[matty87]

So question 1( i know its been asked before but products change)
In the market for a top end single phase mig.
looking at the transmig 275 with remote wire feed whats the consensus on this machine? what others would people recommend?
i know my way around a welder just not up to speed with all the gear out there.

question 2 what is it currently to hire a g cylinder from boc? and how much for a refill of say argoshield?

cheers fellas

[BlueSuzy]

My mate has a Unimig 220? 240v Its awesome. $1100 i think they are still, I'm borrowing it atm, and if i have to give it back to him, I will buy the same.

From memory, new e size,(leg size bottle) $170+ a year rental, $70+ to refill. Its a farkin rip off. And i shopped around for the cheapest at the time, 2 yr ago, western suburbs, nsw.. Could be different where you are.

$50 for a large roll of normal 0.9 plain wire

[ball]

BlueSuzy wrote:

My mate has a Unimig 220? 240v Its awesome. $1100 i think they are still, I'm borrowing it atm, and if i have to give it back to him, I will buy the same.

From memory, new e size,(leg size bottle) $170+ a year rental, $70+ to refill. Its a farkin rip off. And i shopped around for the cheapest at the time, 2 yr ago, western suburbs, nsw.. Could be different where you are.

$50 for a large roll of normal 0.9 plain wire

That is cheap. I am a BOC agent and I don't get it for anything close to that. The rental price is the same Australia wide but the gas prices varies with where you are located. We would pay at least twice that amount for the gas as what you were quoted.

Look at the BOC range of migs. I have sold a couple of 275's without the remote feeder in the last month and they should still be about $1700. If you want the remote feeder I think they jump up to $2300+.

You should be able to get magmate wire from BOC directly for around the $30 mark for the 15kg rolls

[SierraDan]

are cheaper($500-$750) migs decent enough for most shed work?

[mnemonix]

I've got a migomag 215. It's a smooth bit of gear.

I don't rent bottles though, I own my own.
The local "Speed E Gas" dealer offers a "Swap and Go" style deal (like bbq gas bottles).
I buy an bottle outright:
$400 for E sized.
$350 for D sized.
It comes stamped and full of gas.
$120 to refill the E.
$80 to refill the D.
And I can choose my own mix of gas. So 1 with pure argon, 1 with light mix.

Saves me a shitload over the year so when I'm away for work I'm not getting raped for gas hire. And when I get the chance to be home and do some ghettofab(tm) I know the gear is ready to go.
Won't work for everyone, but I know theres about a dozen outlets across NSW that offer the same service.

[ajsr]

a 275 amp mig is a big machine. the problem you often have with big machines is they suck at delicate work like suzi panels etc as their amperage range is either not low enough or the step up and down are too large and you cannot find the SWEET spot for what your doing.

IMO for a shed welder , doing car type stuff bar work/general fab 180-200 amp is usually shitloads.

I use a chinese mig branded a MIGSTAR 250 at home, I bought it to do a large on site welding job in a wet sandy paddock and off a large generator and I didn't want to use my WIA in that situation.

the migstar is copper cored, well made ,nice feed rollers and welds really well and cost $800 ish delivered to my door.
Its a little large for suzi panel type stuff as mentioned but all up its pretty hard to beat for the price, and its been going strong and getting used for near 4 yaers now with zero issues.

linky, you won't be disaponted, just buy a good helmet to go with it
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-MIGSTAR- ... 3cbb6fa4e0

[ball]

ajsr wrote:

a 275 amp mig is a big machine. the problem you often have with big machines is they suck at delicate work like suzi panels etc as their amperage range is either not low enough or the step up and down are too large and you cannot find the SWEET spot for what your doing.

IMO for a shed welder , doing car type stuff bar work/general fab 180-200 amp is usually shitloads.

I use a chinese mig branded a MIGSTAR 250 at home, I bought it to do a large on site welding job in a wet sandy paddock and off a large generator and I didn't want to use my WIA in that situation.

the migstar is copper cored, well made ,nice feed rollers and welds really well and cost $800 ish delivered to my door.
Its a little large for suzi panel type stuff as mentioned but all up its pretty hard to beat for the price, and its been going strong and getting used for near 4 yaers now with zero issues.

linky, you won't be disaponted, just buy a good helmet to go with it
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-MIGSTAR- ... 3cbb6fa4e0

The new boc range have individually adjustable voltage and amperage via a digital type arrangement. I haven't used one but it looks like you can dial it in to the exact voltage and amps you want in single digit steps.

They also come with a huge range of extra feed rollers to suit aluminium. Just add a teflon liner and weld away

[ajsr]

sounds good ball
finally the manufactures are listening to peoples needs


Oh and thats the down side to the mig I posted , it wont weld ally or do gasless, but there is a reverse polarity job for about $150 more

[monley]

I've got the transmig 175i, great bit of kit. Welds very smoothly, comes with all the wire rollers and has digital amp control. It cost me about $1000 and it dose GMAW, MMAW, FCAW and TIG(no HF ). As for gas....i pay $44 for 3months rent on the bottle and to refill it costs $110. The longer you rent the bottle for the cheaper it works out.

[shep]

i pay monthly for my bottles and they are $14 a month each.

my 250amp mig does panels easily as long as i use 0.6 wire.

[sogone]

You have to PAY to set your car on FIRE????????

[31zook]

I'll still plug the Lincoln 180SP as the best welder I have used ever. That's including the $4000 3phase welder we use at work....

[sogone]

I use Joels Lincoln 180SP for our stuff at home. Awesome thing to use when ya figure out the settings. We use it Gas less though.

[ajsr]

shep wrote:

i pay monthly for my bottles and they are $14 a month each.

my 250amp mig does panels easily as long as i use 0.6 wire.

correct, 6mm is the go for panels as it adds a lot more scope to the welder,BUT most tight arses won't spring for the wire as it cost near double for a roll.
and then they might have to own two rolls of wire and then there is the cost of those uber dear 6mm tips

[ball]

monkey wrote:

I've got the transmig 175i, great bit of kit. Welds very smoothly, comes with all the wire rollers and has digital amp control. It cost me about $1000 and it dose GMAW, MMAW, FCAW and TIG(no HF ). As for gas....i pay $44 for 3months rent on the bottle and to refill it costs $110. The longer you rent the bottle for the cheaper it works out.

It is hardly worth paying 12 months in advance with BOC. The discount is only 5%. You will save yourself less that 10 bucks a year.

If you decide you no longer want the bottle they don't give you a refund or credit on the unused portion of the cylinder rental.

I get daily rental so if I empty a cylinder in a couple of days I only pay for the time I have the cylinder booked out.

[ball]

ajsr wrote:

correct, 6mm is the go for panels as it adds a lot more scope to the welder,BUT most tight arses won't spring for the wire as it cost near double for a roll.
and then they might have to own two rolls of wire and then there is the cost of those uber dear 6mm tips

They are some big tips there

[Damo]

ball wrote:

ajsr wrote:

correct, 6mm is the go for panels as it adds a lot more scope to the welder,BUT most tight arses won't spring for the wire as it cost near double for a roll.
and then they might have to own two rolls of wire and then there is the cost of those uber dear 6mm tips

They are some big tips there

I'd love to see that weld zook panels

[smokey]

Just purchased a d size mig bottle full from speedgas $300.00 no rental ever.
10 year test time.

worth a look

http://www.speedgas.com.au/


Smokey

[Damo]

smokey wrote:

Just purchased a d size mig bottle full from speedgas $300.00 no rental ever.
10 year test time.

worth a look

http://www.speedgas.com.au/


Smokey

I think you are then responsible for testing of the bottle whenever that falls due.

A moot point in Qld as I asked them a while back and they won't supply Qld. Poofters.

[stockman]

Damo wrote:

smokey wrote:

Just purchased a d size mig bottle full from speedgas $300.00 no rental ever.
10 year test time.

worth a look

http://www.speedgas.com.au/


Smokey

I think you are then responsible for testing of the bottle whenever that falls due.

A moot point in Qld as I asked them a while back and they won't supply Qld. Poofters.

If you get one at the start of it's life, at the end of the 10 years I'd just buy another bottle. Over 10 years it would equal less then $3 per month rental.

[matty87]

thanks for the replys fellas.
Ill check out the boc range. reason for the big amperage is when we do stuff it tends to be heavy I want to be able to belt massive fillets into some pretty heavy steel. Im talking more structural fab rather than body work, this said there is always that small desire to weld some stupidly thin stuff.

i would go and get a 3 phase machine like a copperhead which i used at work in a previous life. but that makes the use of it a bit restrictive as most people dont have 3phase power.

ill have to look at other gas suppliers since some are suggesting you can purchase bottles of some.

[TheOtherLeft]

stockman wrote:

Damo wrote:

smokey wrote:

Just purchased a d size mig bottle full from speedgas $300.00 no rental ever.
10 year test time.

worth a look

http://www.speedgas.com.au/


Smokey

I think you are then responsible for testing of the bottle whenever that falls due.

A moot point in Qld as I asked them a while back and they won't supply Qld. Poofters.

If you get one at the start of it's life, at the end of the 10 years I'd just buy another bottle. Over 10 years it would equal less then $3 per month rental.

Geez if it's $170/yr rental but to purchase is only $300-400 depending on size I know which way I'd go.

[Damo]

TheOtherLeft wrote:

stockman wrote:

Damo wrote:

smokey wrote:

Just purchased a d size mig bottle full from speedgas $300.00 no rental ever.
10 year test time.

worth a look

http://www.speedgas.com.au/


Smokey

I think you are then responsible for testing of the bottle whenever that falls due.

A moot point in Qld as I asked them a while back and they won't supply Qld. Poofters.

If you get one at the start of it's life, at the end of the 10 years I'd just buy another bottle. Over 10 years it would equal less then $3 per month rental.

Geez if it's $170/yr rental but to purchase is only $300-400 depending on size I know which way I'd go.

Yes, it's a no brainer. Unfortunately if you're not in NSW it's not an option. According to SpeedGas it's legislated that SpeedGas must fill SpeedGas supplied cylinders.

On a positive note they did mention that they have the demand to open up in Qld, so we might see them in 12 months or so. If that's the case I'll be on their doorstep when they open.

[BlueSuzy]

smokey wrote:

Just purchased a d size mig bottle full from speedgas $300.00 no rental ever.
10 year test time.

worth a look

http://www.speedgas.com.au/


Smokey

Do you get yours delivered to you? Extra costs? The main address on the site is 2hrs from me..Might give them a ring see if there is a pickup/closer option

[mnemonix]

Thats the same supplier I get mine through. Convenient as he is 30 seconds from my doorstep.

FYI, these are the same bottles as sold on ebay under the store "Atomic Gas Supplies".

The bottles I use are swapped, not filled. Testing/inspection is carried out by the company and you'll own an approved bottle for life provided you keep getting it refilled.

The only gripe is that if I need a bottle at short notice they don't always have stock (all stock is sourced from Sydney). So occasionally I need to wait a couple of days for gas.

[BlueSuzy]

Waiting a few days doesnt bother me, it will last for ages, and keep an eye on the gauge.

Will have a look on ebay also.

Rental goes up every year and so does the gas.. so its always cheaper the better.

[ball]

BlueSuzy wrote:

Waiting a few days doesnt bother me, it will last for ages, and keep an eye on the gauge.

Will have a look on ebay also.

Rental goes up every year and so does the gas.. so its always cheaper the better.

Happy 1st of October from BOC.

The bastards were a month early this year though. Gas and rent both went up around 5%

[buzbox]

We have a large bottle here that's been in the garage for a number of years, Chances are that it is expired.

Do I take it to BOC or other gas place to get rid of it or swapped for a new one?

[ajsr]

buzbox wrote:

We have a large bottle here that's been in the garage for a number of years, Chances are that it is expired.

Do I take it to BOC or other gas place to get rid of it or swapped for a new one?

if its a red or black one throw it in a fire or someones dumpmaster

[buzbox]

It's a black one. Perhaps I'd be able to take it in for scrap metal...

Also, I've been thinking of getting a small Mig for about $350, They'd be alright for smaller jobs like welding up to 5mm steel right? I think they're about 250amp.