I know that I may regret starting this thread but here goes anyway.

With Christmas approaching I thought I better get my letter off to Santa soon and what I would really, really like (I think) is a welder!

I have some knowledge of this sort of thing, 'O' level metalwork from 40(!) years ago.
I need advice on what type to go for.
Intend to use it for making up brackets, minor repairs, exhaust tinkering, etc.
Listen to me! I'll be buying a side-car next.

Don't want to spend a fortune, I do have a K bike owner reputation to maintain, but would appreciate some advice from those in the know about these things.

Comberjohn wrote:I know that I may regret starting this thread but here goes anyway.

Listen to me! I'll be buying a side-car next.

.

You'll be needing a lathe then?

Paul.

Id go for a small mig welder using gas less wire plus its easier than stick as you got to weld upside down

You'll be needing a lathe then?

Of course, once you have the lathe, you'll be needing a milling machine...





marleydog

A small inverter welder will do all you want and need.
Amediun size CNC Lathe would do the trick

My brother has an inverter welder he wears on his toolbelt, will chase him for details, as its a gooden he say's and I would plumb for a pedestal drill as you can accessarize it as well

I'm not a big fan of gasless mig welders i would get one that has a gas/gasless option, but as toto said its better than a stick welder.

Get the best you can afford, most good inverter style mig welders are still reasonably pricey.

The one i use at work is worth $7000. Most stuff you will buy these days are chinese, but there are some good ones around. Go to your local welding/industrial supplier and ask questions, most of the guys that work at those places are pretty helpful.

While your there get a mill drill, better than a pedestal drill.

I have a Hobart 140 mig welder, works great, gas/no gas option.We build all kinds of stuff with it, works on 110 current so you can take it on site to use it if you want. I bought it mail order with free shipping.

yankeeone wrote:I have a Hobart 140 mig welder, works great, gas/no gas option.We build all kinds of stuff with it, works on 110 current so you can take it on site to use it if you want. I bought it mail order with free shipping.

John,

Our mains voltage is 220V but you might get a not new 110V one reasonable and get a 220 to 110V transformer, those yellow ones every builder has in his van. I suspect 110V might be more sturdy and cheaper as they have to be 110V for building sites.

I have built plenty of frames for bikes and trikes with a clarke welder from machine mart.approx £150

gasless/gas are ok but gas will always give a better weld.up to 4mm is probably all you need.

best investment is protection for your eyes so get a good solar/battery reactive mask.

whilst you are there you could grab a pair of good gloves ,clamp sets, pillar and hobby lathe..

dont think they do 3phase though

marleydog wrote:

You'll be needing a lathe then?

Of course, once you have the lathe, you'll be needing a milling machine...

marleydog

There is not much you cannot do with an Old Bridgeport.

I have both an arc and mig, both ZIP brand, italian i think, the mig was a big disappointment. The arc is grand for heavy work but will blow holes in sheet/ exhausts etc. There is a place off Dee Street beside Hurst tyres at the entrance to the docks called Weldpro. They sell everything for welding but at the professional end. However, they are great for advice and can steer you in the right direction and are reasonable for rods, wire, gloves etc. Machinemart as bigtel mentioned is a good place to buy.

Plenty of cheap and cheerful ones new/sh on fleeBay i learned to arc weld first then bought a mig later both have a place depending on what you want to do but if you go for a mig i would get a gas one.

Oh i have a pillar drill which cost next to nowt brilliant bit of kit.

The advice I got from a welder who was 40 years in the game was get a professional unit even second-hand because they are easier to use than a welder targeted at amateurs.
Regards,
K-BIKE

I did a course at night at the college in belfast on gas & arc welding. I think the college in downpatrick does it, only up the road, i thought it was well worth it. Cost about £60

G

if you can get a course go for it whilst they last, here in NZ schools are taking out craft workshops so lathes and suchlike are gone from night school as an option, it is appalling in my view, I still use skills I learnt at metalwork and woodwork in school.
Regards,
K-BIKE

I have been into most things metal since I can remember, I was using a lathe since I could reach the controls and welding for just as long and the one thing that amuses me most is the way so many people will say how wonderful it is that I can weld so well and that they can't even use a home handyman welder to which my standard reply is that nobody can use one of those ill designed pieces of crap. Now go and buy a good welder and see just how easy it is to do simple welding.
I built a 34ft steel sloop about 30years ago and the very first thing I did was to go and buy the best single phase welder I could get and it truely was a joy to use compared to the fairly good one that I already had.

Just thought I would show what I bought for working on the Spitfire....



And to show my first ever welding!!!