ($800 ex demo) and am pretty happy with it. Cant find a 'made in china' sticker on it yet.

[Crucible]

My doubts over that are the 40a minimum. I feel it might be too high for panel steel.

I do most of the structural repairs at work and weld @ 150amps on the 200amp Cebora machine we have. I dont really bother using the pulse settings it has. Its really just a matter of pulsing the trigger and overlapping tacks to avoid overheating and distortion.

All good at high voltage/wire speed settings but it's too inconsistent at low wire speeds. End up having the zap-zap-zap effect (as opposed to steady flow of wire with the sizzling bacon sound) as the cheap wire feed motor can't maintain an accurate enough wire speed.

+1

They are horrible to weld with when the feed is turned down. Keep away from the gasless jobs also.

[Emperor]

Revhead, have you tried Saeco / Wilson Bros? I work in the ham branch, so if you can give me a part number on the one you want I can try get a price

[Mr Revhead]

Oh ok, will take a look. Rarely use them down here.

Evil, will scout out one of those at a tradezone agent down here and take a look

[Dell'Orto]

My doubts over that are the 40a minimum. I feel it might be too high for panel steel.

I do most of the structural repairs at work and weld @ 150amps on the 200amp Cebora machine we have. I dont really bother using the pulse settings it has. Its really just a matter of pulsing the trigger and overlapping tacks to avoid overheating and distortion.

Do you use .6 wire for that? My machine only takes full spools, and I CBF spending $100+ on a roll I'll use like 3 feet of

[fangsport]

I think lincoln do an entry level welder for about $1200 which would suit your purposes. I bought a cigweld about 18 months ago for around that price ($800 ex demo) and am pretty happy with it. Cant find a 'made in china' sticker on it yet.

I'm a big fan of the oldschool brands. would rather buy a second hand Miller, Lincoln Cigweld etc, than a new Chinese whatever.

like decent sized AC motors (2-4HP) , the windings are done with decent wire, and can handle the jandel better, so to speak

[fangsport]

So, hopefully buying a mig next week. Use will 99% be restoring old cars.
Still deciding on which one to get.

have fun with the Imps................. doube-skinned pricks of things

[fevil]

WIA is a good brand. Ran one for years until it was nicked.
Replaced it with a old shitter that's to big to nick.
Keep away from anything gas-less, under 160 amps and cant run a 0.6wire.
180 to 200amps is good as there is the odd occasion the extra grunt is required.

[fangsport]

[quote="fevil"] Keep away from anything gas-less, under 160 amps and cant run a 0.6wire.
180 to 200amps is good as there is the odd occasion the extra grunt is required.[/quote ] geez, that plenty of gizm for panel work

[Mr Revhead]

Yeah will be stitching most of it I would say.

[LEAKER]

Spend the money or buy second hand. I bought a cheap mig and have never used it for any real work because every time i've tried to it's $&#$% and i end up hiring one.

[Bling]

1k isn't all that cheap though, for that sort of money you will get something decent. When I was looking a couple years back I didn't see anything (new not 2nd hand) worth having under that money though.

Been cooking some bacon this arvo actually, will post results in "what did you do to your car today"

[fevil]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farmi ... 659566.htm

Ask the man if this could be rewired for single phase.

[Crucible]

Do you use .6 wire for that? My machine only takes full spools, and I CBF spending $100+ on a roll I'll use like 3 feet of

pretty sure it runs 0.8mm wire..haha I know what you mean.

[Mr Revhead]

FYI I have done welding before. It's just long ago enough that I've forgotten the theory and numbers etc.
So I know the size of the machine I want. I know there are no $500 machines to do what I want. Last time I looked $1200 was what you had ot spend. I'm just trying to find out out if that Chinese one is still crap like they were 5 years ago.

At this stage I am fairly sure the Weldtech one will be the one for me due to local support, price, specs and quality. No I have spoken to about is has been able to say "it's crap coz..."
Have a meeting with the Wilsons rep on Monday about what they have. Today he offered me a 160a Hugong inverter.

[Jdawg]

Why stay away from Gasless?