I have been given my father in laws MIG welder-he's an ex car dealer and tells me its a goodun. All it needs though is a mask, wire and gas.
wire I can get from halfords, although for some reason they don't seem to sell Masks?

Main problem is the very large (about 4 foot high) gas canistor. I forget which type.

Its empty.

These are rented off BOC right?, and he moved house a few years ago and may not have told them. When I take it to be refilled, will i get stung for 3/4 years back rent plus the £50??? refill charge?

Go to a proper welding company. SIP,etc. they'll sell big wire reels, cost you less in the end. Gas, depends on the bottle markings. Not just BOC. I got a unmarked bottle, which i dont pay rent on, just get it filled for £45. Will last couple of years easy.

Masks.... ebay ? etc

£50 will get you an auto darkening mask from an auto jumble. dont be fooled into paying £180 like me

The full masks they sell in my Halfords are not bad, I've built my entire car with one, and only cost £12.
The Halfords thick red gloves have lasted me for both welding and angle grinding the whole car too.
In fact, even the disposable Argoshield bottles are cheaper at Halfords than my normal welding place.

Hope that helps,
James

If you don't mind using straight Co2 gas for welding, try a few local gas suppliers who supply pubs etc. I get mine from Nuneaton Welding Supplies who also supply beverage outlets, and it's £12 a bottle (the 3 ft ones) plus a £20 deposit which never expires, i.e. if you take an empty bottle back after having it for 3 years and don't want a refill, you get the £20 back!

In these parts it's not unknown to take an Argoshield bottle to an industrial user, (steel fabricator for example) and swap bottles and a cash incentive.
Gets around the rent and the fee BOC charge just for you turning up

Mick

www.welduk.co.uk is a good lad if you have questions. He isnt snobby like some of the "professional" suppliers.

it might be worth trying out the more expensive auto-darkening masks. I got one for 45 quid and it's crap. I only use it for tack welds, otherwise I use the glass so I can actually see what I'm doing.

The difference between a £50 and £200 auto darkening glass is the plastic around the mask and the head band, the auto units are typically the same. cheap masks are the same auto unit, but with cheap headbands and face sheilds.

I've got cheap mask which hits the top of my head if opoened to far (the pivot is in the rong place).

i've got 2 auto masks a £100 one in work and a second hand snap on supplied one at home bout 180-200 new

the dearer one is far better, lighter easier to set and clearer also has handy dark tinted side pieces so u can see people messin wit ur welder

[Edited on 13/2/05 by johnston]