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Discussion Best, cheapest welder ?

Discussion in 'Riding Gear - Accessories - Workshop Tools' started by KICKERMAN360, Mar 27, 2018.

  1. KICKERMAN360

    KICKERMAN360 Well-Known Member

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    So I have a few welding projects on the cards:

    Modify a KX125 expansion chamber for my CR125
    New fuel tank mounting tab on my NSR250 thank
    Ladder rack for my ute

    Fairly easy projects. I could get a mate to do them but I like a challenge. I've stick welded before and know thin material is no match for it. So MIG is the next choice. Probably seeking flux core since I'm not gonna do it too often.

    What's the best-cheap welder on the market?
     
    KICKERMAN360, Mar 27, 2018
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  2. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    Buy the best you can afford, i would stay away from gasless welder's, weld's are pretty filthy looking
    You can get Argoshield light or whatever they call it now cheap nowday's, Bunning's even sell it

    Welder's, my mate has this one, very handy being so small-
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lincoln...242140&hash=item3d20ebec04:g:5CIAAOSwKtVWvRl3

    s-l1600.jpg


    And i have one similar to this
    cigweld-mig-welder-03.jpg



    I have heard good stuff about these too
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/195Amp-...105423?hash=item3f76dc8e0f:g:eawAAOSwB-1YuqNq
     
    my67xr, Mar 27, 2018
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  3. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    kiffsta, Mar 27, 2018
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  4. Wozza

    Wozza Active Member

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    Define cheap ?
    For me cheap welder is under $500 I went with a cigweld 135 amp mig an upgraded auto welding helmet(the one that comes with the welder is a joke)..assorted tools and a couple gasless wire spools....if I wish to go gas later I just need wire, gas bottle a a reg but even using the cheapest method is around another $300...
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2018
    Wozza, Mar 27, 2018
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  5. KICKERMAN360

    KICKERMAN360 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the comments everyone.

    Supercheap has a deal for a Cigweld 130amp MIG for only $277. It seems like a good deal. I'll definitely get a good helmet too (after stick welding with my uncles good one, it's like Shoei, you never go back)

    http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/Cigweld-Welding-Mig-Welder-135-Amp/346523?menuFrom=5041771

    I was only planning on doing thin-ish material so I think this might do the trick? I mean, I am just getting into it myself so I don't want to fork out too much - just to play. The only other thing I had in mind was maybe a subframe.
     
    KICKERMAN360, Mar 27, 2018
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  6. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    For thin stuff, just check the minimum current - that is all that matters - gasless is really quite a horror story - call it splattersville and youtube is your friend for heaps of info

    It is worth the $200 to purchase a speedgas bottle - refills run @$80 or thereabouts - the difference in weld quality and extra work mitigates the extra cost
     
    ruckusman, Mar 27, 2018
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  7. Wozza

    Wozza Active Member

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    Yeah thats the one I got, only main issue is the voltage selector only has 4 settings...Its not great on thin stuff (under 1mm)
    I would suggest one that has a variable voltage selector that allows for more well variables :)....

    EDIT
    Yeah gassless is messy but you can use splatter spray which helps..main thing is to mod the gun to suit gasless..the upside to gasless is welding outside in wind is much easier and you do tend to get better penetration with gasless..but yeah looks like bird p**
     
    Wozza, Mar 27, 2018
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  8. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Meh.. I had a Gasless Mig and it really wasnt any good.. the cheaper ones dont have good current control relying on wire speed for fine tuning. I found it useless welding on light Yamaha frames.
    I sold it for about what I paid for it and bought myself a Rossi 3 in 1 from Edisons so I get TIG, Stick and Plasma Cutter.
    It will go up to 200 amps on TIG so with a 2.4 electrode I can weld pretty much anything I want to weld.
    The only issue is I cant to Aluminium as it is a DC only machine but it is super light weight (being an Inverter machine)
    It has HF start so it is super easy to strike the arc. I havent fiddled with the Plasma cutter yet.. but I will.
    I am only on a disposable Argon bottle at the moment while I practice my TIG skills.. it has been a very long time since I did any of that and then I was using a foot pedal.
    If I was looking to get one now I would probably get the one linked below.. MIG, TIG and Stick.. 220 amps and a 10 amp plug.
    OK.. duty cycle is lower than a CIGweld unit but not by much and to be honest.. I doubt that many of us would challenge the duty cycle on these anyway..... Plus it is an Inverter model.. Hmm
    Anyone want to buy a slightly used TIG, Plasma Cutter and Stick Welder :)
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-ROS...213932&hash=item20d4588124:g:kuQAAOSw3Mpaue~Z
     
    Andych, Mar 27, 2018
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  9. KICKERMAN360

    KICKERMAN360 Well-Known Member

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    So I'm now thinking gas is the way to go, but I think I'll still try both for some experience. I know my mate welds with gasless wire and has crazy splatter (and doesn't bother to grind it off).

    I did some research and while it would be nice to have all 3 types of welding, I'm fearful about the quality of the product noting that most of these sub-$1000 welders seem to all be made in China. My preference though, is to purchase from a reliable Aussie seller or store.

    This one from Sydney tools seems to be reasonably priced. Only MIG but then again, that's all I need.

    https://sydneytools.com.au/italco-185m-185-amp-transformer-gas-gasless-welder

    The last time I looked at welders I gave up looking! But I think I'll just bite the bullet soon.
     
    KICKERMAN360, Mar 28, 2018
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  10. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    I would bet that one is also built in China... This one is a Transformer welder.. the others are Inverter welders so basically (not 100% accurate but ) Digital (Inverter) vs Transformer (analog) which is why there is very little adjustment on voltage compared to what you get on the Inverter models.
    MIG with Gas is 100% better than with gasless. Ease of welding, penetration etc etc is better, plus very little splatter to clean up and is much better for your welding tip and gas shroud as well.
    If you go with someone like Edisons with the Rossi range they have a massive range... they wont disappear overnight and to be honest their Customer Service is very very good.
    To be honest... under $1000 I would still shoot for a Rossi machine rather than one from Sydney Tools. They have a premium price on their items based on their "Trade Reputation" but you will find the exact same item from other suppliers under a different name... but it is just my opinion..
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
    Andych, Mar 28, 2018
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  11. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Gasless is fine for a paddock fence or something which doesn't matter how it looks, but the splatter can get everywhere for something you do actually care about, which is a pain.

    Worst is when a sneaky ball of splatter bounces and ricochets and makes it's way into your shoe and you've just gotta take the pain because you can't get the laces undone in time

    Seriously though, think on what you need to weld, would like to weld and will actually weld

    You can Mig aluminium just fine, though it's a PITA without a good setup, though a spool gun for not too many $$ should work.
     
    ruckusman, Mar 28, 2018
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  12. Wozza

    Wozza Active Member

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    Wozza, Mar 28, 2018
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  13. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Exactly.. and Gasless is much better if you have the option of changing polarity.. much less splatter and a better weld on + Earth than negative earth.
    I would still go for something that is inverter driven rather than Transformer.
    If you have a look at the unit below... it has all of the functions the Italco unit has but is far more adjustable.. has polarity options and is a reasonable amount cheaper... Certainly worth looking at... and the actual inverters are siemens so the quality of that part will be pretty good.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-ROS...921284&hash=item58a363137b:g:a4wAAOSwlJlaugmO

    That CIG unit looks to be pretty good as long as you get the regulator and Tig torch with it... doesnt say if it has reverse polarity for MIG though.. might actually be +Earth for Tig and Mig with -Earth for stick only...
     
    Andych, Mar 28, 2018
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  14. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Tig torch is actually cheap to acquire, the CIG unit doesn't have one in the photo, not to say it doesn't have one and it does look like a reasonable unit - though I'm not seeing minimum amperage listed for thinner material
     
    ruckusman, Mar 28, 2018
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  15. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    I bought a 140 amp Rossi in 1989 for $1100 (oh how cheap are they now) and it has welded everything from the boot floor of my mum's Gemini car to farm machinery. I actually wore out the drive motor for the wire feed and had to get a new motor. I have welded alloy engine blocks and Landcruiser trays, stainless steel muffler system on my car and galvinised house frames and fuel tanks, all with the right wire and amperage. Many times the overheat switch has popped and had to wait for it to cool, but the electronics are still working beautifully. I use an 'E' size bottle of gas (4m3) which is better value than the small 'D' size (1m3). Can recommend the Rossi machines.
     
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    Murdo, Mar 28, 2018
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  16. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    TIG torch and cables range from $50 and up depending on the quality and type so you would end up close to the magic $1000 with that CIG unit when you factor in a D size bottle ($200 to buy and then its only refills).
    While speaking about TIG, I had a little delivery today of some gas lenses, collets and Pyrex cups which will help me to weld a little better. Not sure my disposable bottle will last long with the gas lens though lol.
    It was really only while I played around getting my eye in again.
    Not that I am anything other than an average welder but the more practice the better the result

    And I am with Murdo, I am very happy with my Rossi 620i.
    While it doesn’t have MIG it doesn’t matter for what I need it for.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
    Andych, Mar 28, 2018
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