Now I'll start but saying I can't weld, next could get the hang of it and don't think I ever will.
I would however like to be able to tack stuff together so I can take it to a professional to finish it off properly.
So my question is are the cheap gas less mig welders that machine mart and alike sell any good?
Remember it's only for tacking stuff not a decent job.

I bought a 140 Wolf machine through Amazon and have had good results off it gasless, plus there's the option of using it with gas as well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Welder-Combination-Smooth-Accessory-Wheels/dp/B00CLPLMQI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1506372942&sr=8-4&keywords=Wolf+welder

Chimp,

If you recall from a thread many moons ago on the old forum, I was in a similar position.

I took the plunge a few months ago and did a MIG welding course at my local college, and it was one of the best things I have ever done. I can now proudly boast to being able to weld, and I know I will get better in time. I have bought myself a fairly decent 180Amp mig and a big gas bottle and am now welding everything I can in an attempt to practice my skills. practice, practice, practice.

However . . . . 

I have learnt many things from my welding course, the first being that those gassless migs are a waste of time - too restrictive - for not a lot more you can buy a proper MIG welder, and there are many decent deals on small cartridge gas canisters, or hobby gas rentals. If you have an automotive college nearby, then see if they have a course - make friends with RichStorm on here (former welding tutor, and taught me loads over the phone). Do you have anyone nearby that can spend 20 minutes with you and show you how to set a machine up (seriously, thats all it takes) and then you are ready to mess about with the settings by practicing. Get one of those solar welding masks too - best £50 you will ever spend on that hobby, and those masks are a game changer when it comes to welding, not like those clumsy things we know from olden days.

Shame you are not closer, else you could have a play down here.

I have become a bit addicted to welding of late. From messing about I can now also weld with a stick, and my Oxy/acetelyne welding went pretty well too. I`m now looking at buying a TIG welder, (not going to bother with another course though), I`m just going to learn by trial and error - far more fun !!

Anyway, Buy a good gas one, and you will never look back - and it really isn`t as hard to master as you may think !!

Andy you can have a play over here, as sais gas less mig is crap the small disposable bottles are expensive and do not lasr long.
There is a welding supply firm at Combe Hill for consumables but get a secondhand mig as Dave says bigger the better I have the 150 and it goes down lower than small ones on amperage as it is more adjustable.

Second that gasless are crap. I was a welder/fabricator for 12 years doing steel shuttering for concrete moulds, done plenty for famous stadiums, sewer tanks etc and I am 100% sure I could have you mig welding good enough to keep you happy in about 10 mins. Set up is fairly easy, if it burns holes it's too hot, if it doesn't run well too cold, if the wire blobs not fast enough and if it bounces too fast. Get the sound of cooking bacon and you've cracked it. Pity I live in Norwich other wise I'd come give you a hand. Also good call on the auto tint mask, great with lower powered migs. I have a 150 amp turbo mig that I've had for about 15 years now and still works perfect. Gas bottle wise, get friendly with the land lord at the local I have the same bottle I started with 15 years ago and I've welded lots and it's still going! tempting fate now as I need to get on with making an A frame bracket. Get yourself on a short course as suggested and it'll pay for it's self the first time you fix something. As a general rule when I was welding cars on the side I'd not even turn the welder on for less than £100 so paid for the course first use.

Gas bottle wise, get friendly with the land lord at the local I have the same bottle I started with 15 years ago and I've welded lots and it's still going!

Chimp,

I have a small refillable Pub Gas CO2 Bottle that I got from Snoopy, but as I have now progressed to a bigger Argomix bottle, the small one (with regulator and guage) is now surplus to requirements if you were interested in it

Gas is a lot better than gasless I would say most machines these days will be able to do with gas or with out?iv used both but prefer gas Iv got a Lincoln mig/tig/arc not got my head around the tig yet  but like Dave says practice practice practice lol 

Hi Chimp

welding and fabrication was my previous job, and i have used most types of welding machines available. I would advise to go with a gas welder, if you can get hold of a pub bottle CO2 will suffice for mild steel applications. If you are wanting to weld stainless or Ali you will need Argon. Machine mart do a 150 amp mig welder for not much money easy to set up and will weld easily up to 6mm no probs. MIG is the easiest to learn and you can achieve some good results. As the other chaps have stated its all about practice. Another tip is to make sure you are comfortable too as this can make a huge difference.

What everyone else says

I have a Machine Mart might with cartridge bottles. Don't do much welding but still have some gas left after 3 years so for hobby use they are ok.

Learning by trial and error as local college keeps promising courses but never delivers. I set up on a small offcut before starting, as said practice is the key.

Completely agree with other suggestions. I use an auto mask and always do a Sooty and get comfortable before I begin. Bought some magnetic 90 and 45 degree clamps, very helpful but don't stick to some stainless (not enough ferrous)

Done half a dozen small jobs and paid for itself many times over

I am the last person to have anything to do with rules and regulations but here is something to consider if you go the mig welding route.  This is just so you know. (Any qualified electrician on the forum please feel free to correct anything here that is not correct or out of date as I cannot recall what "edition" the rules are at now). Mig welders up to, I think, around 150A can be used on domestic mains but the instructions will state that the welder "must" be "hard wired" to the supply. Technically I have always assumed hard wired meant the wires connected to a suitable outlet permanently and not to a plug. However in practice I have seen welders etc with Commando plugs fitted and plugged into a Commando socket on the wall. The socket and plug would be of the 16amp blue variety.

I have come across many homes with a garage not attached to the house and the supply to the garage taken from the "electric cooker" circuit at the "consumer unit". If you have this I would would be very wary of plugging a mig welder into this sort of set up. The mains feed coming into a house will often be fed directly to the consumer unit which means the consumer unit is live at all times. A lot of folk have contacted the electrical supplier directly asking them to fit an isolator between the incoming cable and consumer unit. Often, but not always, if you say "Can you fit one for me as this will let your guys come in the future if needed and the supply can be switched off locally" they offer to fit an isolator free. Consumer unit... guess you may want to update this to a metal cased one if making changes. (Yes I know many electrician has changed a consumer unit with live incomers).

I havn`t come across any actual incident but would you want an electric oven, a electric hob running for Sunday lunch and then have a mig welder drawing more current? Potentially dangerous as you will not see the cables heat up if they do.

So a proper supply... 32amp breaker at consumer unit. 4mm armoured cable to the out building and correct fitting of the armoured cable to the "junction box". The metal sheathing must be fitted correctly. (Sound earthing is essential for your safety).  Armoured cable should travel below ground surface... cannot remember how far down now. Cable going through a wall should travel through a piece of plastic pipe "protective sleeving. Very long runs of armoured cable bring up earth issues that need addressing. A competent electrician will advise they way to go.

Just saying... 

Yes, very good shout about supplys

When shopping about, look for one that can be used on a "Conventional 13A plug" - not one that is simply advertised as using a single phase 240v supply, unless of course you have the correct electrics to take it.  Anything that is requiring a 16A blue plug MUST have the correct supply feed.

I have a 180A welder on a blue socket in a separate building, and we ended up getting an extra consumer unit plumbed in to cope with the extra capacity. This is not a DIY option, and you will need a specialist electrician to do this.

The upside, is that I can weld much bigger stuff if I ever wanted to - the downside is that I am restricted to anything that has to be indie my garage.

If you want to weld cars (thin metal) and even some fairly beefy stuff using a mains extension lead, then 100A ~ 140A will be more than man enough.

Thanks for all the comments, advise and offers of training.
If I was going to get a small gas one what is a good starter one, don't want to spend massive money but wouldn't want to it on something rubbish so advise on makes and places to get one from would be great.
Would the gas/gas less one Manxdavid suggested be a good one to get as it does both?

I have looked into a course but the next one in my area starts February next year and with my shift pattern I can only do every other week.

Dave if I do get one and need a bottle that would be great. Could get it off you at the Xmas do?

Snoopy I do have a little job to do on my roof rack so a bit of a play with that would be great. Will see you Friday about it.

I have looked into a course but the next one in my area starts February next year and with my shift pattern I can only do every other week.

To be honest mate, for what the course will cost, spend that on a good welder instead and get someone to spend 20 minutes with you setting it up, the rest is just practice, and you won`t learn anything more on the course than the experience of playing about once set up.

Dave if I do get one and need a bottle that would be great. Could get it off you at the Xmas do?

Remind me nearer the time mate, and I`ll sling it in the car   

Mines a Machine Mart 135TE Turbo
Comes with a fitted 13a plug so straight mains supply
Small gas bottle cartridge - CO2 supplied bought a CO2/Argon mix for stainless
Comes with wire for steel, bought some stainless

Have used it to make up a stainless bracket for my oil filter, 2mm tube glued to 1.5mm sheet and a rear bumper extender made from 3mm steel angle and welded many bolts to things so I can do them up solo
Handled the lot no trouble except for my inexperience which is getting less all the time

For a hobby welder doing relatively small jobs it is great but I wouldnt want to tackle building anything huge with it
Dave

Chimp,

It really is easy to do. Like yourself, I also thought that I would never be able to do it. I spent an afternoon with sawmill Jim messing about with his welder a few years back and decided that I wanted to learn properly.

After 90 minutes of messing about burning holes, working out what sizzling bacon sounded like and copious amounts of coffee, this cable stand is what I made on my third evening class, and on the fourth, I felt  confident enough to take the Buggy in to widen the bumper.