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21st Nov 2013, 01:53 PM #1Novice
- Join Date
- Jul 2013
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- Toowoomba Qlder
- Posts
- 22
Welder purchase advice for a sort of beginner
I am looking to buy a welder to do some small jobs.
Mainly would be for welding:
- rhs probably no thicker than 4mm, some would be gal
- welding mesh to rhs for my trailer,
- maybe some welding on old dirt bike frame (chrome moly frames I think)
- and maybe some alloy welding.
I wouldn't be attempting to weld aluminium (such as dirt bike rims) or magnesium (dirt bikeparts).
I'm an average welder and haven't done any for a long time and have only used an arc welder (which is probably older than me).
My question is around what type of welder: mig (gas or gasless), arc, inverter etc. I don't want to spend a lot as it won't get a lot of use and I only have a 10A plug available, although I could use one of those 15A plug converters.
(Also, my return key won't work on my keyboard and let me start a new line, anywayto fix this? I had to type this is in word and paste it in.)
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21st Nov 2013, 05:46 PM #2Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Norwood-ish, Adelaide
- Age
- 59
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- 6,542
I have that problem at work as there the browser is IE. There are issues with this forum and IE, so the easiest way around the problem is go to something else - Firefox is used by a lot of people without issues.
As for the welder, I would suggest MIG; gasless can be a bit sputtery so go with gas if you can afford the cylinder rent. TIG is really nice but needs clean material (Galv gives it headaches). Stick you have used and stick on an inverter unit is nice - most can run TIG and stick. Perhaps try and find an old small MIG unit on gumtree or ebay?
Michael
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22nd Nov 2013, 01:21 PM #3Golden Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
- Location
- N/A
- Posts
- 535
Here's the limit of my knowledge:
MIG, or if always over 2.0mm then stick unless you like difficult jobs.
MIG, or stick if you like difficult jobs.
MIG or stick.
TIG (expensive) or expensive specialised MIG.
Inverter stick.
I use an inverter stick machine for (1) and (2), but it's tricky.
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22nd Nov 2013, 04:32 PM #4Novice
- Join Date
- Jul 2013
- Location
- Toowoomba Qlder
- Posts
- 22
How about something like this Welder MIG Welder TIG Welder Stick Welder in Sydney, NSW | eBay
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22nd Nov 2013, 06:12 PM #5Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2013
- Location
- Gracemere
- Age
- 45
- Posts
- 285
Save your money mate. Better off with a known brand which has backup service. Those cheap eBay ones look like headaches to me.
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22nd Nov 2013, 06:50 PM #6Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Norwood-ish, Adelaide
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 6,542
I was thinking something like this one (I think they are single phase)
MIG Welder in Central West, NSW | eBay
Michael
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