Thread: ozito 90 Amp Mig Welder

Gaza, I asked a similar question a while ago (2-3 months?). Might pay you to search for that thread and read some of the responses, not very encouraging!

Edit:

Here it is

cheers,

but no one as actual brought the unit they are only assuming its no good.

i was talking to the old man about it and he said you are dreaming plus we dont have an account at bunnings but we do at mitre 10 / home hardware and an industrial tool supplier. so i guess the ozito is a no go for me as well.

90 amps is nothing, wont be able to weld much at all. The minimum you would want would be 150A and even so that's not much.

hey mate
i asked the same question quite some time ago and all the guys pointed me in the direction of the gmc! its been really good! i have had no problem with it! ive done a fair bit of welding with it and and the welds have been pretty good! allthough could be better but that just comes downt to practice! the gmc is only $100 and if its no good and ????? itsself well then your cant really get to upset over the price!

I agree, in that I wouldn't recommend the cheap / small welders. I bought a mid range MIG welder (cheap) from ebay. It runs to 160amp which is probably the minimum you should look at, IMHO.

The main drawback was the feedroller regulation which I solved by a custom built speed circuit controller (PWM, microcontroller controlled), But I have the knowledge / facilities to do so.

IMO, buy a GOOD second hand MIG, rather than a cheap C*%P one.

Don't forget to factor in the cost of gas & wire, oh and a auto-darkening helmet, gloves, apron or short and some spats/leather boots etc,etc!

I wont bother going into details, but my personal opinion is that it is a waste of money buying the cheap welder if you have any intention of doing anything other than cheap welds.

Originally Posted by Gaza

Have started doing a bit of welding lately, manly SHS and RHS 1.5-5mm.

If doing no more than the above and only having a $100 budget I would spend it on the GMC as its a better machine.
It does have limitations and you may find yourself strained in attempting 5mm thickness.

I'll agree with what the other fellows say in advising you towards a better unit if you are going to do more.

Grahame

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

If doing no more than the above and only having a $100 budget I would spend it on the GMC as its a better machine.
It does have limitations and you may find yourself strained in attempting 5mm thickness.

I'll agree with what the other fellows say in advising you towards a better unit if you are going to do more.

Grahame

I've had the $99 GMC for nearly 2 years and following a light start (ie once a month use) it's been used at least a couple of times a week for the last 6 months. Back in April this year I needed to do some long runs for the first time with it and was welding ~ 4.5 rods (all 2.5mm @ ~85 Amps on it's inaccurate dial) continuously before the transformer heat sensor tripped (see this post). I added some big heatsinks to the transformer and was then able to get ~5.5 rods continuously out of it and the themal recovery time dropped from 10 minutes to about 8 [ie not really worth doing as I very rarely do such long runs] - I never did get around to put that fan on it but maybe the fan would help.

Because it is such a tough little beastie I have been throwing stuff at it that I would normally do with the 3phaser at work or ask BIL to do it for me. However recently I became unstuck when I overheated the handpiece struggling to weld some 6mm stuff with it. Since then the handpiece has crumbled and needs replacing. The other PITA with it are its cables are WAAAy to short and the earth clamp is a tad flimsy and doesn't grip all that well. I don't really mind if it dies tomorrow, it's done a lot of work for $99 - you've all seen the list - if I'd known I was going to do this much welding at home I probably would have bought something a little more robust.

i have been using an Ozito for quite a lonng time now, i use it mainly for medium to light work, but now i need a new liner for one and Bunnings dont have the parts i need to fix it, its not under warranty anymore but i do need th liner, has anyone got any idea where to get one from!

Originally Posted by maurice trueman

now i need a new liner for one and Bunnings dont have the parts i need to fix it, its not under warranty anymore but I do need th liner

This is where a lot of blokes find out that cheap machines can be expensive.

I am not familiar with the innards of an Ozito mig but suspect the liner may be of the wound spring variety- much like a Cafe curtain wire in other wrds a coiled hollow spring type wire.

Many migs have this type of liner with a brass ferrule on the end. Possibly you can get one from a dedicated welding shop -take the old liner along -other wise get some cafe curtain wire and make a new one.

Metal liners can be cleaned out with kero - dried with metho and given an air blast cleaning- - a new one may not be necessary.

This is why I emphasise the warranty ,spare parts and after sales service to those guys wanting to buy cheap gear off the net.

Grahame

Hmm! the idea of using curtain wire might work, but the idea of cleaning the existing one is out of the question, only because it has no inner spring and is made up of nylon, the other thing wrong with it is the heat from the wire has melted the existing liner melting the wire inside, but i will try the idea of the curtain wire!

i ended up buying a CIG stick only cost me a $150, well that was 12 months ago now i am ready to upgrade to a mig as the stick can not keep up with the work i am now doing.

so i rasie the question again whats a good MIG for around $500 or $600.

Gaza,
Try about double that for an decent entry level unit.

There is stacks written about mig units in the archives.

Grahame

Gaza.
CIG Transmig 165.
Good little Mig that will do Ali (Just).

Gasless and gas.
I run Gas as it gives a better finish for me.

Will do steel from car body panel up to 6mm with the odd 10mm thrown in.

Parts are available at most welding or engineering supply places.