Buying my first MIG welder.

[War118]

I’ve been looking for a suitable mig welder to practice with at home and I saw the Clarke 151EN and was just curious if it would work on a standard UK plug socket, I also saw the SIP 05793 Autoplus Mini 130 Synergic Inverter MIG Welder on machine mart and was curious if anyone knew if the build quality was good and how difficult it would be to convert them both to gas.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Country Joe]

Hi there, and welcome to the Forum.
I can't say about the SIP, as I've only really used the older grey MigMate type of SIP welders.

As car as I know, the Clarke 151EN can be used with or without gas, just by changing the polarity.
Changing polarity just means swapping the +ve & -ve terminals. I.E. the connections for the torch & work-return or "earth" cable.

I've just looked at the SIP, too - and it says it's capable of gas & gas-less use, so it'll have the same sort of set-up as the clarke - a way of easily swapping the output cables over.

There does seem to be a large range of price differences for the SIP - this was at the top of the page when I went to look it up, just now.



All the Best,
CJ

 

[War118]

Would the Clarke 151EN be able to be used on a 13a socket? I’ve seen converters that change it from the round blue plug to a normal uk plug but I don’t know if it would just blow the fuse.
Thank you for the advice.

 

[Country Joe]

I would expect either of them to work on any plug, to be honest.
I generally think you're good up to around 150-160A before blowing a fuse in the plug - but I wouldn't expect that to happen very often, unless it was being used at it highest power setting for a couple of minutes.
And then it would only be a change of fuse.

If you're thinking of those adapters that have a 13a & a 16a plug & socket on opposite ends of a length of cable, then you're still relying on the 13a fuse in the adapter as the weakest link, which would be no different to directly plugging it into a 13a socket.

I'm referring to this type of adapter, just here & here.
The 13a fuse in the adapter will last no longer than the one in the 13a plug itself.

For welding at normal settings, you'd notice no difference.
Besides, welding constantly at it's top setting would do it no good - and trip the thermal sensor enough for you to become irritated, anyway!

The inverter might draw less power, and not blow the fuse at all, but I haven't looked closesly at (either of) their power requirements.

Hope this makes sense,
All the Best,
CJ

 

[War118]

Thanks for the help! I think that I’ll probably get the Clarke 151EN and see how it goes, I’ll post again after I get it about if the is any power issues and hope it helps someone else.

 

[Nick DV]

Hi & welcome Not used the Clarke 151 but I believe it's pretty decent for a beginner mig. I had a Sealey Supermig 150 on a normal 13amp plug/socket, and I never popped a fuse using it at full chat.

 

[Country Joe]

I doubt you'l have any power issues at all - it'll run just fine.
Sometimes a company seem to specify that you use a 16a just to cover themselves - but quite a few on here have run them (on a normal domestic 13a plug) without any problems.

And being a clarke - spares will be easy to get holf of - I'm thinking Machine Mart here - but that's probably where it's coming from, anyway!
It'll give you no problems at all.

All the Best,
CJ

 

[Will!]

If the 151en is built anything like the Pro90 (which looks exactly the same but smaller), it's very well made - out of cheap parts. All of the electrics look tidy, powder coating is pretty durable, casing is heavy gauge steel, torch feels 'reasonable', switches are substantial, etc.

My only gripe is that the trigger has no feedback as to when it's about to make the circuit - and that I bought a 90 not a 151.

 

[a111r]

If the 151en is built anything like the Pro90 (which looks exactly the same but smaller), it's very well made - out of cheap parts. All of the electrics look tidy, powder coating is pretty durable, casing is heavy gauge steel, torch feels 'reasonable', switches are substantial, etc.

My only gripe is that the trigger has no feedback as to when it's about to make the circuit - and that I bought a 90 not a 151.

I'd agree with most of that, apart from the 'powder coating' being durable. It's not.
The peeling off of the paint /coating is endemic, if stored damp for a while. I've scrapped
working examples that were too bad to be re-sold due to cosmetics.

 

[Nick DV]

The peeling off of the paint /coating is endemic

Didn't realise that was a known problem. When I was looking at second hand for my first mig, I wondered why so many of the blue Clarke migs had paint missing or rusty - I thought that they'd just been mistreated by the owner! Is that still the case or have they sorted it?

 

[a111r]

Not sure, really. The worst I've had span around 1995 to 2007.

 

[gt6s]

Powder coating is garbage. Paint is far better

 

[Will!]

I'd agree with most of that, apart from the 'powder coating' being durable. It's not.
The peeling off of the paint /coating is endemic, if stored damp for a while. I've scrapped
working examples that were too bad to be re-sold due to cosmetics.

Mine lives in the house, in a bedroom. It's somewhat spoiled. I suppose it has an easy life

 

[Mrmonkeyboy]

I'd agree with most of that, apart from the 'powder coating' being durable. It's not.
The peeling off of the paint /coating is endemic, if stored damp for a while. I've scrapped
working examples that were too bad to be re-sold due to cosmetics.

Hello

I am new to the group as I am looking for a mig welder with gas for renovation of my 1997 Renault T35 Camper van conversion. I have body work and box section to weld and I am new to this. I was just wondering if you have any working examples that are too tatty to sell available. I d

I'd agree with most of that, apart from the 'powder coating' being durable. It's not.
The peeling off of the paint /coating is endemic, if stored damp for a while. I've scrapped
working examples that were too bad to be re-sold due to cosmetics.

Hello

I am looking for a gas mig welder and would be interested in a working unit regardless of cosmetics if you have one available. I am new to welding and need one for a 1997 Renault T35 project I have on. Body work and box section to be welded along with other bits and bobs of fabricating for roof rack ect. Any advice welcome

 

[a111r]

Powder coating is garbage. Paint is far better

I think it is powder coating. It peels off in sheets with no evidence of any primer.

I reckon the casing edges get knocked and bent in use which cracks the coating, letting in moisture over a protracted period, which then spreads.

Not such a big deal ... but who likes their tools looking like carp? Bit of green Hammerite and it's sorted!

 

[a111r]

Hello, I am looking for a gas mig welder and would be interested in a working unit regardless of cosmetics if you have one available. I am new to welding and need one for a 1997 Renault T35 project I have on. Body work and box section to be welded along with other bits and bobs of fabricating for roof rack ect. Any advice welcome

Welcome! Yes, I have a Clarke 110E gas MIG available. It's a current Machine Mart offering. This will do up to 3 mm steel, so would meet your needs.

It's fully working and tested with a new torch fitted. The are some patches of red oxide applied to the casing, as I hate flaky paint and rusty scabs.

I can post quite cheaply. Send me a PM if you're interested?

 

[Mrmonkeyboy]

Hello, I am interested in finding out how much, I am however not sure how I PM you on here sorry

Kind regards and many thanks as always Michael