Clarke 135te or Sealey Super Mig 150

[will baylis]

Need some advise..

I'm looking to buy a mig welder for my MG Midget restoration. I have a budget of £150 to £200 and it needs to be gas.
Ive been looking at some second hand Clarke 135te and new Sealey Super Mig 150's for around £200.

I need some advice as to which one to go for
Thanks

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum:

I have a Clarke 135te and very pleased with it, I have never used a Sealey so won't make a comparison.

 

[steve walker]

Plus one for the Clarke. I have the 110 for my Triumph Spitfire restoration, & it does everything I need it to.

 

[will baylis]

thank you. with your 135te what max thickness can you weld?

 

[Henrik]

You can probably get away with 5mm if you do a v-gap etc.

I also have a 135TE, and I'm very happy with it (bought it new back in 2007) - it's done everything I've asked of it. If you can, I'd fit a 16 amp plug to it. I think mine welds better on higher amps with a proper 16 amp socket than a 13 amp one.

Also, definitely do not use the small disposable gas bottles. Get yourself a decent refillable one from e.g. Hobbyweld / Adams Gas (bound to have a depot around you), as that will make a huge difference too.

 

[skotl]

Welcome to the forum

Have a look at the chart, here - that suggests 3mm butt weld or 4.5mm with V and root gap.

Edit: What Henrik said

 

[Henrik]

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...iews-of-welding-gear.61513/page-3#post-771627

 

[gaz1]

sounds a little silly pay a little more and get a dual purpose machine its better to have that little extra power to do things with

and you can get second hand but once you go over 150.00 consider a new machine instead

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig151en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder/

gasless does come in handy when outside

also a boc account but you need to consider 90.00 for both the gas and rental of the bottle

 

[skotl]

sounds a little silly pay a little more and get a dual purpose machine its better to have that little extra power to do things with

and you can get second hand but once you go over 150.00 consider a new machine instead

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig151en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder/

gasless does come in handy when outside

also a boc account but you need to consider 90.00 for both the gas and rental of the bottle

Swings and roundabouts, tho (and just to confuse Will a little more ) if he's "just" looking for bodywork restoration then a relatively basic MIG with decent low-power performance will probably be adequate. He can then probably decide (as I and many others did) if and when it's time for an upgrade and probably only lose a few tenners when flogging the Clarke or Sealey.
I agree with you completely on the BOC account and you make a good point re gasless if it's genuinely outside.
But, Will, if you will be welding in the garage then it's gas, gas, gas all the way!

 

[Henrik]

Hmm, I seem to recall I paid 110 or thereabouts for a rent free cylinder the first time (and it was full obviously). Refills should be in the 60 quid range if you go eg hobbyweld unless I'm mistaken

 

[will baylis]

All thanks for your help.
I could get a gas less/gas welder for cheaper to increase the amps i get for my money but, then how much would it cost for a regulator to covert it to gas? This might make it the same cost as getting a gas welder in the first place?

 

[gaz1]

it would mean that you would need a new torch a cost of about 50.00 or more just for the new torch linear and gas tube

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clarke-Mi...hash=item1eac23ff67:m:mCiXZeQupom1pgQ4c1THMJg

 

[will baylis]

think i'll just go for a gas one, sounds easier.
Clarke 135te ending on ebay today, fingers crossed. If not i'm getting a new Sealey super mig 150.

 

[cliff366]

Swings and roundabouts, tho (and just to confuse Will a little more ) if he's "just" looking for bodywork restoration then a relatively basic MIG with decent low-power performance will probably be adequate. He can then probably decide (as I and many others did) if and when it's time for an upgrade and probably only lose a few tenners when flogging the Clarke or Sealey.
I agree with you completely on the BOC account and you make a good point re gasless if it's genuinely outside.
But, Will, if you will be welding in the garage then it's gas, gas, gas all the way!

Agree why I went for the pro 90 as 90% my welding is sheet steel plus I can carry outside etc as all my weldings on the drive unless I can get it in my shed/workshop only downside is the duty cycle but I can live with that

I've never used gasless out side as said get a wind break or weld when it's not so blowy lol

 

[will baylis]

missed out on the clarke by a few ££, so ive purchased the sealey.
I will be doing all my welding indoors so gas only it is.

Happy with my purchase, paid a little more than i wanted but oh well. its a good investment