Which welder
in [Car Maintenance]
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From: Fredxx on 23 Jul 2010 08:12 "Pete M" <pete.murray(a)SPAMFREEblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message news:i2ai69$873$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > Ozie wrote: >> >> Been thinking for some time about buying a Welder, i now have an early VW >> camper which needs quite a bit of new metal if its ever going to pass an >> mot. >> So what do i buy, what would be the easiest to learn too use by a >> complete novice. >> >> Thanks >> > You can get a secondhand TIG welder for about �350. They rock! > I'm not sure if I can recommend them for a newbie. Tig is used on some metals but rarely steel. They use pure argon and I don't think the tungsten tips are cheap. If the shielding gas gets blown away from the work like in an outside environment, the tip burns away. They require more skill. While you need gas, you might just as well use oxy-acetylene, though I suspect it's not allowed in a domestic environment.
From: Fredxx on 23 Jul 2010 08:17 "Dave Plowman (News)" <dave(a)davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message news:513b3f1ab8dave(a)davenoise.co.uk... > In article <i2bjsq$p9e$1(a)news.eternal-september.org>, > Fredxx <fredxx(a)spam.com> wrote: > >> "Andy Dingley" <dingbat(a)codesmiths.com> wrote in message >> news:de442991-ca06-4e13-8e58-5fbd1a7367fa(a)d37g2000yqm.googlegroups.com... >> > On 22 July, 20:43, "steve robinson" <st...(a)colevalleyinteriors.co.uk> >> > wrote: >> > >> >> Its not that easy to use on car bodywork though as it tends to cut >> >> through . >> > >> > Are you using the right welder polarity? > >> I've read an number of articles which suggest it doesn't make much >> difference and that its more the current/voltage characteristics which >> are more important. > >> My MIG is wired for gas, and my understanding the ideal polarity is the >> reverse for gasless wire, yet I can make satisfactory welds. If you >> have an alternative experience I would like to hear them. > > > That's interesting - I have a SIP Migmate for gas only, and would like the > option of gasless. Do you need any other parts other than the wire? > I could only get gasless wire at 0.8mm, whereas with gas I only ever used 0.6mm. I felt the feed rate ended up being nearly the same. There is a lot more spatter than using gas. I have bought gasless wire of eBay and found it ok. I think machine mart do smaller reels which perhaps you can try out. If I was using reels of wire I would go for gas in hired bottles, but as I use a reel every year or 2, gasless is the cheaper option.
From: Jules Richardson on 23 Jul 2010 09:24 On Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:18:40 -0700, Andy Dingley wrote: > Gas needs to be an inert mix, not CO2. This means either disposable > (pricey!) or renting a cylinder from BOC et al. This is a real pain in > the UK 8-( Maybe it's changed now, but it wasn't too bad when I did it last, around 5 years ago; I don't remember jumping through hoops or anything - the only pain in the butt was the fact that it was a rental, so irritating having monthly charges for something that I didn't use very often. I got mine from the BOC place round the back of Mackays engineering works in Cambridge, and took the cylinder home in the back of the car (I don't remember if I had to "sign up" as a new BOC customer first then go back to collect a couple of weeks later or not). cheers Jules
From: Ozie on 23 Jul 2010 10:16 On 22/07/2010 15:32, Ozie wrote: > > Been thinking for some time about buying a Welder, i now have an early > VW camper which needs quite a bit of new metal if its ever going to pass > an mot. > So what do i buy, what would be the easiest to learn too use by a > complete novice. > > Thanks > One last question seems to be different opinions on what gas to use, can i ask what you people use and where you get it from. the small canisters sold seem to be either Co2 or Argon neither seem to be recommended for steel. http://www.toolstation.com/documents/catalogue/?hl=89126 thanks -- Oz
From: asahartz on 23 Jul 2010 11:57
On Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:22:07 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)" <dave(a)davenoise.co.uk> wrote: >In article <3lpg465cgkeokqqqvp159o4u9d5g4cj779(a)4ax.com>, > asahartz <asahartz(a)hotMEATPIEmail.com> wrote: >> I have a SIP Migmate 130 (which many won't recommend, but I find it a >> distinct improvement on my previous Clarke). When the swan-neck failed I >> found it had to have a whole new gun at �60! (Clarke MIGs and >> Eurotorches have replaceable swan-necks at about a tenner). For a few >> ��� more I got a Eurotorch conversion - this transformed the usability >> of the welder and gives the added advantage of a 4 metre pipe so I don't >> have to keep moving my welder. > >You can fit a Clarke swan neck to the SIP. You then have to use the Clarke >shrouds, but everything else is the same. > >One tip is to use anti-spatter spray into the nozzle. Tips etc last much >longer then. I do, it wasn't the tips that disintegrated! TBH I'd still much sooner use a Eurotorch anytime. -- asahartz woz ere |