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[Novasport]

Damn right...

Wanted to learn how to weld so been doing a bit of research into the best machines to get etc and decided to try and get a ESAB, Miller, Lincoln or Murex welder.
Been watching different machines go for daft money then saw an ESAB up at a good start price and localish.
Well I bid and won it for a good price so went to collect it and got a bit of a surprise. Being a 160 amp machine I thought it would be about the size of a Clarke machine but it turns out its a tad larger, about 4-5 times larger lol
Had a right job getting it in the back of the car.
Even had to clean out the garage to get it in there!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG00153-20110502-1947.jpg

Any tips for a new welder?

Going to try and get a pub gas bottle to keep costs on that down.
Got plenty of wire and tips, shrouds etc. Even has a new Binzel torch thats only been used a few times :)

[Nobby]

welding is easy pal just getting the surface prepped is the the only issue, best best get a old exhaust and crack on, i started by doing like a stream of tacks and then when you more confident try and get a nice run with the weld all depends what your welding really Good luck!

[Lewis.]

first tip: don't use bloody pub gas! its shoite! use argoshield light, its not expensive. £6.60 a month bottle rental, and £35 for a refill

[bazil]

. dont look at the bright light lol

its just practice and getting to know your welder, if you have never welded before then get a dvd of atleast look up one of the welding forums, they are full of good advice and top tips

[Balley]

dont use pub gas, I cant do anything with it, but am alright with argonshield

[shed-on-wheels]

invest in some tidy welding gloves and a mask matey dont weld to close to the tip as you will forever be blowing them and you will pic the rest up as you go along oh and try earth it as close as you can to where your welding seems to work better for me lol

[bazil]

first tip: don't use bloody pub gas! its shoite! use argoshield light, its not expensive. £6.60 a month bottle rental, and £35 for a refill

i use airproducts cougar gas, i gave up on pub gas or co2 years ago,

[MK999]

That machine is about the size of a clarke 160 as far as I can see? :confused:

[bazil]

a different migweb lollol

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.php

[Royston]

You've got nothing to weld yetlol

Note: I have a friend who works for ESAB;)

[gazz]

as all have stated do not use pub gas.
argoshield is the one.
bazil that site is good, i been member for while on there. very helpful and well experienced people on there:thumb:

[Lewis.]

i use airproducts cougar gas, i gave up on pub gas or co2 years ago,

any argon/co2 mix is fine really, i just use boc as the supplier is right next to where i work lol

[bazil]

there is alot of good info on there, from set up to troubleshooting.

lewis; i get my gas from a local supplier who mainly does ballon gas lollol

[Novasport]

That machine is about the size of a clarke 160 as far as I can see? :confused:

The photo makes it look small. Look at it compared to my mug of tea.

[MK999]

The photo makes it look small. Look at it compared to my mug of tea.

Ah yeah, I make it about 6-7 mugs high lol

[Lewis.]

The photo makes it look small. Look at it compared to my mug of tea.

It might still be a borrowers sized mig if thats a 1kg spool of wire on top :p

[Royston]

About time you made some space in your garagelol

[Novasport]

Its a 15kg reel

[Royston]

Its a 15kg reel

Copper coating will have rusted off before you use all of that:eek:

[Novasport]

first tip: don't use bloody pub gas! its shoite! use argoshield light, its not expensive. £6.60 a month bottle rental, and £35 for a refill

Problem is, for the amount of welding I will do the monthly charge would be a waste of money.

Will places refill not rented bottles?

[bazil]

ive got 2 15kg reels just for my nova lol

another tip is to look after the earth clamp, its every bit as important as the nozzle

[Royston]

I bought an air products half size bottle cost £50 @ £45 to fill

[MK999]

If you check out mig welding.co.uk on there somewhere is a calculator for loads of gas schemes, see which one works out cheapest for your usage.