Hey guys

I'm getting ready to start the massive work needed to get my little rust bucket back on the road.

I have decided that its unfair to put another little roundnose in the junk pile so i will do my best to get her back before 2020.

I was wondering if anybody could give me some advice on oxy or MIG welders. I'm looking a a gas MIG (cigweld 130) and when it comes to a oxy welder i possibly a DHC 2000 ( the old dillons) or even just a standard weld torch.

Any suggestions????

The little Cigweld 130 works but is a bit of a toy, yes I've used one.
Best small welders I reckon are the WIA 150S and the Lincoln/Liquidarc 170, but both are much dearer.
I find I hardly use my oxy on a Mini, you'd be better to put the $$ towards a better MIG welder.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I'm with him.... ^^

I've got a nice 200amp unimig, and I love it to bits - it's a once in a lifetime purchase.

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I've been looking at some on eBay and I realise before everyone jumps up and down that you get what you pay for but what should you be looking for in way of Rating and features?

Eg I saw one that says its a 130Amp but in the specs the max output current is 117 amp so what do the figures mean ?

Also would you go gas or gasless or both?

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

what do you guys reckon of these, http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-200-AMP-MIG- ... dZViewItem
or
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BRAND-NEW-Kriege ... dZViewItem

these too cheap or decent, i dont think anything on ebay is decent quality anymore but i have only bought 3 thing so.

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any parts for a 76 clubby pm me or ring 0405 329 326

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44717

Bigger MIG welders are rated to a standard- eg 200A @ 23V, 60% duty cycle. The cycle time is out of 10 mins I think.
REAL big Amarican ones are rated to 100% duty cycle, eg 600A @100% duty cycle.
Some of these tiny ones seem to be rated at what they can give for a fraction of a second. So beware.

You don't need a big machine for car panel work, even 110A is plenty- but you want good voltage control and arc stability.
These days I won't buy without trying it first.

Gas or gasless? I prefer Ar/CO2 gas and solid wire, if the machine has a gas solenoid it can run either type. You have to hire the gas bottle, unfortunately. Don't look at the disposable gas it lasts about 5 mins.

Gasless are cheaper machines to buy, but the wire is lots dearer. And the process gives off lots of nasty fumes.

IMO the only advantage of gasless wire is for welding galvanised steel or outside in a breeze.

<edit> Mine is a Kemppi `Super Kempomat' 125A, has stepless voltage control. I bought it s/h years ago for $450. New they were around $2K once.

<edit 2> Beware of the cheapo Telwin gasless, it has NO wire speed control and only 2 heat settings.. a waste of time, IMO. Only current adjustment seems to be the arc length you hold...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Ive got a lincon 170 with 0.8 wire and co2 gas its great for panel repairs and light engineering and building exhaust

I have a toolex(gasweld) brand mig. Its rated at 170 amps I use gas with it most of the time. I think its better because the thinnest gasless wire you can get is 0.8mm where as solid wire comes in 0.6. 0.6 needs a little less heat and is a bit kinder to thin metal. When I am welding really thick stuff I use the gasless stuff if I have any laying around.

oxy wellding needs a lot of heat so when your using thin stuff its just gunna warp and buckle. If you really dont want to buy a Mig, buy a Tig they are awesome

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im with mason same set up and i cant weld for sh@t but learning

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busier than a 0ne legged man in a butt kicking competion

Loooked at a "MagMate Pro 180" last week from the BOC stores. Cost is about $1100 but has infinite voltage control for thin metals and a duty cycle of 60% @180A. Salesman said it was a generic version from Lincoln.
Put the money on the table - will see how it works out.

P.S - there is now a special during August where you get the 180 mig, wire, gloves, welding mask, tank hire and reg for $1253. (18 month warranty)

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Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke

so is it a good one mini dave, rate it if you could,


is this called their rated cycle and how do you find out how long this rated cycle goes for,

do have much money at the moment and really thinking of getting this one off ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-MIG-WELDER-G ... dZViewItem

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any parts for a 76 clubby pm me or ring 0405 329 326

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44717

I've been looking at that one too. Looks basic - wondering about wire speed and whether 'universal' plug for lead would be advatage.

I like the look of this one as it has a 'stich' and 'spot' setting

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180186259520&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008#ebayphotohosting

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

i did to floor pans with a gasless cheapo mig............ took me a couple of months and looked like crap and probably wasnt safe. id go a quality one

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Enjoy Chris

If you want quality get a TIG

Tigs are good and by far give the best welds but you need a lot skill to run one of these. For the home handyman the best option is a mig running co2 of argo sheild as its easy to do