I'm looking at buying one soon for any car work and I might want to make up a gate. What should I be looking for as a total novice?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

I use a Clarke 151TE turbo bought from Machine Mart for £200. This copes with thin stuff like sills, bottom of wings and med stuff like chassis rails. But on top of that you really need to go for a refillable type of gas bottle not the disposable ones.

If you are looking to make /repair heavy stuff like gates then I think you will be better with an electric arc machine for that .Thats wot I use anyway for that kind of job.

So there is my opinion as a dedicated amateur restorer.

More dosh spent than this will get you better gear, but then you have to do a lot of welding to justify its cost.

Nice Migatronic machine?? Yes please if I win the lotto this week.

Make sure you don't buy a gasless version. Get yourself a min of 120 amps and set up an acount with Air products for your gas. The rental will cost you about sixty quid for the year and a refill comes in at just under 20. The bottle should last you well over a year of DIY jobs and if you use Koogar gas , your welds will be nice and clean and free from impurities. Pub gas just isn't good enough.

you need to check out its capabilitys really it will give you stats such as the thickness of material it will weld.

 

Stay away from flux cored wire go for gas regulated (to get the best results)

You want one with a high thermal cut out rating or it will be of no use to you

 

Send me a pm mate I will see if I can get you a deal on a cheap but good one through me work ;)