Multi-Process Welder:

[Wanderer555]

Good day,
Looking to purchase a medium duty Multi-Process welder, looking at Lazada etc, there are a plethora of options, and would appreciate some recommendations on brand, model etc.

The majority of the work would be MIG for 4mm thick mild steel or less (gas and/or gasless) , TIG for bronze sculpture castings and similar.
For MMA I will use the Welpro box I currently own.
 

Amperage rating around 200 or better, medium duty with a decent build quality.

Thanks, T

 

[sometimewoodworker]

Gas MIG you have very few choices at the lower end, as in under ฿15,000 possibly only 1 or 2 over 20,000 lots of choices, relatively that is. TIG is Virtually abundant often with MMA

[Kinnock]

If I was going for a low cost Lazada option, I think I'd go for a basic stick arc welder with non digital control knob.  For TIG/MIG I'd look at the options in Homepro .... they have a decent range and come with a guarantee.

I think the brand names are of little significance, as they're all made in China and appear under multiple brands?

[Wanderer555]

On 3/2/2023 at 5:47 PM, sometimewoodworker said:

Gas MIG you have very few choices at the lower end, as in under ฿15,000 possibly only 1 or 2 over 20,000 lots of choices, relatively that is. TIG is Virtually abundant often with MMA

Yes.. as stated in the OP I am aware of the many options. 
Looking for first hand experience not generic info and as stated in my post specific brand or models etc. 

 

cost is not a factor …. My OP states the requirements ????

 

 

[Wanderer555]

On 3/2/2023 at 5:53 PM, Kinnock said:

If I was going for a low cost Lazada option, I think I'd go for a basic stick arc welder with non digital control knob.  For TIG/MIG I'd look at the options in Homepro .... they have a decent range and come with a guarantee.

I think the brand names are of little significance, as they're all made in China and appear under multiple brands?

Cost is not a factor or mentioned in OP, and as stated I have a good quality Welpro MMA welder (stick). 
 

looking for first hand experience and prefer a model with supply chain for parts etc…

 

thanks 

Edited March 4, 2023 by Wanderer555
Add

[Yellowtail]

Not a fan of multi-process machines, but we used Laem Thong as a supplier for over twenty years and they sell good equipment and consumables. 

 

When you say medium are you referring to amperage or duty-cycle? 

 

 

[DrukenMallardy]

Try Kovet, they have good English support team, warranty etc avaliable.  Strong brand in welding.  

https://www.kovet.com/

 

Have a range of welding machines for MMA/MIG/TIG

 

Some Multi-Process.

 

Wide price-range depending on budget.  

[Yellowtail]

2 hours ago, DrukenMallardy said:

Try Kovet, they have good English support team, warranty etc avaliable.  Strong brand in welding.  

https://www.kovet.com/

 

Have a range of welding machines for MMA/MIG/TIG

 

Some Multi-Process.

 

Wide price-range depending on budget.  

What multi-process welder(s) do they have?

[DrukenMallardy]

48 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

What multi-process welder(s) do they have?

The usual ones I guess

 

Stick and MIG

Stick and TIG

Stick, MIG and Lift TIG

 

Only the 3 in 1's advertising MMA/MIG/TIG are usually with lift TIG, there aren't really any true MIG/TIG's out there anyway.

 

Like you said, it's usually better to get a MIG or TIG machine that can weld stick electrodes rather than doing too much.  

 

Got one of their MIG machines for my workshop a couple years back (MIG200S), no issues with it, very happy with it so far do some simple welding with gasless wires. Not too overly expensive given a decent machine.  

[Wanderer555]

On 3/8/2023 at 7:56 PM, Yellowtail said:

Not a fan of multi-process machines, but we used Laem Thong as a supplier for over twenty years and they sell good equipment and consumables. 

 

When you say medium are you referring to amperage or duty-cycle? 

 

 

Per the OP, "Amperage rating around 200 or better, medium duty with a decent build quality.":

Adding 'Cycle' to the medium duty would of been more clear. ????




 

[Wanderer555]

On 4/24/2023 at 1:30 PM, DrukenMallardy said:

Try Kovet, they have good English support team, warranty etc avaliable.  Strong brand in welding.  

https://www.kovet.com/

 

Have a range of welding machines for MMA/MIG/TIG

 

Some Multi-Process.

 

Wide price-range depending on budget.  

Thank you, this is what I was looking for.
Cheers, T

[Yellowtail]

13 minutes ago, Wanderer555 said:

Thank you, this is what I was looking for.
Cheers, T

So what did you end up with? 

[azt219]

@Wanderer555 any luck in the end?

[Wanderer555]

2 hours ago, azt219 said:

@Wanderer555 any luck in the end?

Yes, I purchased the MIG200S to get started here.

 

Kovet BKK directed me to a dealer in Udon city that also provides support & repair service. 

Fair price given they are a real shop and not just an online seller.

 

Thanks for the advice ????????

T

[sometimewoodworker]

57 minutes ago, Wanderer555 said:

Yes, I purchased the MIG200S to get started here.

 

Kovet BKK directed me to a dealer in Udon city that also provides support & repair service. 

Fair price given they are a real shop and not just an online seller.

 

Thanks for the advice ????????

T

Would you like to give the address & have you located a source for CO2 bottles?

[DrukenMallardy]

On 7/21/2023 at 4:06 PM, sometimewoodworker said:

have you located a source for CO2 bottles?

where are you based? 

 

Again Kovet have them avaliable 

 

https://www.kovet.com/en/product-page/welding-cutting-equipments/oxygen-fuel-cylinders/carbon-dioxide-gas-cylinder.html

[sometimewoodworker]

50 minutes ago, DrukenMallardy said:

where are you based? 

As I posted my question to @Wanderer555 I thought it would be obvious that I am in Issan within reach of Udon and Khon Kaen, but maybe not so apparent. So while academically interesting knowing that they are available in Bangkok and they may well have connections for supply in the northeast it is probable that  @Wanderer555 may have direct knowledge for udon 

[DrukenMallardy]

3 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

As I posted my question to @Wanderer555 I thought it would be obvious that I am in Issan within reach of Udon and Khon Kaen, but maybe not so apparent. So while academically interesting knowing that they are available in Bangkok and they may well have connections for supply in the northeast it is probable that  @Wanderer555 may have direct knowledge for udon 

Yea that's true, I guess the people in Udon probably know the landscape better.  But Kovet have distrubutors and stores all over Thailand inlcuding the big stores like Homehub, Megahome, Globalhouse, so wouldn't surprise me if they had something in Issan area.  

[Yellowtail]

Why do you want CO2?

 

Have you tried Khon Kaen Oxygen?

 

Restaurant supplies should have it as well. 

 

 

[sometimewoodworker]

35 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Why do you want CO2?

For a better MIG experience, though 80/20 argon/CO2 is probably better it’s unlikely to be available.

 

37 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Have you tried Khon Kaen Oxygen?

Not yet, I’m still hoping that someone who has purchased CO2 can short circuit the enquiry and find a supplier in udon or south of it

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, DrukenMallardy said:

Yea that's true, I guess the people in Udon probably know the landscape better.  But Kovet have distrubutors and stores all over Thailand inlcuding the big stores like Homehub, Megahome, Globalhouse, so wouldn't surprise me if they had something in Issan area.  

The trouble with the big stores distributors of welding equipment is that they have no knowledge of where to get gas, and yes I have asked and always got a ‘we don’t know’ answer. There is likely a specialist store so that is why I ask. Until I have a place to refill/swap CO2 I’m not buying a Mig welder.

[DrukenMallardy]

16 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

The trouble with the big stores distributors of welding equipment is that they have no knowledge of where to get gas, and yes I have asked and always got a ‘we don’t know’ answer. There is likely a specialist store so that is why I ask. Until I have a place to refill/swap CO2 I’m not buying a Mig welder.

 

have you tried "gasless" MIG welding? I mean obviously it depends what you're welding but the flux-core gasless wires have come a long way these days.

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, DrukenMallardy said:

 

have you tried "gasless" MIG welding? I mean obviously it depends what you're welding but the flux-core gasless wires have come a long way these days.

I have tried both and have no interest in a machine that only uses flux-core as the gas shielded welds are, in my opinion, much preferable. So that is the reason for the request to @Wanderer555 for information.

[Yellowtail]

Flux-core is okay, particularity outside, but gas is better. 

[sometimewoodworker]

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

Flux-core is okay, particularity outside, but gas is better. 

I agree. Flux-core can be better in some situations and outside for many cases gas can’t be used so Flux-core is the only option, however as I have a workshop I am not restricted. Flux-core Machines are also available at very cheap prices, but again that is not an obstacle.
 

The difficulty is in finding the location of a tank swapping service as I’m not going to buy until I can get the bottle refilled/swapped nearby (within 70km)

for an example of my first 2 welds using MIG that are not beautiful, not unexpected given 5 minutes practice, but are completely functional. This shows that gas MIG while needing practice is far more forgiving than stick

Edited July 25, 2023 by sometimewoodworker

[DrukenMallardy]

5 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

I agree. Flux-core can be better in some situations and outside for many cases gas can’t be used so Flux-core is the only option, however as I have a workshop I am not restricted. Flux-core Machines are also available at very cheap prices, but again that is not an obstacle.
 

The difficulty is in finding the location of a tank swapping service as I’m not going to buy until I can get the bottle refilled/swapped nearby (within 70km)

for an example of my first 2 welds using MIG that are not beautiful, not unexpected given 5 minutes practice, but are completely functional. This shows that gas MIG while needing practice is far more forgiving than stick

yea, I agree, MIG is much more usable than stick when you're not welding regularly.  I guess the issue for you and finding gas refillers is that you're in quite a remote area? Sorry I'm not that familiar with your area, but I'm guessing even if you found one, it might be quite a trek for you each time, do you have a large enough vehcile to transport the tanks too?

 

also for your workshop, if you're welding more regularly, you're not going to want one those cheap ones from lazada, since they all just explode after a few months of using since they have like a <deleted>ty duty cycle and people end up always over pushing the machines.  

[sometimewoodworker]

16 minutes ago, DrukenMallardy said:

yea, I agree, MIG is much more usable than stick when you're not welding regularly.  I guess the issue for you and finding gas refillers is that you're in quite a remote area? Sorry I'm not that familiar with your area, but I'm guessing even if you found one, it might be quite a trek for you each time, do you have a large enough vehcile to transport the tanks too?

Well it is not so remote, and we regularly visit Udon and occasionally Khon Kaen so the trek isn’t a significant problem and yes we have both a single cab pickup and access to a more luxurious 4 door one so tank transport isn’t an issue. I am still hoping that @Wanderer555 will comment as he said he got equipment in Udon. If that fails I have @Yellowtail ‘s suggestion to try in KK. While I would like to get a MIG setup so far I’ve been trying off and on for about 15 years to add another hobby so a few more weeks isn’t a problem. ????

[Yellowtail]

17 minutes ago, DrukenMallardy said:

yea, I agree, MIG is much more usable than stick when you're not welding regularly.  I guess the issue for you and finding gas refillers is that you're in quite a remote area? Sorry I'm not that familiar with your area, but I'm guessing even if you found one, it might be quite a trek for you each time, do you have a large enough vehcile to transport the tanks too?

 

also for your workshop, if you're welding more regularly, you're not going to want one those cheap ones from lazada, since they all just explode after a few months of using since they have like a <deleted>ty duty cycle and people end up always over pushing the machines.  

While the learning curve is steeper for stick, once you learn it is much more versatile than MIG. 

 

Anyone with decent vision can learn to stick-weld horizontal on steel over 2mm thick easily in a day.  Read a bit, watch a few videos, buy the correct electrodes and practice for a few hours and you'll get it.

 

 

[kickstart]

On 7/25/2023 at 11:31 AM, sometimewoodworker said:

I agree. Flux-core can be better in some situations and outside for many cases gas can’t be used so Flux-core is the only option, however as I have a workshop I am not restricted. Flux-core Machines are also available at very cheap prices, but again that is not an obstacle.
 

The difficulty is in finding the location of a tank swapping service as I’m not going to buy until I can get the bottle refilled/swapped nearby (within 70km)

for an example of my first 2 welds using MIG that are not beautiful, not unexpected given 5 minutes practice, but are completely functional. This shows that gas MIG while needing practice is far more forgiving than stick

I am looking at MIG welders, but I am almost working backwards, looking for CO2 gas first, before buying the welder.

I live in a rural area and so far, I have found two suppliers', one our very  local steel stockiest, the other I noticed driving out from our local town, next to the main road.

So, ask around oxygen is easy to find ask them if they know of any suppliers of CO2 in the area, or maybe try Thai Facebook?.

Looking at this photo what is the steel 1/4inch angle iron, I would use an ark welder on that, the steel is thick enough to take a good weld.

I am making yet another gate,10 foot , steel a bit thin not easy to ark weld, hence looking at a MIG welder. 

[sometimewoodworker]

22 minutes ago, kickstart said:

So, ask around oxygen is easy to find ask them if they know of any suppliers of CO2 in the area,

I have tried that several times, or as often as I can persuade SWMBO to ask, no luck yet

 

22 minutes ago, kickstart said:

Looking at this photo what is the steel 1/4inch angle iron, I would use an ark welder on that, the steel is thick enough to take a good weld.

The significant advantages of gas shielded MIG over stick are enough to prefer it. A skilled welder can weld anything over 1mm with ease using any process, as an occasional welder I don’t want to bother with the learning curve required and practice needed.
I have stick welded and have remarkably thin rods available but I am going to get a MIG welder when I can source the correct gas, which, if you have been paying attention, is not simple.

 

I am perfectly capable of burning through 2mm plate and have done so. I am also quite capable of welding 3mm to make a frame.

I am now going thinner and without the slag.

Edited July 29, 2023 by sometimewoodworker