Which machine mart/Clarke welder?

Hard-Drive said:

Thanks guys. I too ended up with a 135TE. Seems to get good reviews pretty much everywhere and I think it will be fine for my needs. Now the tricky bit..learning how to use it.

As they used to say on Top Gear..."how hard can it be?"

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Very interested in how you get on with this model as I'm also in the market for a MIG. Was going to buy a no gas one but after reading this thread I've changed my mind. Also interested to know how easy it is to convert from the small throw away gas bottles to the pub size as 10 mins to practice welding just aint gonna cut it for me.

John03 said:

Very interested in how you get on with this model as I'm also in the market for a MIG. Was going to buy a no gas one but after reading this thread I've changed my mind. Also interested to know how easy it is to convert from the small throw away gas bottles to the pub size as 10 mins to practice welding just aint gonna cut it for me.

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I may have one for sale shortly with everything you need to get going as I've just bought a Disco 3 and don't think I need the welder any more

John03 said:

Very interested in how you get on with this model as I'm also in the market for a MIG. Was going to buy a no gas one but after reading this thread I've changed my mind. Also interested to know how easy it is to convert from the small throw away gas bottles to the pub size as 10 mins to practice welding just aint gonna cut it for me.

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Easy as buy a gas bottle, regulator and a piece of rubber pipe

John03 said:

Very interested in how you get on with this model as I'm also in the market for a MIG. Was going to buy a no gas one but after reading this thread I've changed my mind. Also interested to know how easy it is to convert from the small throw away gas bottles to the pub size as 10 mins to practice welding just aint gonna cut it for me.

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One thing to remember about the larger CO2 cylinders is the size and weight of them.

If you have to ever weld in another place, some of those larger cylinders are a right PITA to put in the landy and unload. I use a smaller BOC cylinder which is perfect as it is easy to move when needed. I use a PD size bottle, which is enough for most jobs , Plus helps I live near a BOC shop for refills..

Cheers

The rent-free Air Liquide bottle I posted a link to is small, includes the regulator and holds a decent bit of gas mix.

The regulator comes with it each time you exchange the bottle.

Probably 3ft high including the handle.

Peter

I use Hobby weld stuff

http://www.hobbyweld.co.uk/

We have two cylinders that are free to anyone, you have to collect from NN10 0JT.

Peter

biggeeeee said:

I may have one for sale shortly with everything you need to get going as I've just bought a Disco 3 and don't think I need the welder any more

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owning a disco 3! I think you'll need it more than I will

John03 said:

owning a disco 3! I think you'll need it more than I will

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Glue Sniffer!

I have two electric welders a 185 amp stick unit and an old SIP Migmate 150. Plus oxy/acetylene. I can weld shit to gas tar. It's all about practice and set up for the welding you want to do, no matter which system you use. Some of the welding i have seen proudly displayed on here is bloody atrocious.

wammers said:

I have two electric welders a 185 amp stick unit and an old SIP Migmate 150. Plus oxy/acetylene. I can weld shit to gas tar. It's all about practice and set up for the welding you want to do, no matter which system you use. Some of the welding i have seen proudly displayed on here is bloody atrocious.

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You're beginning to sound like Fernando out of the Inbetweeners . Is there anything you're not good at?

biggeeeee said:

You're beginning to sound like Fernando out of the Inbetweeners . Is there anything you're not good at?

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No not really, never tried brain surgery though. Have been welding in various manners since i was 15 that helps a lot.

This is my setup
Super Mig 230


then my gas bottle lol nearly 6ft tall to heavy for my machine

I have a Millermatic 211. I have had a huge Lincoln 250 amp and a Hobart 175, both great for what they do, but I love my Miller.

I bought it along with an aluminum spool gun and gauge/ regulator. You can dial this right down to weld sheet metal and right up to 3/8 steel.

Clean welds can be done with Argo shield 75% argon 25 % co2. You can get decent weld beads with a good quality Flux core wire, a bit of splatter to be expected but still great weld beads.

Well my stick welder is a complete git.
On its lowest setting I managed to melt the 10mm square prongs off an old garden fork as soon as I got it home. Ye know, I'll just run a bead on this, see how it performs . It looked so small on the photo. Till I picked it up and it took two of us to wheel it out of the garage .

Within a month I managed to fit a new rear crossmember with it. Just a matter of practice. Oh and lots of brass heatsink............

As they say in the trade............. squint and spray, squint and spray.

Well my stick welder is a complete git.
On its lowest setting I managed to melt the 10mm square prongs off an old garden fork as soon as I got it home. Ye know, I'll just run a bead on this, see how it performs . It looked so small on the photo. Till I picked it up and it took two of us to wheel it out of the garage .

Within a month I managed to fit a new rear crossmember with it. Just a matter of practice. Oh and lots of brass heatsink............

As they say in the trade............. squint and spray, squint and spray.

Ive recently purchased the Clarke 151en, which I use with hobby weld 5 gas. I can't fault it, and highly recommend. My only complaint is the power settings in the manual are wrong, after further investigation this is a common print error in all Clarke welder manuals.

I use tig on bodywork and arc on bigger stuff. Inverter welder, small and portable.
Just recently sold my mig- never used for years- and my old faithfull pickhill oil filled -(great machine, would weld all day or until you ran out of fuses!!! couldn't take it out the workshop though as weighed a ton!!!)

bluedog333 said:

I've got a Clarke 135te and never had any issues with it, it ( and the user! ) actually produces quite acceptable welds.
I lent it to a friend, who happens to fabricate multi-thousand £ sundials for a day job, as it was easier enough to sling on the passenger seat. He used it to do a small job at home and he gave the machine the big thumbs up! And I don't think he was just trying to be polite!

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What I've got - no problems at all.

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/mig-welder-r-tech-i-mig180/

this was recommended to ne by peeps on here, one day I might even get round to buying it