Which gasless MIG welder???

[Coalmossian]

I would very much like to pick someone's brains, please!
20 years or so ago I bought a SIP Mig welder. It wasn't a gasless one, bought I could buy gas cylinders ( or at least rent one!) in those days fro BO quite cheaply. However, I never really mastered the technique even though I went to night classes! These were really more suited to teaching us how to mend broken ploughshares! I actually felt a bit better when a friend who is quite a good welder, stated that a professional welder he knew couldn't get a good weld with the type of welder that I had.
Anyway, having , as some of you will know, put my Traveller away to get welded and painted, and gone over budget, I realise that if I am ever going to get my '49 Lowlight welded, I'll have to learn to do it myself as I won't have the funds to get it done professionally.
I've looked at a lot of threads by folk such as NeilMG and David McCulloch and it has to be said that they inspire.
SO, if I am going to buy a gasless Migwelder, what would these folk recommend regarding make. amperage etc?
Any help and information gratefully accepted.

[bmcecosse]

What's wrong with the SIP?? Mine is designed to be used with gas - but can be used without. I've just bought some larger (0.9mm) tips and a reel of gasless wire (also 0.9mm) - but not had a chance to try it out like that yet. I do have an argon cylinder - and also bought some 0.8mm tips and 0,8 mm wire to use with the gas - so I will have the choice. And yes - some have suggested the cables should be reversed when using gasless - other say it makes no difference. I shall find out!!

[indian301]

I have been using a MIG welder for years to repair sheet metal on cars and heavier things like frames. I have found that using the MIG without the gas mixture creates a lot of splatter near the welds and it also distorts the metal more than with the gas. The gas mixture not only keeps the weld cleaner, but also keeps the surrounding area cooler. I would much rather have less distrtion on the weleded panels, so I pay the extra for the bottle of gas.

Dave

[drivewasher]

Plain wire available in 0.6mm & 0.8mm requires a shielding gas Co2 or an Argon mix like argoshield.
The gas shields the hot molten pool from the oxygen in the air.
The correct size tip must be used to match the wire being used, it's the tip that contacts the wire so as to pass the current to it.
Also remember whatever wire you are useing not only must the tip be the right size but the feed roller groove has to match the wire. So fluxed wire would need a roller with a groove in it for 0.9mm.

There is some thought that suggests some flux cored wires need shielding gas so the polarity remains same as plain wire.

Have a look around this thread and also the whole forum, become a member as I am. Very interesting.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/show ... php?t=4843

[irmscher]

And the wire is expensive

[smithskids]

I used to have a Lincoln 180 with Argon and it was superbe but took up a lot of space so I sold it and got a SIP120 which can be used with or without gas. True you get a bit more splash with coated wire but it is OK for small jobs. You can always buy a small bottle for special jobs. In the end it always pays to do proper prepping of the steel. That is the most important thing. Good flashing

[irmscher]

Iain flashing just get on with the welding no time for that

[rogerowen]

What's wrong with the SIP?? Mine is designed to be used with gas - but can be used without. I've just bought some larger (0.9mm) tips and a reel of gasless wire (also 0.9mm) - but not had a chance to try it out like that yet. I do have an argon cylinder - and also bought some 0.8mm tips and 0,8 mm wire to use with the gas - so I will have the choice. And yes - some have suggested the cables should be reversed when using gasless - other say it makes no difference. I shall find out!!

I bought the cheapest MIG welder I could find (new) - a Clarke EN90. It comes as a Gasless welder - but can be converted to gas with a simple conversion kit. I've only used it in gasless mode - took a bit of practice, but that's the best way to learn. One of the tutorials I tried to follw also mentions that when using in Gasless mode you pull the torch at an angle along the weld line whilst with gas you push.

[pegasus]

The newer SIP migs have a lot of problems with wire feed, they arnt made like they used to be. Gas less wire welds at a higher temperature than standard wire with gas, so welding to thinner metal takes a bit of skill. If you are on a budget then you wont beat a clark from machine mart, they will tell you this on the mig welding site as well. I would go for a dual welder eg gas/gasless then you can try both. Although argoshield gas is the best to use, you can also use co2 (pub bottle), the weld is a little more messy but in my opinion is better than gasless.
Good luck with whatever you choose, and try the mig welding site they are very helpfull.
Mark