Guest JohnGalway Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/2867_6946.htm I have gotten into the habit of picking up odds and sods from Aldi/Lidl lately. I'm not fooling myself that they're the best quality but I now have a chop saw, circular saw, table saw, jigsaw, pillar drill etc. and they come in handy for doing bits of light work - like making my larsen traps and bits for the farm. But welding is a totally new thing to me. Been thinking for a good while it'd be a handy skill to muddle my way into. So for a noob would the above Arc Welder be any good? What are it's capabilities and limitations? Any info would be of help as I know SFA about the subject. I presume it could handle making the likes of mink and fox cages? How about heavier metals? this is such a well thought out buy for me - not Many thanks for any help John Oh yes, and do I need anything else for it besides that actual machine? I know I need electrodes and a proper protective welders mask. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 The problem with lower power arc welders is they tend to freeze. What I mean by freezing is that the electrode doesn't get hot enough to melt consistently, so more often than not, it's a stop start affair. Depends on the price of it really JG, if it's cheap enough, it might help to give you an introduction to welding. I've only had the odd go on small DIY welders, and I couldn't get on with them. I'm not a welder as such, my experience comes from using oxy/acetylene & mig welders in the motor trade, and industrial arc welders on a few different training courses I done years ago. I dare say with enough patience & practice, you'll get good enough with it to mend a few gates with a few tack welds here & there, but I wouldn't expect a great deal from it. That's just with my limited knowledge of the little machines, maybe another member has got one & has worked out how to weld half decent with it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bitsa lurcher Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/2867_6946.htm I have gotten into the habit of picking up odds and sods from Aldi/Lidl lately. I'm not fooling myself that they're the best quality but I now have a chop saw, circular saw, table saw, jigsaw, pillar drill etc. and they come in handy for doing bits of light work - like making my larsen traps and bits for the farm. But welding is a totally new thing to me. Been thinking for a good while it'd be a handy skill to muddle my way into. So for a noob would the above Arc Welder be any good? What are it's capabilities and limitations? Any info would be of help as I know SFA about the subject. I presume it could handle making the likes of mink and fox cages? How about heavier metals? this is such a well thought out buy for me - not Many thanks for any help John Oh yes, and do I need anything else for it besides that actual machine? I know I need electrodes and a proper protective welders mask. firstly it depends on the price ??? having said that i will go on to say .... i have done many a good repair job with a toy town diy arc welder . the advantage i have though is 25 years welding expierience . ok , as far as the novice and the diy welder goes . if you have lots of patience then fine a small arc welder is the way to go . the one you have listed above has a range of 40-160 amps . this translated means 40 amps lowest setting and 160 amps highest setting . the lowest setting will just about weld car bodwork depending on the condition or amount of rust/rot in the metal . 160 amps will weld 5mm thick mild steel plate quite easy and after you have had some practice you will find yourself welding thicker stuff with 160 amps . i would suggest that what ever it is you are planning on welding then have an off cut to practice on , if the weld does not penetrate or melt the metal turn the amps up , if on the other hand you burn a hole in it , turn the amps down . if you get stuck pm the details of what thickness metal you are trying to weld and i will give you a guide of how much amps you need ....good luck ......DO NOT WELD WITH OUT A MASK Quote Link to post Share on other sites
waz77 15 Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 I take you'd be tacking weld mesh etc John? If i were you i'd go for a mig/mag set.Reason being with a stick set to start welding you need to strike the rod like a match for it to arc up...now trying to do that on a strand of weld mesh aint an easy thing to do when you've got your head screen down and cant see feck all.With a mig set you simply put your electrode where you want to tack and press the button,they are much easier to use and more versatile.They're more expensive than a stick set but you get what you pay for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mad al 146 Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 For the money it's a bargain , you'd pay that much for a second hand one. Not as easy to use as a MiG set which is a very easy process to pick up on, but, you are limited to what you can weld with a MIG. With an arc welder there is loads of choice in electrodes to weld mild steel, dis-similar metals, cast iron etc, what tends to happen with air cooled sets though, both arc and MIG, is that they cut out under continual welding due to them getting too hot and you have to wait for them to cool down especially at the lower end of the price range, but as already said, for that money it is a bargain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gav 1,708 Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Well seen as I am the only qualified welder posting on this, you get what you pay for as previously said, this tackle upto 160A is a toy, if you want to play with arc its not a bad price to start, you can even get carbon rods to do light work. Its all down to what you want to do with it at the end of the day, this will do comfortably 1.5mm to 4mm mild steel, no good at all for light work as you will have to goto 60-80A to strike a good arc. Hope this helps Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mad al 146 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well seen as I am the only qualified welder posting on this, you get what you pay for as previously said, this tackle upto 160A is a toy, if you want to play with arc its not a bad price to start, you can even get carbon rods to do light work. Its all down to what you want to do with it at the end of the day, this will do comfortably 1.5mm to 4mm mild steel, no good at all for light work as you will have to goto 60-80A to strike a good arc. Hope this helps the only "qualified" welder? , you got crystals balls or what? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craftycarper 0 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 go for a mig, sod all that slag build up, fooker to see where your welding with an arc welder, at least if you get a decent mig you can weld thinner metal with practice and blow less holes in it. Take a look at this site for a few ideas, tips and tutorials, also has a good forum... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dehoffmeister 2 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well seen as I am the only qualified welder posting on this, you get what you pay for as previously said, this tackle upto 160A is a toy, if you want to play with arc its not a bad price to start, you can even get carbon rods to do light work. Its all down to what you want to do with it at the end of the day, this will do comfortably 1.5mm to 4mm mild steel, no good at all for light work as you will have to goto 60-80A to strike a good arc. Hope this helps who do you think you are mate the only welder in the world i would go for the mig set mate its a million times easier to use these toy sets aldi sell are impossible to use at around 60- a which you would be using for welding mesh... all da best Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest fell terrier Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well seen as I am the only qualified welder posting on this, you get what you pay for as previously said, this tackle upto 160A is a toy, if you want to play with arc its not a bad price to start, you can even get carbon rods to do light work. Its all down to what you want to do with it at the end of the day, this will do comfortably 1.5mm to 4mm mild steel, no good at all for light work as you will have to goto 60-80A to strike a good arc. Hope this helps who do you think you are mate the only welder in the world i would go for the mig set mate its a million times easier to use these toy sets aldi sell are impossible to use at around 60- a which you would be using for welding mesh... all da best i would recommend a mig set if you are wanting to use it for light work at home mate stick is alright but it is not as easy to learn as the mig any one can use a mig provided it is set up properly a stick can be fairly tricky to get it right you would waste a hell of a lot of metal and rods learning if you didnt have anyone to show you the ropes i use mig stick and tig welding metals from 1mm to5omm and have shown lads to use the stick but it take a while for them to use it correctly but if its cheap and you fancy giving it a go i would say go for it once you have mastered it youll be able to build traps ect no bother best of luck Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bigredbusa Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well seen as I am the only qualified welder posting on this, you get what you pay for as previously said, this tackle upto 160A is a toy, if you want to play with arc its not a bad price to start, you can even get carbon rods to do light work. Its all down to what you want to do with it at the end of the day, this will do comfortably 1.5mm to 4mm mild steel, no good at all for light work as you will have to goto 60-80A to strike a good arc. Hope this helps lol gav (you are joking i hope) , mate if it is for home i would say get a mig set . like what has been said the arc set is quite small and they have a problem of tripping out if given too much work , oh stay away away from the gasless ones if possable. lol @ gav Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Well seen as I am the only qualified welder posting on this, you get what you pay for as previously said, this tackle upto 160A is a toy, if you want to play with arc its not a bad price to start, you can even get carbon rods to do light work. Its all down to what you want to do with it at the end of the day, this will do comfortably 1.5mm to 4mm mild steel, no good at all for light work as you will have to goto 60-80A to strike a good arc. Hope this helps ASME IX Gav? You don't need one to do a little bit of DIY welding about the place you know mate..... lol EDITED: I've just remembered, I've got welding qualifications, a level 1 GNVQ I done on a NSDS course, and a level 2 GNVQ in motor vehicle body repair, that has a section on 'automotive welding' :laugh: :laugh: I know I'm far from a 'Qualified welder' but it shows that I've at least picked up a welding iron! (not done much else with it though!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bigredbusa Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 im twi trained but i will let gav have his moment Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mad al 146 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 im twi trained but i will let gav have his moment Better join in this one I guess Question for Gav....................I take being a "qualified" welder :notworthy: you'll be familiar with a book recognised as the "Welder's Bible" then?............which is??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Chip Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 ive been a coded welder for years now in all forms..i love to use an arc welder when i get the chance its a nice change but id say get a mig there cheap enough nowadays and far easier and quicker to use. theres lots of ways of getting bottled gas if you dont want to register with boc,,dive equipment centres,chav pub landlords..etc arc welders are great when you have no choice but to use one. if you need info advice on setups etc give this place a look.. http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/index.php Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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