is there a uk based dealer of 3d letter return fabrication?

[Robert Lambie]

we looked at buying one also mate.. i found several in the states but none in the uk.
i have opted for a 3 in one bench top guilotine, folder and roller. only about 500 pound brand new. comes about 24-30 inches wide.

im having bother with a alluminium welder that i just bought for the same thing. its a 170pro migmate.. various sites that sell them in the uk say they weld alluminium no problem.. but i am less than convinced. i have already sent one back and asked for a larger model. the 170 is what they sent back. what is it you are using?
i could go all out and buy a large indutrial welder but i hardly use it for alloy. i normal weld mild steel, large and small jobs no probs.
again we have a mig for that but i prefer our electric stick welder..
anyway im off on a rabble again..

[Kevin Flowers]

Robert
if you want to weld aluminium try a tig set, inverter sets have come down in price of late and they will allow you to weld stainless as well. With a little practice you will be surprised at what you can produce. minimal distortion, nice tidy welds requiring no grinding etc. Most units allow you to hook up for stick welding as well, ideal for site work.

Kevin

[Robert Lambie]

how much would something like this cost mate?
bear in mind i dont do much alluminium welding. i would just like to be able to weld the corners of pan folde signs & bits and pecies like that..
max thinkness 2-3 mm

[Jim Clough]

Hi
Have alook at http://www.axminster.co.uk click on sheet metal, you’ll see the 3 in one gullotine/roller/bender and also a small notching tool, don’t know if appropriate but worth remembering for future.
Cheers
Jim

[Robert Lambie]

great link jim 😉

this is simular to the machine i was considering, but better priced. 😛
http://www.axminster.co.uk/default.asp?part=RTC7030

[Jim Clough]

Hi Robert
I bought a milling machine from them last year, they have a very good delivery service, I think they charged about £25 del. from Devon to Lincs. and the driver, who was equipped with all the lifting gear was very helpful in getting it in and set up on the cabinet/stand.
Cheers
Jim

[Gordon Forbes]

You certainly need a Tig to weld ali’ and some of the smaller ones won’t generate enough heat. Depends on the thickness though.

Seen a few on E-Bay as I want one too but for other stuff.

Goop

[Paul Davenport]

Rob

the trick to welding ally with a mig is to use a spool on gun, been using one for years and there bob on !!! although sometimes a bit tricky to move around with..

although you can beat a nice bit of TIG welding !!!

[Paul Davenport]

Forgot to mention a trick i was shown for the thicker pieces of ally

heat the bits up with a blow torch to get some heat in them….worked for me

[Robert Lambie]

cheers guys, ill give it another go on monday. if im still not happy and if i cant work with it.. is a tig much harder to work with?, and does this cost much more.. 😕 we paid about £280-£300 for the migmate. i was thinking of going on again and asking them to swap it for a tig model.

any thoughts? am i best learning the mig one.. like i said. i have a steel welding mig.. no probs a electric stick/rod welder no probs.. just need to know if for ally i am best with mig or tig? 😕

[Kevin Flowers]

Rob
Ali/stainless tig is your best bet, tig is suited to oprerations like pan corners etc. Tig uses localised heat so distortion is very little unlike a mig which will generate intense heat causing higher levels of distortion. Have you ever gas welded? if so tig is resembles this. You strike up the arc and feed your filler rod into the molten pool graduly moving along. If you do not have a auto darkening shield then invest in one makes life easier for all types of welding. As far as i know you need to by an AC high frequency model to enable Ali welding to be carried out, but just specify to your supplier what you want to weld and the problem of suggesting the right unit is then down to them. i personally would not even attempt a mig on ali panels, due to distortion but mainly the cost of replaacement after you have distorted it and blown through it. Cost of sets are around £300 for the cheaper sets but i would expect to pay up from that for a set capable of welding aluminium. Due to the portability of these smaller sets most companies are more than willing to offer a demostration on a unit at your premises.
Have a look here http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/protected/band_3/jk6.html

Hope this helps

Kev

[Robert Lambie]

cheers mate.. i have the autodarkening helmet. great investment, as you said. makes life so much easier.
i think ill call them back and ask how mcu for a tig plant. having paid about £300 for the mig pro im hoping it wont be too much higher.
the best of it is.. i called them and told them exactly what i wanted to do.. just light alluminium work. they offered the 150 mig
the large plants that need the large bottles of argon gas arent much use.
i dont use it often enough and after you pay for the gas you pay £5 a week rental of the bottle until it is used. that would be months for what i need.. 😕

[Kevin Flowers]

Rob
do not know who you use for your gas etc or if they have the same system as down my end of the country but i pay a yearly fee can’t remember how much and then cost of refilling a bottle. If you don’t use much gas then just get a half bottle, if you are using a tig on aluminium gas flow is important no shielding gas and you will get a bad weld. Gas suppliers down here are BOC & Air Products. You will find BOC very helpful although expensive on the equipment side but worse ways invite a rep round listen to what he as to say and then source equipment elsewhere.

Kev

[Robert Lambie]

cheers mate, ill do that. im 5 mins from both boc & air products. infact we do air products signs 😉

[Gordon Forbes]

as said earlier it makes a beautiful job with very little distortion

A bit like but welding mild steel with an acetelene torch

before Jill steps in it’s got absolutly nothing to do with American Butts.

Goop.