Help buying MIG welder and Air Compressor

[krobinson]

Hi folks,

Now I have my own house/garage. I want to get A good tool collection. Also, I want to do more of my own work, like welding etc

I'm going to purchase a new MIG welder, and an air compressor.

MIG - to be used to stitch weld my Nova, fit panels, and general car welding. Can people recommend the best type of welder for the jobs?

Air Compressor - to be used for air tools and paint spraying. Can people tell me the minimum sized tank it should have and HP motor for this type of work?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Keith

[Novasport]

PortaMig's always get a good write up and a lot of recmmendations.

[Benn]

How what you'll pay for air tools and bits, i'd just use the elec version.

[krobinson]

Electric sprayer?

[fearless]

As a home DIY welder, I've used Cebora mig welders for years - never had any problems with them - spares easily available if something breaks, takes a large wire reel and reasonably priced - although mine cost about 200 quid new many many years ago - the price has creeped up a bit since

This is the one I have http://www.toolbaydirect.co.uk/catalogue/product/Unclassified/0/Cebora-Pocket-Turbo-130-Amp-Portable-MIG-Welder-for-06---08mm-Wire-240v/165511/ - although you will probably find one a lot cheaper if you shop around

It's exactly the same as the Snap on Welder - just the stickers are different !!!!

Nowadays I tend use Professional Welding gear - only because it's available to me where my nova is, and although there is a difference - a good result can be had with a DIY setup

My only other advise is dont opt for Gasless setup - they are a waste of time



Dave

[paul james]

Get yourself a proper auto-darkening welding mask, they may be a bit pricey, but so worth it. Not having to constantly lift a normal mask to check what your doing means your welding can be so much more accurate.

[Novasport]

ESAB, Murex & Portamig are the welders to have. You buy cheap, you get cheap.

As always with any product, buy the best you can afford.

[fearless]

Get yourself a proper auto-darkening welding mask, they may be a bit pricey, but so worth it. Not having to constantly lift a normal mask to check what your doing means your welding can be so much more accurate.


Cant agree more - I was just about to post the same :)

You don't have to buy a mega expensive one (the more expensive they are the quicker they tend to react and darken quicker - but we are only talking fractions of a second)

I have a Speedglass one and cant fault it - but I remember a thread on migweb about masks - and the one everyone recommended was only about 50 quid


I find having both hands free allows you to steady the gun with your spare hand and therefore allowing an improved weld

[Bubba]

my clarke 151 seems to do the job. ive done my nova and 4mm angle...worked perfectly got it for £200 reconditioned off the bay of EEeeeeee

[pottersrebel]

i paid about thirty quid for my auto darkening welding mask and i have to say its brilliant i do alot of welding with the stock car racing and ive never had flash with it u can adjust the sensitivity and the depth it darkens too. like someone else has said it also improves ur welding skills as u have two hands on the job and u also dont need to move to start welding unlike the ones u have to nod ur head to make it drop in place just line up the torch and pull the trigger

[John]

I have a Miller mig, it's very good and worth a look. A little pricey but, like others have said, you only get what you pay for.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/onephase.php

[Benn]

Sorry didn't see you wanted to paint too. That you can't really do with a elec one.

[David2005]

I agree with the above spend the most you can afford. When choosing a mig welder always go for the biggest range of amps. http://www.weldequip.com/mig-welders.htm On that link I have the Clarke 160tm welder which goes from 30-150amps, its a very good welder for that price but I've had it a few years and been wanting to upgrade to a Portamig 235 which goes from 15-235amps. I would say whatever welder you choose should go down to at least 30amps for bodywork and then you have to consider what power supply you'll be using. Don't go for a gasless one and an autodarkening lid is a must.

For the compressor what cfm it is is as important as it tells you what tools it'll drive. If it was me buying I'd go for min of 200ltr 3hp and a min of 15cfm, most tools you throw at it can be driven off it. Go for the highest cfm rating you can afford.

[Novasport]

Another I forgot, Butters are good too. As said, get one thats amps can go quite low, especially as you will be welding a Nova

[Old man Jimbo]

I got one of these years ago and before anyone starts to moan first of all I've done car bodywork for a lot of years and one of the main reason I bought one is it goes down to 25amps, which, for car bodywork is ideal especially tin thin novas! lol I bought it on sale in Halfords of all places and is brilliant for your average "occacional user" easy to set up for a begginer and my only gripe is the trigger was a little stiff but a quick squirt of WD40 sorted that.

Cheapest I can find at the moment.
http://www.techweld.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=247

For best results as mentioned you need one of these. I've got one and it's excellent in every way and very very good value. Several forums have done group buys on them.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PARWELD-LIGHT-REACTIVE-WELDING-HELMET-MASK-XR914-AUTO-MIG-TIG-ARC-/260933503106?pt=UK_BOI_ProtectiveGear_RL&hash=item3cc0d94882

Last of all a compressor is as already mentioned all about what CFM (cubic feet per minute) you wont get much better than this 14cfm 3hp little beasty. I've just ordered one for myself and I've had big three phase 250litre jobs in the past but again this is small enough for a home garage but can kick out enough air to power anything I've got. In fact this can run Devilbliss Gti HVLP spray guns and that no mean feat! I've basically tracked this model down it's a no make name made by the same people who make this model for wolf air etc just better value same part numbers for spares as the ones twice and three times the price. Again this is the cheapest I can find.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180777315285?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Long post but I hope that helps!:thumb:

[pikey1986]

ive got a little clarke pro90 thing and has lasted well, even baxter didn't brake it when he borrowed it lol

[Royston]

got mine from here

http://www.cromwell.co.uk/category_page/010200

you want @150 amps, I paid @£240 for mine Keith

[krobinson]

Fantastic! Think I'll order that compressor this weekend!

[Riggy]

did you order compressor keith

i picked this little beast up before xmas

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/riggy4/2e0decbf.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v13/riggy4/6eadaed1.jpg

have no probs with that for all my air tools etc , but having 3 phase helps haha

as for welders we have a couple , picked a bargain sip 150 from halfrauds a while ago should have been £350 got it for 80 as the couldnt find the gun , got it home and it was inside the side pannel near the wire lol

and my misses bro bought a massive proffesional one from a closing down garage last year , need to take it down unit yet though

[Old man Jimbo]

3 Phase rocks. I miss it so much! 250litre compressors don't struggle with anything.

Good deal on the welder I might "try" that one myself. lol

[Jedro]

we just sold a sealy super mig 185 with torch etc.. for £180, that type of thing would be ideal for you