Clarke 90EN torch upgrade help

[slammed]

Hi everyone on here, newbie here, basically i am restoring various old fords(just finished repairing some rust work on my corsair, currently starting major repairing major rust work on my mk1 cortina) and it has stood up to the job of the corsair pretty well, some teething problems with wire feeds but nothing i couldnt sort out.

Now my question is i am starting major rust work on my mk1, and i cant afford to upgrade my welder with xmas/generla bills and all that, so i know my torch wasnt comfortable or that clever so am looking to upgrade the whole torch assembly with a euro torch kit?

has anyone upgraded the torches on clarke hobby welders? if so what kit did you use or would you suggest as it is a pretty decent welder for what it is just i think the torch lets it down horrendously.

can anyone help or suggest any options for me?

thanks in advance guys will be mulling around the site reading up on lots of things

thanks, Gav

 

[madkayaker]

i upgraded mine and then it died! the problem with fitting big industrial stuff to the little Clarke is there is less to limit the current flow if your asking to much and it burns the transformer out. if i had another one i wouldn't bother. fit a decent earth clamp that will help matters

 

[slammed]

fitted a decent earth strap and clamp helped loads, quick question then, i have been using throw away clarke gas bottles you know the type you buy in machine mart, would using a proper gas bottle and regulator improve the welds from any experience guys? looking at the big bottle with 5% argon in them

thansk for you help mate guess the torch will stay and will see if 'proper' gas will help.

 

[madkayaker]

you will get better gas coverage and more than 10min out of a bottle! i user cougour 5 from airproducts its a blend with 5% co2 its designed for upto 5mm ish. i find it nicer to use than pure co2.

 

[slammed]

yeah i was getting sick of the 10 min throw away bottles on the previous project done my nut in!

I have a supplier down the road to me and i was looking at getting this gas

http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/index.php...ategory_id=22&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=54

from what i have read and gathered this seems to be the best one for me as my metal will range from 1mm-8mm no more or less

would you say thats fine? hopefully this will produce some really neat welds, thanks mate.

 

[keith19]

The 5% Mix you are looking at (93% Argon , 2% Oxygen, 5% Carbon Dioxide) is the right stuff for thinner metal, mate, so you should be fine with that.