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View Full Version : what welder is right for me



madjack
29th Feb 2008, 11:11 PM
g'day all,i am looking at doing a few allterations on my camper trailer(battery box more gerry can holder's)I think i know what i'm after (mig) am i correct in this as i have never done any welding before.Any advice will be appreciated,I am not looking at spending to much money as it will only get used every now and again on the camper and a few other odds and sods around the house(but then again i might use it more than i think)Thank you:2tsup:

Grahame Collins
1st Mar 2008, 10:46 AM
G;Day Madjack and welcome to the mob,

I'll assume your camping trailer is 1.4mm or 060" or thinner
sheet metal.
A mig is certainly the way to to go but a cheap buy will get you cheap results if you understand my meaning. Mig gas cover for this sheet metal size is the way to to go.

There will be some respondents that espouse gasless or FCAW welding but you will not find anyone in industry that welds sheet with gasless mig.That also should tel you something

Buying a no brand mig from an Ebay vendor can be cheap
but thats usually because theres,

No after sales service
30 day warranty
no spares
No one capable of repairing it when the thing shitz itself.

That's not to say that there aren't, some very good deals from honest E bay vendors.

What you must consider is that having purchased a lighter cheaper model you may find that this welding lark is your thing and you may then wish you could have gone a bit bigger.

The Bunnings Gigweld gas model goes for around $700 and thats about the base model of any thing thats half reasonable..
Add another $100 or so for a auto darkening helmet which will help you in learning to weld better weld and quicker quicker than you will know.

My advice to you, would to be buy at the very top of the range at which you can afford to.

Buy cheap and you buy twice.

Some responsible vendors who are worth recommending

http://www.bobthewelder.com.au/home.php

http://www.tokentools.com.au

http://www.globalweld.com.au/products.html

best of luck
Grahame
Resident Curmudgeon

Fossil
1st Mar 2008, 11:23 AM
Yep.... I agree 100% with the cantankerous old bugger above.

Bob the welder has a mig jobbie which looks like a good base unit for anyone starting out IMO. http://www.bobthewelder.com.au/product.php?productid=200&cat=0&page=1

madjack
2nd Mar 2008, 06:46 PM
thank you guy's all info taken on board,might be a while before i can get the welder but appreciate you'r time.