1st week of ownership

[Jod Clark]

"no-gas" Mig welders use a cored wire that releases a shroud gas as you weld. They can be useful when welding out of doors but the wire costs a lot. <br>
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I have a Clarke 190 Turbo Mig so ccan speak from experience about these products. I'll persevere with it now but I wish I had spent more money for a better product...<br>
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The gas makes a lot of difference in my opinion. Be careful when using pub CO2 bottles as the gas is very cold and can chill the weld as it cools too fast and may make it brittle. I use BOC argoshield argon gas and it really makes a lot of difference.<br>
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I learned all about this stuff when I got my Lloyds...<br>
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Jod

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[dollyman]

Where are you.....if your sussex way i have a mig in garage you can borrow.....you will have to buy some wire though, dont think there's much left on reel

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[148S]

Thanks for the offer Dollyman, unfortunately I live in S Wales in the middle of know where, surrounded by sheep and coal mines <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> .<br>
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Looks like I'll go for the most expensive, argon gas MIG that I can afford then.<br>
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Cheers for the advice all.<br>
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[magatsu1]

is the gas expensive ?<br>
and would I have some huge flat-bed truck trying to negotiate small suburban streets when delivering replacement bottles ?!<br>
(also, not sure if my parents would approve of gas bottles in the shed...!)

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[Jod Clark]

The gas isn't expensive, buying into the bottle-exchange scheme is. Best to make friends with someone at a local engineering company or garage. Don't bother going to BOC, they won't help.<br>
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Jod

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[jon pountney]

148S where are you ,I live in Penarth. Give me a ring on 02920 709791 if you want, about local meetings if you dont know about them.

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[djw113uk]

I bought my welder 6 years ago. Was warned against SIP, but they seamed to weld from lower to higher amps for cheaper than anything else. I went a little OTT and got a 170Amp beast, but its never stopped due to overheating, and will weld 8mm steel <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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I rent a bottle from BOC at about £150 for 5 years, and its 35quid per refil (size Y - i think - 4 ft high, 5" diameter). Was warned against SIP due to week wire feed, and after 5 years i had to buy a new PCB - £62 quid. the .5kg wire packs are hopeless , and are DIY gas bottles. I use 5kg wire and its never rusted. 15kg.. I might get next time!<br>
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I know of 150amp clark welder going for £100 quid if you are interested - (near swindon). Go for a proper mig, havenmt tried gasless, but the wire is twice teh price and ur left to knock the slag off like arc welding i believe?<br>
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A mate has a clark 130.. it does the job, but a a bit hit and miss, and the tiny wire reel and gas bottle are a pain. Never had any breakdowns though, but it did need a break when welding a new chassis leg on.. working too hard on a higher setting! Oh. and you need a degree to understand the power setings.<br>
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I'd buy SIP again, but that clark one nr swindon seems ok - he has a big bottle regulator with it too.. Oh.. and use .6mm wire.. far neater welds<br>
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David

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[148S]

Well it seems fortune has decided to favour me. A stag owning member of my family informed me today that he has a 130Amp Cerbora and I can borrow it whenever I wish after he has finished welding floor panels onto his motor <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> .<br>
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Thanks for the info guys. Do to my infinite lack of welding know how I cannot figure out the best way to weld new chassis legs. Do I weld the edges with the mig or do I get them spot welded on (Which I assume you can do with the mig but only one sided)?<br>
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Cheers Jon I'll give you a ring tomorrow.<br>
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[alun n]

Strewth Dave, get yourself along to your local fire extinguisher company. Here in the Midlands its Bryland of Dudley. 3.5 ft tall bottle full of gas outright purchase £25 (free stretch test every 5 years) refils £4, yes, thats just £4!<br>
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I do put a lot of fire extinguisher business their way but that had no effect, those prices are their standard ones!

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[Dave]

You can do this with a mig, you can get an spot weld shroud which is meant to make it easier (i've never tried one). Drill a hole through the top panel, then weld thru it to the one beneath ensuring the edges of the hole are included. It is also called a plug weld I think. With a bit of practice they look quite neat.

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[jon pountney]

148s problem with phone- keep ringing! Theres a meeting tonight I think, in the FFYnon Wen pub, on the old Road to Caerphilly from Rhiwbina (in Cardiff).Follow signs to Crematorium.About 9 oclock I think.

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[148S]

Didn't realise that dolly owner were psychic, how'd you know that was me trying to phone just then? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> .<br>
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I'll be there about 8:30 - 9:00 see you there.

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[148S]

I turned up about 8:15 waited for over an hour an a half and gave up. I assumed all your dolly's broke down on the way there :P. <br>
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Did I miss u (i.e. u turned up later), or were you already there but none of you came in your dolly's?

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[jon pountney]

I was there in a VW polo, by the door, from 9 to 9.30, getting funny looks . None of the regulars turned up, so I went home. Sorry I missed u. I cant look at this everyday cos I do it in work, but keep trying to ring and leave amessage with my girlfriend or call minder ... 02920 709791

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[Maurice]

The meetings are now on a Sunday, the next meeting is on Sunday the 10th August 8.00pm. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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