Gas-less MIG Welders - Any Good?

Post by **TyreFryer** » Mon May 21, 07 3:17 pm

Has anybody used a gas-less MIG welder? If so are they as good as a gas MIG welder?

They've got them in at ALDI on Thursday and I've got some bodywork to repair.

http://uk.aldi.com/special_buys/productnl_212.html

Trigger_Andy · Post by **Trigger_Andy** » Mon May 21, 07 3:23 pm

No and no!

Not that I'm a welder mind. I just know a few people who are and say they are crap and not worth it. The odd person I have known to have bought one have slung it in the corner of the shed and bought a proper one.

i'll now wait to be shot down in flames!

(why dont we have a propper 'Flame'd smiley?)

Post by **TyreFryer** » Mon May 21, 07 3:31 pm

I've had a search around and that does seem the general opinion, plus you have to chip the slag off. Having said that they can be used in a slight breeze outside whereas gas can't. (I have no garage).

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 21, 07 3:31 pm

^^^ what he said. Mine is a gassed one but I have heard nothing good about the gasless ones. If you do buy one I have some gassless wire I bought by mistake once you can have LOL

latil · Post by **latil** » Mon May 21, 07 3:51 pm

Gasless welders compare pretty well with chocolate tea pots.

For another few pounds you should find a gassed one,but,avoid SIP like the plague. I did all the work on my car with 4 throw away bottles of co2.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 21, 07 4:03 pm

£99.99 seems a blummin good deal, but then again, if its about as much good as a kick in the schimolas, it's about £99.99 too expensive

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 21, 07 4:06 pm

My SIP is OK, but then I've not really needed any repair parts. I understand thats when the fun can really start. I have a Top Turbo Super MIG 150 or something.

Basically you want something with a fan to help stop it overheating. 110A will be OK for body work, 130A is good for body and chassis. Mines a 150A never used about half power I don't think.

Mind you its yonks since I did any welding.

latil · Post by **latil** » Mon May 21, 07 4:13 pm

I've still got an old Clarkeweld 100e here. that used to overheat and cut out for half an hour until I got a fan heater set to blow cold and aimed it through the louvres on the back,that cured things.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 21, 07 4:21 pm

I have an SIP 190 dual that can use gas or not, you just swap the lead polarity.

works ok gassless but only ever used one reel of gassless though

big problem with mine is the length of cable from the house to the workshop, it's just normal cable and isn't really thick enough, also the 190 has a normal plug but really it wants hardwiring straight to the fuse box

I'd say just gassless might be a bit mickey mouse though

Post by **TyreFryer** » Mon May 21, 07 4:25 pm

Not looking good for gasless is it?

Holly · Post by **Holly** » Mon May 21, 07 5:12 pm

I've got one cheap gasless and one good one, the cheap one is good for quick repairs but because its only got two settings (on and off) it can blow holes in borderline rusty metal ... I still use it for panel work etc simply because its small and simple. The nice one is great, on a par with any of the gas ones I've used, but it has power settings lower than most are available with

I use it for fiddly or heavy stuff.

Post by **TyreFryer** » Mon May 21, 07 5:15 pm

The Aldi MIG welder has 4 power settings and 25 to 130 Amps.

Holly · Post by **Holly** » Mon May 21, 07 5:48 pm

My nice one goes down to 20, 25 should be ok for bodywork sheetmetal.

One thing not pointed out above, gasless is easier to get started on - the first time I used one I'd only done tig welding before, after a couple of days I then went to a gas rig and wasn't able to get the seams to look as tidy.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 21, 07 6:08 pm

Personally you'll find me Gas welding before I'd ever have a gasless welder. Why not just buy a stick welder and be done with it?

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Mon May 21, 07 6:34 pm

I've got a gasless welder, think its a clarke 150. never had any problem with it. Done loads of welding on mine and other peoples cars (mostly MOT stuff on rust heaps). Works great.

I only bought it as it was in a sale years ago when I was in machine mart and I'd never welded anything before getting it, the welding wire is damned pricey for gasless though