I'm getting a second hand rollcage and I'm wanting to weld some plates onto it so I can bolt it in. I'm wanting to buy a welder but not sure which one to get.

I'm wanting it to weld my cage and also on some body panels for my other car, what type and power welder should I be looking for?

Cheers Gav

You need a MIG

Stick Welders are for THICK plate and need 2 much skill

What amp or dosent it really matter?

Get the biggest ampage you can afford!!

I have a clarke 151te and it is pretty a good comprimise between cost and power..

I would NOT want anything with less than 150A!

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Originally posted by tegwin
Get the biggest ampage you can afford!!

I have a clarke 151te and it is pretty a good comprimise between cost and power..

I would NOT want anything with less than 150A!

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I have a siegen 130AMP mig and i find its ok for most things.

So really I need a 150a mig. I'm gunna try machine mart. Anyone know anywhere cheap but still good quality?

quote:

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Originally posted by carlknight1982
I have a siegen 130AMP mig and i find its ok for most things.

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find one that you think will do what you want, and then get the next one up

my best advice would be to check out local garages etc, see if any are upgrading or changing equipement soon

a decent 2nd hand welder is in my opinion always a better option that a budget/DIY unit

the first garage I went and asked resulted in me getting a 190A Cebora unit later that night, for absoulutely FREE

and that welder is the nuts for the work I do.

happily sit and weld 16swg exhausts etc, and turn it up to weld plates for jigs etc, timer facility for tacking/spotting through welds

dont forget to budget in for a gas bottle, argoshield lite or similar is good

BOC let you pay monthly on direct debit if you want to spread the cost

possible candidates are
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cebora-180-amp-mig-welder-/250637953748?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a5b2faad4

just to add that if you see any second hand ESAB units, I would most definitely recommend them, I had a C170 for working at home in the garage, was excellent, but it had to go when I lost everything, I wouldnt hesitate to buy another if I had the need and the cash

[Edited on 26/5/10 by tony-devon]

I've also just purchased my first welder but TBH I think I'd want to do a hell of a lot of practice before I trusted myself enough to weld a roll bar in place.

Lol same here mate. My mate is a welder so hes gunna do it while I watch and learn lol

I'd think 150A. As said that's the max you'll go with a 3 pin supply and anything else might struggle to get adequate penetration.

As said as high as you can afford and atleast 150A.

My 180 draws around 16A at full chat

once again, i'm going to recommend TIG. once you've had a bit of practice, you end up with cleaner welds and i believe that TIG welding is mor controllable than mig. i bought a chinese machine last year, it is a WSE200 and i can strongly recommend it. because it is an AC/DC machine, it can do aly as well. i got it for around £300 and its worth every penny. the down side are expensive pure argon gas and ots a 200A machine so you would need to put a 13A plug on it and not run it up to full power of you want to use ot on a standard mains socket.

I messed about with a Clarke one for a while, crap welding and have now gone with a PortaMig 185.
The difference is amazing, well worth the cash.
Takes a full size 15kg wire and has a 16amp Commando plug.

Its dead easy to use, and is very powerful.