Recommend me a basic welder...

[24/7 farming]

Would like a simple welder for the garage... nothing fancy, oul fella has a decent spec one at his abode but it's becoming a pain in the rear end having to relocate everything for the occasional run or two of weld if needed. Seems to be an endless selection on line but I don't hav a clue what I'm looking at. Oul fellas one is pretty handy used so I don't want to end up wit a cheapo nasty thing that is a pig to use, so compact, basic but decent enough quality... possible!??

 

[TheTallGuy]

MIG TIG or ARC?

 

[astra]

Budget? Uses? Ur ability?

 

[jf850]

An inverter would probably be your best bet . I take it you aren't going to be welding for 8 hours a day .
I have a Thermal Arc 175 for years . Given great service and easy to move around , work off an extension reel , if necessary
@MF 168 and brother have done a power of welding with a Thermal Arc .

Lots of other makes of them too.

 

[wdah/him]

if its an inverter , what can u get locally, don't buy a Jefferson.

 

[24/7 farming]

Yea just after a basic stick inverter for occasional use, today's example, which has spurred this thread... one of the sides on the 4ton fraiser tipper trailer has developed a crack in the top bar, could hav hooked it off infront of my garage and had it fixed in ten mins, but will require side taken off to get into oul fellas garage to get it stuck bac together!

 

[Robt]

Would go along to way to beat a Paraweld . Can’t remember I’m here who does them but he gives excellent service and has a sharp pencil

 

[spanners and hammers]

Would go along to way to beat a Paraweld . Can’t remember I’m here who does them but he gives excellent service and has a sharp pencil

yes eng weld where doing little par welds at lamma with a pack of rods take the vat and tax off ended up bout £80 lovely little welder for the money

 

[Bury the Trash]

Little parweld 163 is v. useful....especially if it needs to be on 13 amp plug on a ext. Lead or genny.

 

[agrimax]

Can't fault my Jasic 160 inverter either.

 

[Gerbert]

@Welding Supplies Direct did have quite some nice cheap ones that some members seemed quite chuffed with.
I have a quite cheap Metalworks welder and it does the job. I had a quite expensive Gysmi which died on me prematurely and didn't want to know of it so sod 'em. Make sure to buy one with a dedicated off switch instead of a potentiometer that you have to dial back, it's hard on that little switch. I personally really like a display for the amps.

 

[Hereward]

Learnt my lesson buying cheap before, get a Kempi Miniarc Evo 180, quite simply the best welder available to run off a 13A plug. It will run off 50m of extension lead and still produce a perfect weld.

I have mine on 16A plug as when flatout it's pushing what a domestic plug can handle.

 

[Barleycorn]

I'd say Oxford oil filled, but at my age I would! Bought one 40 years ago and still going strong!

 

[Hereward]

I'd say Oxford oil filled, but at my age I would! Bought one 40 years ago and still going strong!

Great old welders, but the hot start and arc stability of a good inverter is in another league.

 

[David.]

I'd say Oxford oil filled, but at my age I would! Bought one 40 years ago and still going strong!

I found mine inconvenient to carry up ladders.
The Kemppi however is much better. .

 

[mx110]

I've got the parweld 160 amp off welding supplies direct, had it a few years and it usually lives in the van, it's good value for money for occasional use

 

[David.]

In all seriousness, I'm not convinced that inverter welders burn in as well as a big old 3ph oil filled transformer?
Maybe it is my imagination, and the apparently higher frequency arc from the inverter just feels different.

 

[David.]

I'd say Oxford oil filled, but at my age I would! Bought one 40 years ago and still going strong!

Have you changed the oil, because i didn't and mine rotted the windings out after about 20yrs.

 

[Banana Bar]

Have you changed the oil, because i didn't and mine rotted the windings out after about 20yrs.

Be careful with that oil, it’s a massive carcinogen. I remember cleaning one out about 20 years ago before I knew this up to my elbows in the oil. ??

 

[seedman stains]

Kemppi here strikes a great arc far better than a gysmi i had,but dont forget a decent mask with a nice big screen!!!!!