New owner of a secondhand locost here, bought fully built and reg'ed (cheated I know)
I'm looking for a welder, I have never welded before but need to learn to make a few adjustments, so nothing major, my budget is quite small
about £150ish so I could get a low power mig, about 95amp gasless or a better quality arc but which would be best to go for? Which is easier to
use/setup by a complete novice?
Cheers for you help
Gas mig. Easy to learn with and easier to use than gasless. Get something capable of 130-150 amps.
Cheers but for £150ish? I must be looking in the wrong places then
As said, gas mig all the way
Many on here will slate the SIP tiff, but I've done just fine with it. Even got it from halfrauds. Or you could ebay something? Someone will be along shortly with more ideas.
where are you? im sure someone near you will show you how to use one
Something like this then?
Linky...
bit more than I was looking to pay but as it's only for minor fixes and mods is a gas one worthwhile?
quote:
Originally posted by froggy
where are you? im sure someone near you will show you how to use one
quote:
Originally posted by Alfa145
Something like this then?
Linky...
bit more than I was looking to pay but as it's only for minor fixes and mods is a gas one worthwhile?
Thats the welder iv got aswell. Works a treat.
Youl get one for less than that site. Have a look at tooled up.co.uk or machine mart.co.uk Im sure youl find a 130 for your money.
If your looking to buy new dont go lower than 130.
You will not want to use disposable bottles as they cost a fortune, invest in a regulator and borrow a pub gas bottle.
CO2 does not weld as nicely as argoshield but spray with anti-splatter before starting improves things.
If you have never welded before ARC would be a steep learning curve as its suited to thicker metal, MIG makes a bad welder look good.
You are probally best buying a second hand set off Ebay with everthing included.
Regards Mark
[Edited on 28/7/06 by mark chandler]
So I take it from the reccomendations so far that gasless is a bad idea?
[Edited on 28/7/06 by Alfa145]
OK here is a controversial idea. Go Gas! Oxy Acetelene is by far the most versatile method of welding and you can add gas cutting for not a great deal
of extra cash. It does require skill and you will need lessons but once you can gas weld it is reasonably easy to pick up TIG which is the best
arc/metal welding system, a bit expensive in original capital outlay but so good!
Caber 
Definately gas, gasless is a real pain. I have a Seally Mig 100, I think the max amps are about 80, and this will weld all that you will want to do. I
know that it will weld 3mm steel with ease, and at a pinch will even handle 6mm, using two or three pass's. When doing work on a Locost you are
normaly welding 1.5 or 1.6 mm thick, with the odd 3mm. So IMHO there is absolutely no need for a high amps welder. Oh and I have had it since 1984,
never had to buy a spare, and it has built four cars, and welded umpteen items for other people, includiong S/Steel boat parts. Get a cheap one, learn
to weld, and if the need arrises, buy a bigger one later. Just my ten pence worth. 
Regards Ray.
quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
quote:
Originally posted by Alfa145
Something like this then?
Linky...
bit more than I was looking to pay but as it's only for minor fixes and mods is a gas one worthwhile?
The very one that I have got - easy to train on and will handle up to 4-5mm steel reasonably well. Gas is always an expensive consumeable but so much better than gasless.
Iwill be selling a Sip 130 when I get my Mutha Fucka unit. My little Sip has welded my chassis and more. Has new metal liner and big bottle adaptor.
5yrs old works perfect.
Alex
quote:
Originally posted by Alfa145
So I take it from the reccomendations so far that gasless is a bad idea?