What home welder to buy

Hi, I need to do some welding on my bus, fairly minor stuff, like plugging up holes. Also need to 'finish' some welds that we're done the pro-rust removal (a few gaps that need closing up). I wont use it much beyond that at this point so I thought I could get a gassless one from Bunnings or Supercheap.

Any recommendations, or tech specs I should look for?

Thanks

G'day,
I use an SIP MIGMATE gasless that works quite well using .8mm fluxcored wire. Should be able to pick one up under $250. Try Bunnings etc.
Cheers, Ian.

Dont get one from bunnings or supercrap, they are shit!
The gasless ones at supercheap are about $400 I think, a complete ripoff.
I got my Uni-Mig 120 off ebay brand new for $400 they retail for about $600, they're a great little mig by a well known company, but made in italy (fairly generic, specced by Uni-mig but uses off the shelf parts Im guessing)
I did a fair bit of research and I really think its the best thing out there for the money.
At first I bought a small spool of flux-core (gasless) which worked OK on the beetle, welded in about 10 panels, then went to gas which is much better.
If you plan on using the welder a lot (which you will end up welding everything in sight!) it is more economical to go to gas as flux-core costs about 3 times as much as solid (gas) wire.
The Uni-mig came set-up for gas and even includes a regulator which I have seen in a local welding shop for $90! The cheap ones are gasless only and not able to use gas, ever.
The wire drive on the uni-mig is much better than the bunnings/mitre 10/supercheap etc ones and the gun is much better quality,
Also most welding shops will stock spare parts for the uni-mig which is important, you may have a lot of trouble finding spares for the cheaper ones.

Also service is great, rang them up with a problem with a gas fitting and they are sending me a new peice free of charge.

another user on here has one and they are very happy as well, they are not the best welder but for the money you will not find better.

Go to ebay and search for "mig" or "Unimig" and there is normally always one of these welders on there for auction, tho there isnt at the minute.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MIG-WELDER-120-amp-UNIMIG-PANTHER-120-WELDING-TOOL_W0QQitemZ4385973270

www.UniMig.com.au

If you want to see some more pics give us a buzz, have a few including some of the inside components.

we have a cigweld something or another...does gas or gasless.

not sure of the model name at the moment but will find out for you in the morning

has welded all the holes i have needed weled on my beetle.


Anthony🥷

i`ve got a sip gas gasless works ok for me,the unimig looks like a smaller version of the mig i have at work,which is a boc gasses one which is a kempi clone or something like that at it works great:thumb

Hi,
IIRC, no matter what you end up with, check the duty cycle ratings of the ones you look at. Years ago when I bought mine (UniMig 200.....but I was welding plate) I researched this and I remember that SIP/Unimig/CIG all have a better duty cyle rating than brand X types.

Also, if you can, get one that does gas/gasless...you can then have your cake and it if need be.

Believe me, after using it for it's intended purpose you'll be finding heaps of things to make and do. They are just incredibly handy to have around.....

Ctefeh

You get what you are paying for and a cheap welder will do a cheap job.

Unimig or SIP will give you a good small MIG at a reasonable price.

SIP Coppermate 170 at around $900 and on top of that getting a small gas bottle to make it run as a MIG will give you as good a result as a pro if you can weld. Even a smaller SIP Migmate at around $650 will do the job as good, but not as heavy material and slower duty cycle.

I personally would not do any panel welding with gasless.

I bought a CIGweld transmig160 about 6 months ago. Done everything from 1mm steel panels to 6mm plate with ease. It is copper cored, gas/gasless operation. Very happy with it, never had any problems. Was about $790. I wouldn't weld panel steel with gasless wire either.

I have a Uni mid identical to the one in the photo..it works well but practice makes perfect.

thanks everyone - I'm spoiled, school has a schmick one for metal shop, so never used anything 'smaller'. Seems like I've got enough info to make it a happy fathers day.

cheers
Deano

Ive got a sip coppermate 170, does the job nicely

All you lucky people with MIG welders.
I was in Bunnings today. Their MIGs look to be a bit of a ripoff.

On a sligt change of subject, you know the little cigweld arc welders with the simple switch for the two rod sizes as the only control. I have one of them. I thought they were as 'cheap and cheerful' as they could get. Bunnings reeducated me today. They had this miniscule arc welder, with the proper knob though, for $99. Bah! I wonder how it rates compared to my old horror. I can't do a decent weld with it. 🙁

And yeah, go for a gas/gasless if you can. Welding panels without gas would be messy.