Hey so I'm looking at buying a welder.

Just after fixing up some of my own panels making some small brackets.

Fixing bits of rust you know.

The one I have chosen is a gas gassless.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 4238wt_960

Would something like this be ok?

pretty low duty cycle and personally i prefer a euro style torch attachment...

i've been buying some cheaper tools lately and whilst most are good, i think a welder is where you need to spend some dosh and get a good un....

a good mig is great..

mine's a Unimig,

WIA, CIG and Lincoln are probably the 3 top brands out there... if you can find a 2nd hand WIA 240V grab it.

I checked those brands very nice the quality looks better but it's out of my price range.

I was going to buy a bunings welder but checking what is out there.

I'm sure people have made do with a $300 welder.

My friend can get cost price mugs through his work so I'll research that option for a decent welder around my budget.

I'll second the call for a Euro torch connector (so you can use name brand torches- eg Binzel or Bernard).
The problem with most cheap MIG welders is that the torches are toys- and when they die and no parts are still available, you can't just screw a better torch on.

As for welding with gas, or using gasless- I use both at work for different jobs- gasless is great for site work, but for welding thin rusty Minis, solid wire+gas is lots better IMO.

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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.

Youll find alot of welders on eBay.
Thats where you'll find one for $300 that actually is WORTH the money.
Look for people selling welders after using it once or twice.
Probably after restoring their mini

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Tim

ok, my friend said he can get lincoln and cig welders for a bit under trade price through work for me.

so i will look at that also.

im not sure what im looking for on ebay really.

Just to add to this, are there any welders that are any good that run on 10 amps?

Sure there are, I use a WIA 150S at work and it's a little ripper. Latest version now is 175A I think. These are rated for 15A supply but with small wires for welding body panels they won't draw more than 10A.

Lincoln and Cigweld have good 240V ones also.
Cigweld's MIG/TIG/stick 175A inverter looks good to me-
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Cigweld-welder-t ... 249wt_1069

You don't need a BIG machine for panel work, even a 120A is plenty- but the little welders these days all have too few voltage steps.

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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'd stay away from small flux-core welders. They're not a scratch on a good conventional MIG, and take the fellas advice on the hand piece. If any welder is going to give you trouble it usually comes down to an inferior handpiece/nozzle or liner.

The annual fee on the Argoshield bottle is a PITA but your mate might able to help you out there.

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'72 English Van...'72 Export Moke ...63' 850...KZ 750E1...'74 P76

I bought a 150 amp NuWeld for 700 with all the gear (good mask, trolley,heaps of spares). and Its brilliant. Also runs on a 10 Amp plug
One thing I did learn the hard way and I recommend to anyone is definantly hire an argon tank, DONT mig gasless on mini panels you will blow holes! well maybe a pro welder won't but being a beginner when it comes to welding I do.


damn right

I just paid the annual bottle rental on my Argosheild Light, $172 for the year.....

QLD Tradetools have specials on their cheap MIGs and I bought one a while ago and found it reasonable. Its a 170amp with a Binzel style torch and came with a UNImig gas regulator and I think I paid around $370 a couple of years ago. I run solid 0.6 wire through mine for panel stuff.

I've seen them advertised in the Sunday Mail regularly for similar money and at least you can sort out warranty issues and get spares somewhere close to home.

That said you will always do better with a known performer such as a Kempi or a UNImig etc but you have to expect to pay for it.

Another option is try phoning a Welder repairer/servicer as they take trade ins and sell older reliable machines too.

I bought a little welder like the one you are looking at, about 10 years ago and I paid $500.00 second hand for it. I have used it to built several boat trailers from scratch, I have done a complete body rebuild on my Mk2 S, and welded literally thousands of osmosis affected areas on steel hulled yachts, and the little machine keeps going. You get used to the little torch and the amperage adjustment and wire speed adjustment are quite intuitive. If you aren't going to use it professionally, I really don't see a problem. Bloody cheap. Even if it just does your brick and then dies, it will easily have paid for itself. You will need to hire a gas bottle, which is a total rip off..... Go for it, I say.

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No decision is incorrect when made - but it does become apparent in retrospect...