Clarke 150TE with Cebora pocket 130 torch?

[osrix]

Hi all, Ive just got hold of a Clarke 150TE and whilst it seems to be a nice enough set with a reasonable duty cycle, the torch is a bit on the light duty side for my purposes.

I'm wondering if anyone has tried putting a Cebora Pocket mig 130 torch onto a clarke?

My guess is it should work as both are the gas valve type, but it would be nice to know if someone had already done it?

I borrowed my mates cebora for a bit and really enjoyed using it, really nice stable arc and solid wire feed, pity i cant afford one!!

So the next best thing I guess, is to modify my Clarke.

So what do you guys think? do you rekon it'll take it??
The cebora guns are selling for about £80, so it would be an expensive experiment, unless of course I can get hold of a second hand one off an old set.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Why would you want to?
You're talking about fitting a 130A machine's torch to a 150A machine and just fitting a cebora torch won't magically turn your clarke into a cebora, just a 'frankenwelder'.
I'm not saying it won't work but it's not what I'd call an upgrade and tbh, would be a waste of £80 in my opinion.
If you're going to spend that sort of money on modifying the torch then the obvious choice is a euro upgrade.

 

[osrix]

I totally agree with you, changing the torch wont magically change my welder, but the Clarke uses 4mm hobby tips and the smallest shrouds i have ever seen!
Those hobby tips last about 5 mins at full production, however the cebora uses standard tips and a bigger shroud allowing for better tip cooling and overall is a heaver duty torch...as well as it has a trigger that allows for post gasing in the right hands

However, of course I would prefer a euro torch, but the set isnt equiped with a gas solenoid so I was under the impression that it could'nt be done, Can it??

 

[shenion]

You can add a gas solenoid, usually not a big deal to find where the mains are switched and use a 230v solenoid.

Yes, the CLarke does not handle a lot of heat; you need to keep enough torch/work gap or it overheats. I had no real problem on min on my 130EN.

 

[osrix]

You can add a gas solenoid, usually not a big deal to find where the mains are switched and use a 230v solenoid.

Yes, the CLarke does not handle a lot of heat; you need to keep enough torch/work gap or it overheats. I had no real problem on min on my 130EN.

Thanks I have just been looking up the solenoid, it sounds like it wont be too hard to fit!
the Euro torch option seems like the best bet at the moment, the type of work I do really demands a more heavy duty set but for now I have to work with what I have.

 

[rikrobson]

There are pleny of cebora 130s that have been converted to eurotorch.

the eurotorch conversion will cost about the same as a new cebora torch anyway.