[fritter]

Ok Thanks guys.

Makes sense now.

I'm not in any hurry so I keep an eye out for a bargain.

At least now I know what to look for.

[3cyl]

Just decided to get myself a new mig, I've had a Lincoln SP170t for about 5 years, a unit I picked up for a bargain as it needed some involved repairs. Until about 2 years ago I did a lot of welder repairs and never bought new, therefore I couldn't be brand choosy only bargain choosy. I spoke to a few people who sell a number of brands and the consensus is unanimous. Lincoln all the way,(in the smaller 240v class) heaps sold and none came back. Older WIA machines were good years ago, but recent models not too good, also no longer Aussie made, now made in China. Unimig do an inverter 190 for about $1k also and it's decent but to me the choice is easy,China or USA made. So Lincoln SP180 for me, about a grand, if I wanted something bigger for home Lincoln also do a 225 which has a euro gun fitting but it's $1450.

[ajsr]

the good thing about the euro torch is the guns leads and general consumables are dirt cheap.
you my want to see what the torch it comes with is worth and its consumables

[3cyl]

ajsr wrote:

the good thing about the euro torch is the guns leads and general consumables are dirt cheap.
you my want to see what the torch it comes with is worth and its consumables

Mmm that's my problem with the smaller Lincoln. Unimig for the same price is inverter and euro torch, problem with that is a replacement inverter board is $600!

[ajsr]

3cyl wrote:

ajsr wrote:

the good thing about the euro torch is the guns leads and general consumables are dirt cheap.
you my want to see what the torch it comes with is worth and its consumables

Mmm that's my problem with the smaller Lincoln. Unimig for the same price is inverter and euro torch, problem with that is a replacement inverter board is $600!

I blew something in my inverter plasma, fortunately the guys I bought it from took it back and fixed it for me for $80. diodes or something

Inverters are great however they tell me they can have problems on low power supply and long leads (my problem)

I had a unimig for years when I had my panel shop, they make a good machine (not spectacuar but good)

[3cyl]

Well I went and spent the coin today, after shopping around everywhere I knew, best prices were: 190A WIA for $1000, Magmate 180 for $933, Unimig190 for $1000, CIG 180 for $1100, ESAB 150 for $770, 170 for $1050 and 200 for $850 and the one I chose for $1000, Lincoln Powermig 180.
The Esabs were mighty tempting as they're a good product and awesome price but parts aren't generally kept in Aus and are 4 weeks wait, Lincoln had good parts backup and the best feeder assembly as well as the best service reports.

[3cyl]

Stupid comments didn't work. First 2 pics are the 180 on the left and 170 on the right. Pic 3 shows the crappy plastic roller assembly on the 170. Pic 4 shows the much improved ally roller assembly on the newer 180 with a gear drive top roller. This set up is much better than anything else I saw in its class.

[Bucketload]

Alright being lazy and not surfing the net for answers, but what are euro handpieces?

[3cyl]

The Euro connect torch assembly plugs in as a unit to the machine with 1 fitting for gas, 2 pins for trigger and 1 for power and wire all in 1 plug about 40mm diameter. Being common makes them fairly cheap.

[fritter]

This seems pretty cheap.

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0018-500 ... t-street-p

Would this be a suitable unit for a beginner?

or would it be overkill?

Looks pretty massive.

I guess I'd be happy to bid up to about $350 for it.

What do you think?

Worth it?

[Fatzook]

fritter wrote:

This seems pretty cheap.

http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0018-500 ... t-street-p

Would this be a suitable unit for a beginner?

or would it be overkill?

Looks pretty massive.

I guess I'd be happy to bid up to about $350 for it.

What do you think?

Worth it?

You got 3phase power?

[mnemonix]

Massive overkill. That being said, You can never have to much power when it comes to welding.

You'll need 415v to run that welder though.

It's a $3500 unit so I don't know how your $350 budget will pan out.

[zookprojectfnq]

Good machine. I have a 250 redimig. The biggest single phase mig. That 325 there is 3 phase

[fritter]

yeah, I googled later on in the day and found out it's 3 phase

The search continues....

If anyone's interested in bidding on it. I'd be happy to arrange the shipping as it's pickup only.

cheers

[Bucketload]

Well I took the plunge on a new Lincoln 180C today.
If it's decent (or my welding), time will tell.
Under a grand... yep, cash is king.

[Shansh]

lump_a_charcoal wrote:

zookprojectfnq wrote:

WIA have a special on for $965 for a 190. A mate just brought one and I have to say I was pretty impressed. Even with a 15 amp power supply like most people have at home, you can only pull 200 amps out of it. All these people running 250 amp welders on 15 amps are kidding themselves. I run a 25 amp unit on my lincoln 250.

A 15A outlet, run in 2.5mm cable is generally good for 20A.

depending on installation method, location, etc etc

[31zook]

Bucketload wrote:

Well I took the plunge on a new Lincoln 180C today.
If it's decent (or my welding), time will tell.
Under a grand... yep, cash is king.

good stuff

look after it really well, it is a brilliant machine, i lrekon my 180c is awesome, get gas

[something_else]

Just swapped my kemppi miniarc 150 for a Lincoln 170 and 500 bucks Luke the licoln just as much just not the weight

[Nagz]

So is there a decent 'gas less mig welder' you CAN buy for the $300-$500 that will be good enough for a weekend warrior to build a tube front bar or similar things.

There seems to be misguided info here, or maybe im a retard but there is no defining info out of 2 pages worth.......... maybe this is why people have stopped using the search facilities! Im not trying to piss you guys off but when you say that "no you cant buy something decent for $500" then hows about you tell us what you CAN get and how much it is and point people like myself in the right direction.

Pete

[shakes]

I just searched for "gasless" lots of good info!

If your prepared to take the time to read the two posts above your own you would find a couple of reasonable units as well

[Fatzook]

shakes wrote:

I just searched for "gasless" lots of good info!

If your prepared to take the time to read the two posts above your own you would find a couple of reasonable units as well

Good advice. Cos we don't all carry around silver platters

[Nagz]

shakes wrote:

I just searched for "gasless" lots of good info!

If your prepared to take the time to read the two posts above your own you would find a couple of reasonable units as well

one is $1200 the other is $900

anyway i think you missed my point right back

[shakes]

Gasless is shit. period. You will be hard pressed to find many people that will reccomend a cheap unit that is actually any good. Hence the reason thats all you can find in your search.

Go down to your local BOC/TotalTools/WeldingSuppliers and see what gasless machines they have. buy the one with the best warranty and easiest parts to replace if you must buy gasless.

Save your money for an extra few months and buy a machine that does its job properly. there is quite a few second hand migs about. Something I wish I had of done.

If you had of spent more time reading the threads, you would of found an arc welder will easily do 4mm+ steel and be inside your budget. Which is what several other people as well as myself have said.

Buy cheap buy twice. Next time word your post a little better, you might get better advice.

[monley]

I got a CIG transmig 175i that dose, mig, stig and tig for $850, you just need to shop around and don't waste your time with gas less IMO

[ajsr]

shakes wrote:

Gasless is shit. period. You will be hard pressed to find many people that will reccomend a cheap unit that is actually any good. Hence the reason thats all you can find in your search.

Go down to your local BOC/TotalTools/WeldingSuppliers and see what gasless machines they have. buy the one with the best warranty and easiest parts to replace if you must buy gasless.

Save your money for an extra few months and buy a machine that does its job properly. there is quite a few second hand migs about. Something I wish I had of done.

If you had of spent more time reading the threads, you would of found an arc welder will easily do 4mm+ steel and be inside your budget. Which is what several other people as well as myself have said.

Buy cheap buy twice. Next time word your post a little better, you might get better advice.

X2
I'd arc weld before I'd use a gassless mig. they are cheap puss.
but if thats what you want go for it

[DR_JOSH]

monkey wrote:

I got a CIG transmig 175i that dose, mig, stig and tig for $850, you just need to shop around and don't waste your time with gas less IMO

You like it? I just ordered one, paid a little more then that though havent got it yet. Have you used the TIG function on it yet?

[monley]

DR_JOSH wrote:

monkey wrote:

I got a CIG transmig 175i that dose, mig, stig and tig for $850, you just need to shop around and don't waste your time with gas less IMO

You like it? I just ordered one, paid a little more then that though havent got it yet. Have you used the TIG function on it yet?

Yeh pretty good so far. Haven't used TIG yet, didn't get the tig kit with it.

[Ratty562]

hey all

have been reading a bit about mig welders and ive come to a discission that i mite go a Magmate 180P. saw just wondering what everone else thought about this one

thanks

[ajsr]

specs look ok
what do they cost?

[rick1970]

Paid $980 for mine.

I run gassless atm, not to impressed with the wire to start with (splatter) but getting a handle on it now, just gotta get your setup right. Still, may go with plain wire + gas when this roll runs out.

Good little welder.