Club 80-90 Forums

would it weld steel, or general welding, couldnt get exact link
http://www.aldi-stores.co.uk/

I doubt a pressure washer could weld anything

I take it yesterday there was a welder on there ?

"pooh" website....

Ringo

no theres one on there now, click the genny pic

Its an arc welder (stick welding)... so yes, it would weld steel.

Although ar welders were and can be used for auto bodywork, they are generally for heavier steel welding (chassis work and upwards)

Would suggest that a MIG welder costing about £100~ £175 is more like the right thing for auto panel and chassis repair these days, much finer and better control, once proficient (if that is the idea)...

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

I have a Clarke 155TE, cost about £175, MIG welds very well off mains supply, an auto-darkening helmet would be about £40 ~£100 these days, that makes welding a lot easier in my opinion, hobby gas bottles about £10 each.

PS People tend to buy welders for a partic job, use it and then not again for months/years, so borrowing one from a local club member might be worth looking into..

Clive, you're a legend - i never heard of a auto dark helmet before - im going to have to get one...

http://autodarkhelmet.co.uk/overview.ph ... d23879e8fe

Ringo

Speeglas/Hoerner AD helmet

All auto-darkening helmets are not made equal...

Speeglas are about the best (Scandinavian, actually Hoerner makes them), some can be had on eBay fro not a bad price (<£100)... F models are fixed shade, most have adjustable shade range from 9-13, MIG is about 9 -10 for medium power, gas welding shade are about 3-6.
Really cheap adjustable shade range A helmets have been total crap in the past, but now mayeb they last and work OK. Price also depends on size of screen element.
Should think Sealey and some US makes are good too...

If you can afford it, get one with a warranty for a year. A good quaity fixed shade AD helmet can be a better bet than an adjustable cheapie, but shade 9 a bit low for anything other than light MIG, though certianly Hoerner can take plates that up Shade to 10 or 11 (available on eBay)..

Its also sensitivity settings that can play up in bright light, and the delay settings.
Generally though, they transform MIG welding, though if looking up under vehicle into bright light, can still be a bit hard to see until arc starts. I use a bright light or hold a torch alongside welding torch under those circumstances. Othewrise they're a real boo to welding..

Good luck gettinga reliable one.. I stole a £270 large screen variable shade Speedglas for £100 off eBay and am well chuffed with it.

this is all very fasinating about your helmets but before i get carried away with a nice shiny tinting helmet ill need a welding machine, what would be your suggestions, ie mig tig fig n so on

As Harryman says - go for a MIG welder.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categ ... ig-welders

Dead easy to do and you soon pick up how to get good at it.

Ringo

I have a Clarke 155TE, cost about £175,

My suggestion, or a Sealey product, normally rated in Amps, 100 Amp ones are about the minimum, usually the more the better for good arc control...

ok so a mig and amps that my budget will allow, cheers harryman

like clive says lots of folk buy one for a particular job, and then don't use them or better still sell them on!! ebay and vzi if/when it is working! there's always one or two kicking about! you'll be able to make your budget go further if you get 2nd hand, as for the auto darkening helmet, i got mine from ebay for about £30, it's not the best but it has flames on it and makes me look really cool and i'm sure my welding is better because of it!