welding

[dojomaster]

I am looking for a welding machine. I have up to £500 to spend on a good welder. I am looking for a MIG welder and i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.
At the mo i was looking at the 180T (180 amp Turbo) ERP Mig welder from welduk.com, but i was wondering what others thought as i do not know much about welding.

Thanks all

[collier-666]

depends on what your gonna be using it for? cars,odd little jobs,etc

[dojomaster]

Mainly odd jobs really and also some bits on that car (but allso aluminium for the old gun (custom eye covers))
Thats why i want something that has a current as low as 25 amp and as high as 180 amp. But still easy to learn to weld on. I know im a hard customer. But as with my marker i want the best and so i want something that can let me learn and also be there when i get good and has to power to keep up.

Oh well Trial and error is the best way and so I will get afew shocks (hopefully not deadly) and afew burned through metals lol.
Buut i hope that i learn quickly and i can make mods to the gun i have.
But any info on principles of welding would be very much liked.
PM me with info like the best welding MIG TIG etc and power settings.

Thanks Wayne Johnson

[andyp1]

no offence mate, but you will undoutably balls it up if you try welding aluminium, especially with a mig welder. u need tig really, it isnt the friendliest stuff to weld at all!!!

[collier-666]

the welder your on about sounds up to the job.as long as you can change the amp settings,like you said.it'll be ok.me personally,id go for the mig.youve always got a free hand then when your working on fiddely bits.oh,and if you ever weld anthing on your car.id make sure all fuel lines are well coverd with damp rags.i used to have an escort rs turbo.that was untill my mate was welding me in a new battery tray and a hot rock hit the fuel line.you can imagine what happend next.:eek:

[andyp1]

i will have to check that its ok, but if it is, i will give you my mates number and you can ring him for a chat, he is a fully certifieded welder and has been doing it for years, he will put you straight on what to get or not etc. would that be of any use to you???

ps, collier, you or your mate should have known better, u are probably lucky that all you lost was your car!

[father jack]

speak to robtatoo, If memory serves, he used to be a welder by trade before working for fat bobs.

[collier-666]

i do know better.but my mates an animal with a welder.he does it for a living making stages for bands&stuff. it was 2 o'clock in the morning.i was in the house making a brew&whoosh.the funny thing is,he didnt even see the flames fo a few seconds cos he had his mask on.we have to laugh about it now

[dojomaster]

Yeah i would love any help on welding as i have always needed a welder to fix stuff on my car and others (and then i can charge) and i am to make changes to my guns as i want to add bit to to them.
I am more for a MIG as it seems better for a newbie and as i am, i thought that i might aswell get the best one with a decent amp range so i can do thin and thick metals.
I am doing allot of research but as everyone says "learn the principles and then all you have to do is practice to make it perfect" and I think that i will learn to do the Renoundly hard to weld aluminium after a while (hopefully not too long).
And after some time i could offer my services to others.

But any help i would love as the more opinions and facts/methods that i can get the better.