This weekend I'm hitting the boot fairs and I'm gonna keep my eyes peeled for a cheap(ish) Mig welder (as well as a new golf bag). I'm not welding my chassis (Velocity), its mostly for odd jobs and maybe gearbox mount and stuff if I get on with it.

So, I'm not looking for anything exotic and I pretty much know what sort of specs I'm after, however... (130A+,gas/gasless,fan cooled,5kg reels)

How do you tell a decent bargain welder from a cheap pile o' shite?

Are certain brands better quality?

Can you tell from the controls, in particular the voltage control which is likely to be better quality (i.e. one that has a rotary control rather than a confusion of separate switches)?


[Edited on 21/10/05 by gutball]

Just a warning. If buying from a boot fair/sale you probably wont be able to see it working so be carefull not to buy a u/s heap.

Most of the cheaper ones are basically the same.

Sip and seally are good.

Most have high low switch and wire speed rotary control.

Ps you may be better off looking through the freeads or loot or whatever.

[Edited on 21/10/05 by Danozeman]