clarke arc welder

[james123]

hey everyone
i was hoping someone could help me i was looking at machine marts arc welders i have about £120 to spend dont know if anyone has had any experiance with them or can sugest a welder that will be good for me. i will be using the welder for light work on mild steel. thanks hope someone could help me regards james

 

[shenion]

I'd stay away form the 100A versions. 140 amp and above should be fine.

 

[grandads_shed]

I'd stay away form the 100A versions. 140 amp and above should be fine.

depends on the thickness of the meal being welded

 

[james123]

thanks just a wonder as well what sort of rods would be best for that sort of size and power of welder

 

[Wozzaaah]

I have a 190A Clarke one and tbh, it's not that nice to use but is probably similar to most others you'd buy. I gave away an old 140A 'buzzbox' (not Clarke) and it was much nicer to use though it didn't have a cooling fan.

 

[Welderpaul]

thanks just a wonder as well what sort of rods would be best for that sort of size and power of welder

The set will weld with 2.5 and 3mm rods. Don't be tempted to buy cheapo rods - they are a nightmare to use (lidl/aldi mm).
Buy some 'white box' rods, from a reputable brand - Murex, Esab, lincoln, Oerlikon. They will make all the difference.

My very first welding set was a 100a stick welder (when i was about 15). It managed ok for sticking thinnish stuff together. Keep your eye on ebay...you will probably find a more powerful welder for the same money.

 

[james123]

i was looking at the cw165tn its got 35-160 amp cost £129.23
or the 160n 40-150 amp £76.36 could anyone tell me the best and the extream differance in price for the differnce in amps

 

[Wozzaaah]

The 165 has a cooling fan, the 160 doesn't. That won't be the only difference though, I expect the 160 is built down to a price to suit very light DIY work whereas the 165 will be more geared towards semi-pro users who need to be able to run it for longer periods without having to stop and let it cool down every couple of rods.

 

[gavuk]

Do you require it to move?.if portability is not a concern go for a secondhand oil filled welder,pickhill,bantam etc far nicer to use,invertor is next nicest ,with buzzbox's being the worst.....

 

[james123]

thanks very much for the advice will help loads is clarke one of the better small arc welders or is there a better make for my budget thanks

 

[PTvor]

Buzz-boxes delivering 140A and above will blow 13A fuses when used at their higher current levels, which means a 16A or 32A mains connection would be needed to avoid the frustration. It just might be an expense you didn't expect.

Another frustration is the low duty cycle they usually have, burn three rods and the trip goes and you wait ten minutes for them to cool down, then burn another two and the trip goes and you have another ten minute wait. This may or may not be a pain.

There are plenty of guides as to what current to use with different rods and in which application. There's usually a pointer on the top of the welder which gives a rough indication.

Rather than blow your wad on a new one, look out for a second hand one - which can be surprisingly cheap.

If you haven't seen it already, check out this page

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/arc-tutorial.htm

particularly the links on buying an arc welder and types of arc welder.

HTH

 

[shenion]

depends on the thickness of the meal being welded

Not really, I don't recommend the 100A and less ones as they have a low duty cycle and usually a lower OCV. Makes it harder to start and maintain an arc.

The bigger ones are easier to use.

 

[james123]

sorry to keep asking questions people i dont think i can afford the arc inveter welders will the semi pro clarke range still be worth buying as i dont wont to waist my money but i still wont something to last and hopefully the cw165tn will do im only 16 and still learning do you think this may do hope someone can advice

 

[gavuk]

16 you should be out chasing girls then ..........does it need to be portable?.....oil filled welder 140-180amp often sell for that money

 

[james123]

haha i can multi task very well lool and yes it will need to be portable because it will be used for light agricultural work

 

[PTvor]

I'll guess the Clarkes come with the usual rubbishy hand held mask and chipping hammer cum brush, pretty flimsy and they don't last long. I'd forget the semi-pro tag, it's marketing BS.

Su you'll also need a proper chipping hammer, gloves, clamps, rods and a better headshield plus an angle grinder. None of these are particularly dear, but it all adds up, especially if you've only got £120.

Check ebay and the local ads and boot sales for a second hand buzz box near you. Sometimes they go for a fiver. The Oxford oil cooled welders are big and heavy.

If you're set on buying a new one, the Clarkes are as good as any.