Clarke 160EN wire sizes

[sloderby]

Hi, I've been reading posts on this excellent forum for a while.
My ancient SIP 130 has died and I've received the VAT free day invite from MM over Christmas so looking to get a Clarke as they seem to get good reviews here. No matter how I try I really can't justify a Portamig.
So I was thinking that as I've got some wire, disposable gas & regulator from my SIP, I could get the 160EN gas/gasless model to give me the option of gasless.
Either that or the 151TE gas only model.
However I'm confused as the 160EN states that it can handle 0.6/0.9 wires but no mention of 0.8. The pdf manual on the MM site seems to say the same but then on the settings page it shows settings for 0.6 & 0.8 gas and 0.9 gasless wires.
If someone on here has one of the 160EN models can they confirm that it will handle 0.6, 0.8 & 0.9 mm wires.

Thanks,
Steve.

 

[malcolm]

You can run 0.6, 0.8 & 0.9 mm in the 160EN. The 0.8mm sits happily in the 0.9mm gasless slot. Or at least the other ENs I've tried have been no bother. The 0.9mm shot is serrated, where the normal 0.8mm slots are smooth, but I've not heard of that causing trouble.

 

[sloderby]

Thanks Malcolm.
I've looked at some of the PDF manuals for other Clarke models & it appears that a number of the gas only & gas/no gas models share the same part number for the wire feed roller. So it looks like there should be no problem - just waiting for VAT free day...

 

[sloderby]

Well, VAT free day yesterday so treated myself to the 160EN.
I can confirm that the 160EN will use 0.6,0.8 & 0.9 mm wires, in fact the feed roller is clearly the same as used in gas only models as it's marked as having 0.6mm & 0.8mm grooves. Clearly the 0.1 mm extra of the flux cored wire is not critical.
Also it is supplied with 1 each of 0.6, 0.8 & 1mm tips so is intended as such.
Had a few minutes today to fit some 0.8mm wire & gas and fire it up to test it.
Well, if only I'd have known what I was missing with my old SIP. Wire feed is constant and feels almost refined to use (OK I say almost so as not to upset the Portamig owners). A bit more practice to get the feel of settings & I can't wait to weld everything that remotely needs doing.
I must now concur with those knowledgable types on here that as a hobby machine the Clarkes will take some beating.
I now need to use my new Clarke to weld shut the case on my old SIP so that no one else has to put up with it's useless performance.