clarke 130TE

[boatmoggie]

Just bought a second hand clarke 130TE. Got a new torch and bottle reg off weldequip (great service, can highly recommend, thanks Steve). Getting things together to blast some metal at my Morris Minor resto this weekend. Any useful tips or quirks on these machines anyone?

Steve.

 

[weldequip]

0.6mm wire, Argoshield Light (or equivalent) gas set at around 8-10LPM, power setting 1 MIN. Play around with the wire feed till it feels right as they all vary slightly, would say around 3 on the dial though. (This is all assuming you are tackling the bodywork).
weldequip

 

[boatmoggie]

Thanks Weldequip, will give it go. Cheers, Steve.

 

[weldequip]

Play around with the wire feed till it feels right as they all vary slightly

Probably should of been more specific there. With around 5-6mm of wire 'stick-out' from the end of the torch, try & maintain that distance from the workpiece; if it starts spitting & farting & you can feel it pushing the torch back in your hand you've got too much wire feed...turn it down until you can keep a nice steady arc with 'frying bacon' sound. If you don't have enough wire feed speed the wire will keep shooting back to the copper contact tip, likewise if you get too close to the workpiece. If you end up welding the wire to the copper contact tip STOP pressing the torch trigger (you can strip the gears in the gearbox ), cut it back with some tin-snips/pliers & replace the copper tip (with one of those freebies I sent with your new torch ).
weldequip