Mig Welder Choice

Aussie Officially Full-On Dubber

296 posts · joined Sep 2006 · 18 Feb 2009, 1:54 pm

#696029

Hello,

Looking at getting a Mig welder. Looking for around 180 - 200 amp to allow me to weld up to about 5mm mild steel.

So far I have found the BOC MigMate Pro 180 (inverter type) and the Lincoln Electric Power Mig 180C (transformer type). Both seem similiar in performance and price. Also looked at WIA stuff but a bit pricey (about $400 more for a similar spec to the above two).

Anyone got any recommendations on either of the above two or any others that are worth looking at/avoiding?

RISKYBUG Seriously Crusin Dubber

187 posts · joined Mar 2008 · 18 Feb 2009, 4:41 pm

#696051

hi mate
if you only want to weld up to 5 mm all you will need is a 180
but i got a 200 cigweld two years ago and love it
but it's not inverter type

Dilbert Slammed & Awesome Dubber

89 posts · joined Jul 2008 · 18 Feb 2009, 4:52 pm

#696055

if i was going to buy a mig welder i wouldn't buy a new one. id buy a nice sturdy old one. they just seem to be more durable.

baja burley Officially Full-On Dubber

325 posts · joined Sep 2008 · 18 Feb 2009, 4:52 pm

#696056

cigweld mate

There are three types of people in this world - people who can count and people who can't....

555bug WRX Bug Boy

1,123 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Feb 2009, 7:01 pm

#696091

I've got a Liquid Arc 210 amp which is an Aussie made Lincoln and it rocks, it's a transformer type but it just does not stop. On a tangent I have an old 210 at a mates place I keep meaning to get rid of, I must dig it out only worth a few hundred for any people looking for a cheap welder to start off with. (apologies for tangent)

Stephen

matt Insano Dub Head

743 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 19 Feb 2009, 5:27 am

#696170

i have a wia welder and have nothing but trouble with it, as well as the poeple that were ment to fix it!!!!! I have borrowed a mates cigweld and i like it!!!!!
matt

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 19 Feb 2009, 7:50 am

#696194

Hi

I have a Unimig 175, its a beauty and very light, click here http://www.unimig.com.au/175mig.html

Steve

jedidan Officially Full-On Dubber

304 posts · joined Oct 2006 · 19 Feb 2009, 9:32 am

#696205

got a mig 180 (does both gas and gaseless) - chinese type. bought it through fleabay, but also available through dealsdirect.com.au approx $199.

Have used it in my home garage for rust repairs and a few odd jobs like welding a gate frame. all done using the gaseless mode. does a terrific job
on both thick or thin steel. however with the build quailty, i won't expect it to last forever. also found that on the odd occassion the wire feed
is erratic and not smooth. for the price you can't complain.

IF I'M GOING TO HELL, I'M GOING IN A VW BEETLE

My Family's Swiss VW Buggy Legacy --------> CLICK HERE

byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Apr 2008 · 19 Feb 2009, 10:16 am

#696206

i got a 255amp BOSS.. pretty damn happy with it too. only problems is the size.. its huge.

you can weld just about anything.. the real small stuff less than a mm to god knows how thick.

plus we have a top feeder for a aluminium which is cool too.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 12 Apr 2009, 2:24 pm

#706554

555bug wrote:I've got a Liquid Arc 210 amp which is an Aussie made Lincoln and it rocks, it's a transformer type but it just does not stop. On a tangent I have an old 210 at a mates place I keep meaning to get rid of, I must dig it out only worth a few hundred for any people looking for a cheap welder to start off with. (apologies for tangent)

Stephen

Still got this 210 going for sale?

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 13 Apr 2009, 11:00 pm

#706762

Hiya,

Anyone heard of CARA welders? wondered if they were any good?

Thanks

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

Klaus Custom Title Time!

1,439 posts · joined Aug 2004 · 14 Apr 2009, 8:23 am

#706810

lincoln sp-170t bought it in 2001 and used n abused it and only replaced the wire feed motor 1year ago , parts are easy to get and I've welded 10mm and more without any problems . It only cost $1000.00 .
Depends on your budget .

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 14 Apr 2009, 11:51 am

#706842

Klaus wrote:lincoln sp-170t bought it in 2001 and used n abused it and only replaced the wire feed motor 1year ago , parts are easy to get and I've welded 10mm and more without any problems . It only cost $1000.00 .
Depends on your budget .

Hmmm, interesting!!! well a few questions then. What is it's lowest ampage output i.e. is it capable of going to 20-25amps for 0.8mm steel? How much are you looking price wise cos I know it's a good welder but $400-450 is what my budget can stretch to especially as it'd cost another $50-80 for the courier. so actually $400 to the welder and the rest for courier. it's 8 years old so I think it's a fair offer but let me know. 🙂

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

Klaus Custom Title Time!

1,439 posts · joined Aug 2004 · 14 Apr 2009, 3:31 pm

#706857

oh no not selling just letting you know what to look for as a price guide for new welders that last , cut my arm off before i sell it .

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 14 Apr 2009, 5:35 pm

#706884

Klaus wrote:oh no not selling just letting you know what to look for as a price guide for new welders that last , cut my arm off before i sell it .

no worries mate. sorry got wrong end of the stick there. bloody good welder you have there and your lucky you bought it 8 years ago cos that model will cost a good 4-5 hundred dollars more in the present day 🤪

Aussie prices have gone rather silly in the last few years. did you know you can pick a Cig or Clarke welder up second hand for less than $50 in the UK these days. Try that over here🙅

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 18 Apr 2009, 4:38 pm

#707629

This is all good.
I've been trying to make sense of all this stuff, as I too need something that I can wind down to 20-25A. Not all that worried about the thick stuff as my arc welder does that pretty well.

I don't trust supercheap, repco and such as I have a strong suspicion most of their migs are rebadged Chinese specials with a huge markup.

If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 19 Apr 2009, 10:46 am

#707757

General_Failure wrote:This is all good.
I've been trying to make sense of all this stuff, as I too need something that I can wind down to 20-25A. Not all that worried about the thick stuff as my arc welder does that pretty well.

I don't trust supercheap, repco and such as I have a strong suspicion most of their migs are rebadged Chinese specials with a huge markup.

Yea, Repco do a SiP 150, maybe 130, gas/gasless for $650. Like holey s##t!! SiP have crap wire feed drives on the lower end models so why even bother let alone fork out that much.

Take a look at national welding supplies. they have a NuWeld 130amper for around $400. If you just gonna be using it for panel work then maybe ok. they do WIA, cebora and UniMig too and at better prices than what Glenfords, Blackwoods or even Trade Tools can do. Or try to get a decent second hand from fleabay. I just got lucky with a 130amp with mask, reg, etc for $360. Just keep looking as has taken me almost 2 months to get a decent reasonably priced welder 🙂

oh and even 30amp will work on thin sheet but you have to use the stitch weld technic to make sure you don't blow holes

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

thugbug Wolfsburg Wizard

405 posts · joined Mar 2008 · 19 Apr 2009, 3:44 pm

#707805

A little `bout Sip welders. Some years ago i worked at a place out Eastgardens way. In a nearby street we assembled these units. Right from getting the correct amount of plates together for the transformer,dipping them in the vat,doing the wiring up,screen printing the metal covers etc. The finished product was then boxed. Funny thing though,these boxes all said Made in Italy! I didn`t stay there long for obvious reasons.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 21 Apr 2009, 9:25 pm

#708307

thugbug wrote:A little `bout Sip welders. Some years ago i worked at a place out Eastgardens way. In a nearby street we assembled these units. Right from getting the correct amount of plates together for the transformer,dipping them in the vat,doing the wiring up,screen printing the metal covers etc. The finished product was then boxed. Funny thing though,these boxes all said Made in Italy! I didn`t stay there long for obvious reasons.

Now you're not trying to say that the Sip welders are made on the dodge, are you 😏 it's only the wire feed that has a bad rep but then this is a rather important part of the welder. ah well.....

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

T-34 Officially Full-On Dubber

234 posts · joined Feb 2004 · 21 Apr 2009, 11:49 pm

#708326

Another vote here for Cigweld. Mine is also the transformer type (a 200 I think). I find the wire feed resolution is pretty good - my old clarke unit was a bugger to dial in - it seemed to want to go either too fast or too slow - never could get it right. Don't have that prob with the Cigweld unit.

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