A Few Questions.

[tiger260]

Ah, I see. I did wonder what a Euro Torch was.
I've noticed that the new gassless ones have what Clarke call a " professional type torch with full on/off control" so what in their book constitutes a professional torch is not clear.

Many thanks for the other info. It does look like the 151TE is the one I should be buying.
That is ofcourse unless I talk myself into buying a 160TM again and spend the next goodness know how long tripping over it and swearing at it.

It is a shame that Clarke aren't more specific about what the actual differences are between their machines so any potential buyer can make a fully informed choice.

Considering that the 151TE is only about £30 less than the 160TM, it would be annoying to discover that it is a substantially better machine and that money wasn't simply for a slightly bigger case and the spot weld timer gadget.
I would have to redesign the whole garage to accomodate it though.

 

[keith19]

According to the MachineMart catalogue, the machine specs of the 160TM and the 151TE are identical. I don't think the 160TM has a built-in spot welder; it lists the 160TM, the 165TE, and the 175TE has not having a timer for spot welding.

Oddly enough, it says the 151TE will weld a max of 6 mm steel, and the 160TM a max of 4-5 mm. But all these steel thickness figures are supplied by Clarke, who are quite inventive, shall we say.

Usually with any of the 150 amp Clarkes a max of around 5mm can only be welded with proper penetration by 'veeing' a butt joint, so you are welding along a 'v' formed by the angle ground or filed down the edges of the two steel plates.

By the way, if you take the wheels off the 151TE it will probably go under your bench. If the wheels are anything like the wheels supplied with my 151EN they will be worthless plastic poxy things. I took one look and never ever fitted mine. So I either carry it about, or stand it on a little trolley.

 

[tiger260]

Hi Keith, I agree, the specs do look the same don't they.
I think you may be right about the spot weld thingy.

I'm going to pop into MM tomorrow with a tape measure and see what's what.
I'll keep you posted on whether the wheels are still crap or not.

It all depends on whether I can stay rational and resist the temptation to buy a 160TM and have to then find a refill bottle and invent somewhere to store it.
Logic says get the 151TE but I'm easily swayed.

Another question.
What is the difference between a gasless and a gas only welder?
Is it just the rollers or are there other differences.
I would have thought that any gas mig could use flux cored wire if necessary.

 

[Robotstar5]

Another question.
What is the difference between a gasless and a gas only welder?
Is it just the rollers or are there other differences.
I would have thought that any gas mig could use flux cored wire if necessary.

gasless have the option to change torch polarity to work with or without gas, gas only welders are usually fixed polarity.

 

[tiger260]

gasless have the option to change torch polarity to work with or without gas, gas only welders are usually fixed polarity.

Oh yes, I forgot about that.

 

[tiger260]

Does anyone know what the smallest size of refillable CO2/Argon mix bottles are?

I'm about to go to Machine mart to have a look at the Clarke migs and this info would be very helpful in me making a decision.

Many Thanks.

 

[keith19]

About 22" high X 7" across, according to this ad:
.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARGON-co2-GAS-BOTTLE-WELDING-/290513743296?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43a3f7edc0

Bit expensive for an empty bottle, though!

Don't know what they mean about 5 Litres, though. That's nothing much, so I think there must be some mistake there. Even MM sell 60 Ltr disposables!

 

[keith19]

Could be they mean 5 Litre is just a capacity measurement, like a 5-litre wine bottle.
This doesn't tell you how much gas it holds though, as this would depend on pressure.

 

[tiger260]

Thanks for that Keith. That size would be manageable.
Things have actually taken a turn.
I've just been to Machine Mart with a tape measure and many of the Clarke migs are a lot smaller than the measurements in the MM catalogue.
I've looked online at the Clarke manuals and they back me up that the catalogue figures are wrong.
Sooo, the 160TM is looking good again because it is smaller and narrower than they say and without the wheels is actually quite small.
If I made a little roller trolley for it, we're in business.

All I have to do is get a bottle now or a rent free one.

 

[tiger260]

The deed is done.
I went to Machine Mart earlier and used my tax free ticket thingy to buy a Clarke 160TM.
I couldn't resist a go so I popped a plug on it, borrowed the disposable bottle regulator from my mate's 100E and had a quick play with a disposable CO2/Argon bottle.
I must say that I am very impressed with how it performs even in my hands.
All have to do now is to improve my skills so they are worthy of it. (once I've got a refillable bottle ofcourse.)

Thankyou all for the excellent advise thus far. I wouldn't be here without you.
I'm sure there'll be more question to come though as I figure out what I'm doing.

 

[keith19]

Glad to hear it, mate!
This is where the fun starts...
Best wishes with the welding!

 

[tiger260]

Thanks Keith.

Another noob question.
The regulator that came with my welder has only one gauge on it which I presume tells me the amount of gas in the bottle.
It goes upto 315 bar and 4500 psi.
What is the best way of going about gauging the flow rate. Another gauge or a flow meter?

Thanks.

 

[keith19]

One of these:
http://www.weldequip.com/flowmeter.htm

 

[tiger260]

Aha.
Which one will I need?
I've just had a look in the manual that came with the welder and it says nothing about the gas flow rate.
Also, the 160TM comes with a refill regulator but still the thin white gas tube.
How would I conect them up.

Btw. Refillable gas bottle is sorted.
I'm going to get one from Fosse Gas in Leicester tomorrow.
£50 upfront, £30 refill, no rent. That's for a bottle a couple of feet tall, so not too big.

 

[Miguel Dare]

If I remember correctly you can't add a flow meter to the regulator supplied with the 160TM (excellent choice by the way!). I bought a "proper" 2-gauge reg but you could also try one of these:

http://www.weldequip.com/gas-flow-tester.htm

Good luck.

 

[tiger260]

If I remember correctly you can't add a flow meter to the regulator supplied with the 160TM (excellent choice by the way!). I bought a "proper" 2-guage reg but you could also try one of these:

http://www.weldequip.com/gas-flow-tester.htm

Good luck.

That's a shame. However..............I should see it as an opportunity to save £4.

 

[keith19]

"Also, the 160TM comes with a refill regulator but still the thin white gas tube.
How would I connect them up?"

Clarke - and others - do a regulator hose to connect a large gas cylinder to a small mig welder.
It's on page 193 of their current catalogue if you've got it. About £12, and check which size your regulator outlet is, as there are two sizes. I should imagine 3/8", but it might not be.

 

[tiger260]

Thanks Keith.

 

[keith19]

Sorry, I should have said page 193 of the MachineMart catalogue, but you've probably got that already.

 

[Miguel Dare]

You'll only need the hose kit if you are using a "proper" regulator (although other, cheaper, solutions are available). If you're using the regulator supplied with the 160TM the thin white gas hose fits straight in. The standard hose is long enough for small and medium bottles but would probably struggle to reach a full size bottle.