I've only recently signed up, but I've been a lurker on the forum for years, so here's my first proper contribution.
Ive been using a Clarke Pro Mig 90 for 15 years, and decided to upgrade, so after reading reviews (including a few off here) I got a Clarke 151 TE welder, and then began modifying it based on me using my old welder, so here they are together with the parts to modify the 151TE
so the torch leads on the clarke welders are a bit short (about 1.6m long) and it seems that to get a longer one, people have fitted euro torches and solenoid valves, but I didnt want to do that as I like having the gas valve in the handle and its easier to control the gas. The clarke torches are also physically smaller than euro torches and easier with access in confined spaces in cars. I ended up getting a new 3m long liner, 4m of 4mm nylon tubing for the gas line and 3m of 20mm (135amp)cable
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141138904459
and some convoluted tubing (conduit) of the right diameter so its gets clamed by the orginal fittings
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120841390522
its a bit fiddly to use as a new cable outer and is a bit lightweight, so only time will tell how long it lasts and using 16mm 110 amp cable would have been easier too for size (the original cable is about 10mm 70amp) but I ended up with a new cable that was 2.6m long when fitted.
I ended up making a new terminal in the handle that was clamped buy both the wire liner fitting and gas tube fitting, which was first crimped an then soldered into place
I might not want a euro torch assembly , but I do use the smaller binzel shrouds including the one for plug welding so made an adaptor to fit them to the clarke torch
the wire liner/ torch lead clamp in the welder is a bit akward to use, especially for setting the gap between the rollers and end of the liner to prevent bird nesting, so I've cut the middle out and have seperate clamps for the wire liner and the torch lead.
I also fitted a 25mm 230amp earth cable and better quality earth clamp
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191025463261
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180804144485
but I ended up having to machine a connector from 10mm copper to crimp and solder to the the end of the earth cable and connect to the end of the choke (looks to be aluminium so was held in place with 5mm grub screws)
I also use full sized gas cylinders, so use an airbrush recoil hose to connect it, they are easy to undo by hand and seal well due to using O rings in the end fitting and use standard 1/8bsp threads.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160966423491
I also decided thats I may as well fit a 16amp plug to the welder as I'd had my garage rewired for a 16a socket
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331140174344
and the final product
so far in the small usage I've had its done well, its good to be able to weld 6mm steel plate now if I need to.
Ive been using a Clarke Pro Mig 90 for 15 years, and decided to upgrade, so after reading reviews (including a few off here) I got a Clarke 151 TE welder, and then began modifying it based on me using my old welder, so here they are together with the parts to modify the 151TE
so the torch leads on the clarke welders are a bit short (about 1.6m long) and it seems that to get a longer one, people have fitted euro torches and solenoid valves, but I didnt want to do that as I like having the gas valve in the handle and its easier to control the gas. The clarke torches are also physically smaller than euro torches and easier with access in confined spaces in cars. I ended up getting a new 3m long liner, 4m of 4mm nylon tubing for the gas line and 3m of 20mm (135amp)cable
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141138904459
and some convoluted tubing (conduit) of the right diameter so its gets clamed by the orginal fittings
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120841390522
its a bit fiddly to use as a new cable outer and is a bit lightweight, so only time will tell how long it lasts and using 16mm 110 amp cable would have been easier too for size (the original cable is about 10mm 70amp) but I ended up with a new cable that was 2.6m long when fitted.
I ended up making a new terminal in the handle that was clamped buy both the wire liner fitting and gas tube fitting, which was first crimped an then soldered into place
I might not want a euro torch assembly , but I do use the smaller binzel shrouds including the one for plug welding so made an adaptor to fit them to the clarke torch
the wire liner/ torch lead clamp in the welder is a bit akward to use, especially for setting the gap between the rollers and end of the liner to prevent bird nesting, so I've cut the middle out and have seperate clamps for the wire liner and the torch lead.
I also fitted a 25mm 230amp earth cable and better quality earth clamp
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191025463261
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180804144485
but I ended up having to machine a connector from 10mm copper to crimp and solder to the the end of the earth cable and connect to the end of the choke (looks to be aluminium so was held in place with 5mm grub screws)
I also use full sized gas cylinders, so use an airbrush recoil hose to connect it, they are easy to undo by hand and seal well due to using O rings in the end fitting and use standard 1/8bsp threads.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160966423491
I also decided thats I may as well fit a 16amp plug to the welder as I'd had my garage rewired for a 16a socket
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331140174344
and the final product
so far in the small usage I've had its done well, its good to be able to weld 6mm steel plate now if I need to.