Are my settings correct? Clarke 150TE

[MartinW]

I hope someone can help.

I just bought the 150TE to construct a frame so I can build a cover my vehicle trailer. I bought 16g 19mmx19mm steel box section also.

I've been practising with off-cuts before I embark on the real job. It seems that the lowest setting (MIN and 1) works best, although moving it to MAX works also. I have a wire speed of 6, gas 3 and the wire is 0.6 mm. Do these settings make sense?

I am a bit worried that I have I bought too powerful a set. If I am bit heavy handed I blow holes in the 16g especially towards the ends of sections. Will I be able to weld thinner section than 16g in the future? Is this just down to my lack of skill?

(I have been told that getting accurately gauged steel is impossible these days - borne out by the stuff I bought from a reputable supplier, it seems to be 1.2mm thick).

Last question, I deliberately avoided getting the 151TE because it seemed to need a higher rated power supply. With the 150TE I just wired up a 13amp plug and plugged into my garage ring main and got stuck in. Now I read in the manual (yes, yes, I know) that I do need a higher rate for the 150TE also. My 13amp plug is not getting warm and the mcb is not tripping. Nevertheless should I sort this out? If so what do I need to do? Garage has a separate consumer unit so I could easily set up a separate circuit for the set.

Any help most welcome.

 

[slimjim]

I hope someone can help.

I just bought the 150TE to construct a frame so I can build a cover my vehicle trailer. I bought 16g 19mmx19mm steel box section also.

I've been practising with off-cuts before I embark on the real job. It seems that the lowest setting (MIN and 1) works best, although moving it to MAX works also. I have a wire speed of 6, gas 3 and the wire is 0.6 mm. Do these settings make sense?

I am a bit worried that I have I bought too powerful a set. If I am bit heavy handed I blow holes in the 16g especially towards the ends of sections. Will I be able to weld thinner section than 16g in the future? Is this just down to my lack of skill?

(I have been told that getting accurately gauged steel is impossible these days - borne out by the stuff I bought from a reputable supplier, it seems to be 1.2mm thick).

Last question, I deliberately avoided getting the 151TE because it seemed to need a higher rated power supply. With the 150TE I just wired up a 13amp plug and plugged into my garage ring main and got stuck in. Now I read in the manual (yes, yes, I know) that I do need a higher rate for the 150TE also. My 13amp plug is not getting warm and the mcb is not tripping. Nevertheless should I sort this out? If so what do I need to do? Garage has a separate consumer unit so I could easily set up a separate circuit for the set.

Any help most welcome.

You have bought a fine machine, and the power requirements should be fine, 150amps is about the limit through a 13amp plug, but its not the amps it goes to, rather than the amps its using, but it will at the most blow the fuse if its drawing to much, then you need to run it through a 16amp socket, dont run it through a coiled extension lead though.

what gas are you using, 3 seems a little low?, and wire speed of 6 seems high unless its at full power, you should work from the edge in, or at least place a piece of copper at the edge to act as a heatsink,

at the lowest heat, wire speed should be around 3, but you need to tune it, turn it up slightly and see if it gets better or worse, if its worse turn it down slightly,

look at the mig welding tutorial at the top of the page.

 

[MartinW]

Slimjim, Thanks for the prompt and comprehensive reply. If only people at work were are as diligent in responding to my emails there!

I am using plain CO2. I will make the changes you suggest and have another trial this pm.

thanks again.

 

[slimjim]

Slimjim, Thanks for the prompt and comprehensive reply. If only people at work were are as diligent in responding to my emails there!

I am using plain CO2. I will make the changes you suggest and have another trial this pm.

thanks again.

its more difficult welding metal using CO2, but 1.6mm should be ok, its not impossible, but its unforgiving, difficult to set the welder and get a smooth weld, its much easier using Argon co2 mix,

the CO2 cools the weld more than the mix, so you turn up the power to compensate, which blows holes.

 

[rich74310]

Also with co2 you will get alot more spatter around the weld. This is normal. Nothing that a flap disk cant sort out.

I us co2 pub gas only because i get it free,plus the gas in france is very expensive

good luck

Rich

 

[MartinW]

Aah, I see about the gas. I have assumed CO2 was right for mild steel and argon mix only necessary for more exotic stuff. Doh.

I'll get some argon mix tomorrow. Thanks to Slim and Rich. Very valuable info.