Beginner welder for 0.9m. car bodywork? Budget

[WeldingLasso]

yeah the clarke pro mig 90 will be fine for thin bodywork, I had one for about 15 years, I gave it away when I got a new welder, they should be available second hand fairly cheaply, but its the rest of the equipment that will then cost you.

I have a old CLARKE 100E MK2 I got years ago, it never worked properly it was rusty and the feed kept stalling. How hard is it to repair this? Is this welder any good for bodywork?

 

[optima21]

the clarke 100e should be fine for bodywork, could be something as simple as needing to replace the welding tips, or changing the wire liner, other that, no idea what could be wrong with it, or it could just be the way you're trying to use it

 

[Cobbler]

I have a old CLARKE 100E MK2 I got years ago, it never worked properly it was rusty and the feed kept stalling. How hard is it to repair this? Is this welder any good for bodywork?

I wouldn’t mind betting it’s one of the ones fitted with a plastic torch liner, it’s like windscreen washer tubing. The wire binds up in it & sticks. If you take the pressure off the wire feed & pull the wire from the torch end there should be virtually no resistance, if there is any that’s likely to be the problem. Get a metal liner or replace it with curtain wire, it’s the same size, some new wire & you will probably find it’s ok. I mended one for a friend & it needed a 7lb pull to move the wire, the feed motor didn’t stand a chance.

 

[moleb]

I wouldn’t mind betting it’s one of the ones fitted with a plastic torch liner, it’s like windscreen washer tubing. The wire binds up in it & sticks. If you take the pressure off the wire feed & pull the wire from the torch end there should be virtually no resistance, if there is any that’s likely to be the problem. Get a metal liner or replace it with curtain wire, it’s the same size, some new wire & you will probably find it’s ok. I mended one for a friend & it needed a 7lb pull to move the wire, the feed motor didn’t stand a chance.

Sounds like the same issue the SIP Migmate had. There was a liner kit for those but nowadays I can't see the point. The Clarkes built a good reputation in the Practical Classics 'best buy' era when they deservedly won every award going but now £275 gets you a StaticArc inverter MIG with inductance and burnback (for what that's worth) or £300 for a Blackline/Rohr 200 all with Euro torches and metal wire feeders.

 

[RonMig]

No gas? Is this suitable?

It's designed to work either with gas, or without gas, depending on what you want - and for £120 its hard to beat
I do agree with the above points about having an inverter, although their increased complexity (and £cost) are also hard to swallow...

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

No gas? Is this suitable?

The Clarke 151en can be used with gas or flux core, that machine at £120 is a good deal.

 

[WeldingLasso]

The Clarke 151en can be used with gas or flux core, that machine at £120 is a good deal.

Is this good enough for body work? 0.9mm?

 

[WeldingLasso]

the clarke 100e should be fine for bodywork, could be something as simple as needing to replace the welding tips, or changing the wire liner, other that, no idea what could be wrong with it, or it could just be the way you're trying to use it

How would I change the liner?

 

[optima21]

just go to youtube and type this "clarke mig liner change"

and it brings up a list including this one, the setup is likely to be the same as yours, havn't watched the video though