cgten
New Member
- Messages
- 5
- Location
- UK
Hey everyone.
Brand new to the world of welding. I needed to pick it up so I could complete an engine swap project. I bought a Clarke 135TE Turbo since it seems to be a good starter unit, based on reviews. Got it up and running, and aside from some skill issues that I'm trying to work out, it's been fine. I've been reading and watching various MIG welding tutorials, and they all refer to welders that use a voltage adjuster knob and a wire feed knob. I suppose it's no surprise to anyone in this forum that most of the lower end Clarke welders, including the 135TE, use two switches instead of a dial, and that's where my question comes in.
My understanding is that those two switches equate to four settings (1-min/1-max/2-min/2-max), but settings for what? In tutorials I've seen, current is controlled by the wire speed and voltage would normally be set by the other dial, or in this case, those two switches. That Clarke manual however says that these switches are for current control, so I'm confused. The manual doesn't go into much detail over what the switches actually do, so I'm hoping someone on here might be able to provide some insight. Are these switches for voltage control, and if so, what are the voltages for each setting?
I spoke with a friend who has the same unit, and he said the manual might be wrong. I've been playing around with the welder, testing on some 2mm mild steel I'm using for the project, but I can't seem to dial it in quite right. It seems that unless I crank the wire speed up to 7 or more, I can't get it to keep a consistent arc. Even if I do, it keeps burning back to the tip and breaking the arc, which makes everything dark so I lose rhythm, even on the 2-max setting.
If it makes any difference, it's a completely unmodified unit, using the included regulator and disposable CO2 bottle (for now).
Appreciate any help the community can provide
Brand new to the world of welding. I needed to pick it up so I could complete an engine swap project. I bought a Clarke 135TE Turbo since it seems to be a good starter unit, based on reviews. Got it up and running, and aside from some skill issues that I'm trying to work out, it's been fine. I've been reading and watching various MIG welding tutorials, and they all refer to welders that use a voltage adjuster knob and a wire feed knob. I suppose it's no surprise to anyone in this forum that most of the lower end Clarke welders, including the 135TE, use two switches instead of a dial, and that's where my question comes in.
My understanding is that those two switches equate to four settings (1-min/1-max/2-min/2-max), but settings for what? In tutorials I've seen, current is controlled by the wire speed and voltage would normally be set by the other dial, or in this case, those two switches. That Clarke manual however says that these switches are for current control, so I'm confused. The manual doesn't go into much detail over what the switches actually do, so I'm hoping someone on here might be able to provide some insight. Are these switches for voltage control, and if so, what are the voltages for each setting?
I spoke with a friend who has the same unit, and he said the manual might be wrong. I've been playing around with the welder, testing on some 2mm mild steel I'm using for the project, but I can't seem to dial it in quite right. It seems that unless I crank the wire speed up to 7 or more, I can't get it to keep a consistent arc. Even if I do, it keeps burning back to the tip and breaking the arc, which makes everything dark so I lose rhythm, even on the 2-max setting.
If it makes any difference, it's a completely unmodified unit, using the included regulator and disposable CO2 bottle (for now).
Appreciate any help the community can provide