Can you recommend a good, compact MIG welder?

[fha772]

Evening all,

I'm looking for a good quality compact MIG welder, I'm not too fussed about price, I'm more interested in quality and reliability.

I've got a large garage MIG welder, with a full size industrial gas bottle, but I need something that I can put in the boot and take with me. Preferably the type that use the small wire reels, and the disposable gas bottles.
It's only for doing bodywork, and general car welding.

So, can anyone suggest a good quality, compact MIG?

Cheers Frank

[MFrV1]

No, I can't.

[fha772]

No, I can't.

Thanks

[TeamTotalWankel]

I've been using a SIP Migmate 130 for the last 6yrs or so, and it's been no bother. I've not used owt else so can't really comment on quality / ease of use

[Renrut]

I've got one of them Clarke 110A welders (think they're just a rebadged SIP), the cheap machine mart ones. Takes disposable bottles and can hold up to the 15kg reels but takes the small ones too. Can still lift if one handed and it fits easily in the boot.

I think it works well enough. Don't be tempted by a second hand one though, you'll end up spending any saving on getting all the liner, swan neck and tips (and maybe motor) replaced. they're only about £100 anyway if you catch one of them VAT free days and there's sure to be someone else cheaper mail order.

I'll leave it up to you to decide if it works well enough from the photos of my welds

[Rippthrough]

You can't beat the little Kempi MiniarcMig inverters if you can afford the price.

[Charles]

I went a slightly different way and bought a 180amp inverter TIG. OK, only DC so only good for ferrous stuff but very portable if a touch slower than MIG. The added bonus is a TIG set for the workshop - and TIG is better than MIG at some things

Charles