Gas-less MIG Welders - Any Good?

db · Post by db » Mon May 21, 07 7:31 pm

Have a read here- http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

I've never used gasless so can't comment but i've been researching for a new welder- i've had a Clarke 90 for years and it's just not up the abuse it gets now. I had 'Turbo'd' it by fitting a cooling fan i pinched from a dead computer rack in work. Tandy sell 'em, bout a tenner, took an hour to fit.

Things i found to be important:
'duty cycle'- how much you can use it at what power rating before it overheats (hence the fan...)
Stability at low power settings- cheap ones apparently fluctuate on lowest settings.
Availability of spares- get a 'known' make.
Get the best you can afford if you plan on using it a lot- there ain't no bargains in welders, you get EXACTLY what you pay for.

I'm spending a lot more than i planned and going for a Portamig.

Post by **TyreFryer** » Mon May 21, 07 9:16 pm

Cheers db, that's a great site.

Quote:

"There's a page about gasless welding, but in summary you can't see what you are doing, it spatters a lot, and needs the slag brushing off before painting. On the positive side it can be used outdoors in the wind just as effectively as indoors, and the weld quality and strength is OK once you get the hang of it.

Things become easier with gas shielding. You can see the weld pool, the welds are neater, there is less spatter. The disadvantages are the cost of gas for occasional users, and the need for wind shielding if welding outside."

The "slag" is enough to put me off. I used to have a gas MIG welder and if a gasless is a cross between that and arc welding I'd rather spend more and go for a gas MIG welder.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 21, 07 9:41 pm

persoally i woyuld buy a DECENT SECOND HAND mig welder rather than a Fisher-Price/SIP/Draper/MB Games/Ronco/Pifco/Clarke. Made the mistake of a new SIP turbo 170 from one of these tool places once.

So this time I went to a shop that JUST SELLS WELDERS. Told them I wanted a decent machine but didn't care if it was a bit beat up looking.

They sold me a 150a proper machine with removable torch (a good sign for a start) . It also takes the big (15kg?) reels of wire and big bottle.

I haven't had a moments bother with it. lovely welds, and a really long torch cable on it.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Mon May 21, 07 10:45 pm

Had an old snap on mig 160a for years takes 15kg rolls and big bottles does stainless and ally .8mm no probs with it used it for welding up bits on jcbs etc does get a bit hot, better on a winters day as for the gas just turn up the flow!!!!! sometimes need an extra fan to cool it down if your welding 1/2" mild steel or cutting edges on buckets you have to keep it in short burst's other than that I use a 300a stick welder thats about 60yrs old oil filled "oxford"

db · Post by db » Sun May 27, 07 11:57 am

Adding to Wil's comments- i'd narrowed my search down to s/h industrial- type migs- loads on Ebay going for £150- 250. They mostly have the detachable 'Eurotorch' - great idea and are gonna be bulletproof and easy to get spares for.
Cos i weld a lot and i'm only gonna do more, i felt i could justify laying out £500 for a new Portamig 181.
But- it's industrial quality, has Eurotorch, all-copper windings, proper metal wire drive & quality motor that get the wire to speed instantly, stable down to 20A and the duty cycle means i can use 120A for 60%- i think i'd overheat before the welder!
If it lasts me 10 years it'll have cost a quid a week. Bargain

Holly · Post by **Holly** » Sun May 27, 07 4:37 pm

Thats a good point about wind shielding, I've never done any welding indoors

latil · Post by **latil** » Sun May 27, 07 5:11 pm

I know of 3 people that have a Cebora autostar mig,with eurotorch,trade quality. Around £600 new,plenty about 2nd hand,£150/200. Great machine that never breaks. Only yhing,for light hobby use it won't do gasless and needs a BoC bottle.