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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    Default Mig testing near lilydale

    I picked up a unimig 180 second hand on the weekend at the Swapmeet. Is there anyone near me in lilydale that uses a mig welder that I can bring mine over and test it with your gas?

    I don't want to have to spend more than twice what I paid for the welder for a bottle of gas if I already blew money on a welder that doesn't work.

    I have some urgent welding to do and would like to use the mig for it.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    East Warburton, Vic
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    Hi Dale

    You're welcome to try it out here
    Cheers

    DJ

  3. #3
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    Aug 2009
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    Did you end up finding some gas?
    Cheers

    DJ

  4. #4
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    Not yet mate.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    North Queensland
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    79

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    I used some small disposable argon cylinders before I bought a larger "E" cylinder so maybe you could try a disposable. About $40 at Bunnings but most tool and hardware stores keep them.

    Regards, Gerry

  6. #6
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    Melbourne
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    I tried the welder on some pure Argon and it worked ok so it should be good with some proper mix gas. Need to get some tips for the gun the original is buggered, swapped in another that was at hand but isn't the correct fit. Also will have to get a reg with a bottle.

    What are my chances of getting a second hand bottle?

    Where do you guys find the best deals on buying new and refills?
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    melbourne
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    I took my supagas bottle back a few months ago and they told me they will never sell the bottles but they said they offer a rental for just one month. I was just going to buy a total tools size E because I find it very convenient to always have a cylinder, so I didn't ask too much unfortunately. They were about $200 a year for rental for the E, so maybe it could be as low as $17 per month rental. You'd need to check with them though. Might be a cheap way to get a cylinder if its just for one job. I doubt you'll get anything for the gas when you return it so try to get the size that you will fully use in a month, maybe a D. If you misjudge, you could always get a refill in the rental period for just the price of the gas.

  8. #8
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post
    What are my chances of getting a second hand bottle?

    Where do you guys find the best deals on buying new and refills?
    I have seen some on ebay and gumtree but I wonder if the refill companies will find a problem with these. It should be OK is they have an AS stamp on them but I still worried about it and so I went for a new one.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
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    melbourne
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    I used to rent bottles and have at times used disposable bottles and still do for ally work, but for the amount of welding I do at home owning, or renting bottles is not worth it for me.

    I am a qualified first class welder and I find I get excellent welding results peno, strength ,and weld appearance on mild steel using flux cored wire from 25mm plate to 0.8 sheet metal.


    if you are welding mild steel I recommend buying a 5kg roll of .8 wire, cost is around $80 and you need no gas and with a bit of practice will lay good welds.


    even if you decide to go with the gas a roll of flux wire is handy to have on stand by when doing a job as gas is a pain when you run out

  10. #10
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    Total Tool said they don't even look at the bottles as it is the supplier who is responsible for the testing. Just as long as that is the reality when you take a physical bottle in.

    Total tools size E Argon 5/2 mix. Bottle $499 refill $159
    Hare & Forbes Bottle $479 refill $159, for far but maybe total tool can price match?
    Gas weld/Speed Gas Bottle $529 refill $159

    BOC Argoshield Universal. Refill $90.85+ gst, bottle rental $17.08+ gst/mth

    Bit hard to do a comparison when just got the mig and
    A) Don't know how far the gas goes per weld etc
    B) Don't know how much welding I will do with it.

    If your using loads of gas it is probably cheaper to rent. If you can stretch a bottle over a few years then buy.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  11. #11
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    Default Mig testing near lilydale

    There was a gas bottle of the right size I saw in the hard rubbish (no idea of content could have been oxy) was thinking I may be able to use it in a swap and go. It was collected this morningMig testing near lilydale between me seeing it and dropping the missus at the Dr. Other side of street still has the rubbish out. Darn Murphy's law.
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  12. #12
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    Melbourne
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    Dodge, how do you tell the wires apart? There is a roll in it, no label, I am assuming it is gas wire. Does the gas less flux core look any different?
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    East Warburton, Vic
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    Gas wire is a copper colour whilst gasless is a silver grey colour.

    I'm happy to drop in and give you a run down on how it all works and most importantly how to lay a good weld.
    Cheers

    DJ

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    melbourne
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    hi DSEL74 as acco said the gas wire is copper coloured , flux core wire looks a dull silver grey colour, stainless and ally wire also look silver coloured. you can buy the flux cored wire on ebay for around $80 for a 4.5kg roll free post.0.8 or 0.9 wire size is good for light and med heavy welding, you also have to change the earth gun polarity over to earth positive . this is easy to do takes a minute. and at least you don't have to for pay for gas, rent bottles ect with flux core wire .best thing to do is get some one to show you the ropes, keep a book and jot down the settings , as learning how to set a mig welder for the beginner is harder than the welding ,best of luck with your welding

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    South Australia
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    100

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    Iv got an original torch of a unimig 180 if your interested - i upgraded to a longer torch after only about a month

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