Clarke gas regulator

[Jcrease]

Hello guys.
Just got me a Clarke 135 mig welder.I hear that the supplied regulator is not very good.If this is the case is the SIP regulator better,which is available at Halfords.At the practice stage at the moment so not thinking of hobby gas at the moment.
Thank you for any advice offered.

 

[Chippie]

The SIP regulator might be cheaper at Toolstation ( same item…) if it’s not too far away from you..

 

[Misterg]

Just got me a Clarke 135 mig welder.I hear that the supplied regulator is not very good.If this is the case is the SIP regulator better,which is available at Halfords.

Is this for the disposable cylinders?

If so, I wouldn't pour any money down that route - I would not have high hopes that the regulators behave any differently.

Put the money towards a regulator for one of the rent-free gas cylinders - the disposable cylinders will cost you about £2.70 per minute of welding (and last about 5-6 minutes actual welding); rent-free: about 40p / minute (and last for a couple of hours actual welding)*

The difference is £2.30 per minute. In 30 minutes of welding, you will have saved the cost of the deposit on the rent-free bottle (ETA: *and* have enough gas left for another ~1.5 hours welding!)

I know it's not always that simple, but if you have the cash...

P.S. - one thing that it is worth getting is a peashooter flow meter so you can set your gas flow accurately and avoid wasting gas through excessive flow - should be <£10. To some extent, you can use this to 'manage' a poor regulator.


*Random prices plucked from the internet:
Disposable - £15.99 for 60L (ex Halfords)
Hobbyweld £51 for 1.28m^3 = 1280L. Deposit ~£70
Flow rate 10 litres/min

 

[Onthespotwelding]

Hello guys.
Just got me a Clarke 135 mig welder.I hear that the supplied regulator is not very good.If this is the case is the SIP regulator better,which is available at Halfords.At the practice stage at the moment so not thinking of hobby gas at the moment.
Thank you for any advice offered.

Basically Both those regulators are rubbish and will waste gas.

I’m afraid Unless you upgrade to a proper bottle and gas regulator it’s going to cost you quite a bit in those disposable bottles.

Buy 5 bottles at a time, the 110L ones at least that will give you an hours welding time.

Clarke CO2 / Argon Mix Gas Cylinder (110L) - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

 

[Jcrease]

Thanks for the advice.Not going to do much welding just a few repair panels on a car Will small hobby gas bottle be sufficient or go for the next size up medium.

 

[Jcrease]

Decided to go for the small Hobby gas bottle .When extending the tube to the cylinder, I've seen on youtube people suggesting using a length of bowden tube .Could I use a length of plastic tube as used in Aquariums instead?
Thanks.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Decided to go for the small Hobby gas bottle .When extending the tube to the cylinder, I've seen on youtube people suggesting using a length of bowden tube .Could I use a length of plastic tube as used in Aquariums instead?
Thanks.

I don't know the products you are referring to and I am assuming you are referring to the gas hose between the regulator-flowmeter output and the welding machine.

Personally, I would use a properly rated gas hose. Depending on your equipment, the pressure in the hose might be over 50 psi. Aquarium hose for CO2 operates at 0 psi and Bowden tube (the stuff used in printers?) usually has an ID of 2 mm and might be difficult to get on to the gas fittings.

Jack

 

[Jcrease]

Thanks for the reply.
The plastic tubing I am thinking about is currently connected to a air regulator which is set at 0.6 Mpa. Its to extend the pipe from the torch to the regulator on the cylinder.

 

[Chippie]

0.6 MPa may not sound a lot…in fact it isn’t…about 9psi when I went to school…but consider if something went wrong with the regulator and the tubing was subject to bottle pressure?
I may be overegging it….

 

[Jcrease]

I thought 0.6Mpa was 87Psi.
Thats 0.6MPa needed a capital P.

 

[Jcrease]

What kind of pipe (diameter and type) do you guys recommend to extend the original gas pipe in the clarke welder,and connector to connect the two together?

 

[Misterg]

I *think* that the existing pipe will be 4mm OD nylon. Is there a fitting on the back of the welder, or just a length of pipe sticking out that used to go to the disposable bottle regulator?

If you can't replace the whole hose with a new length, you'll need something to connect to the 4mm pipe at one end and your new regulator at the other.

There seem to be dedicated hoses sold for this (check whether you need 1/4 or 3/8 BSP version).

Clarke GH2 1m Gas Regulator Hose (1/4” BSP) - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

Otherwise, you're into cobbling something together with a 4mm (I think) push-fit coupling on the end of it.

0.6MPa is about 90PSI - I'm surprised that the pressure in the line is that high, but I'm not sure what's normal.

 

[Jcrease]

Thanks for the info.Pipe sticking out of the back of the welder which just needs extending to accommodate the extra travel for the bigger cylinder.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I *think* that the existing pipe will be 4mm OD nylon. Is there a fitting on the back of the welder, or just a length of pipe sticking out that used to go to the disposable bottle regulator?

As I said, I don't know the setup but 4mm OD?

I too, would be replacing the entire hose, even if that means opening the box to do it. Joins are just leak sites and potential burst sites.

0.6MPa is about 90PSI - I'm surprised that the pressure in the line is that high, but I'm not sure what's normal.

Yes, just under 90 psi. More than most - 50 psi is common, 20 psi is better (that is with the solenoid off). Perhaps that's why they used such small tubing - to mitigate gas surge.

With 90 psi, you'll need something more than a push fit too.

Jack

 

[Jack Ryan]

0.6 MPa may not sound a lot…in fact it isn’t…about 9psi when I went to school

The pressure at school has increased enormously since then.

 

[Misterg]

I don't know the setup but 4mm OD?

It's what is commonly used for disposable bottle setups...

With 90 psi, you'll need something more than a push fit

It's "Push-fit" self locking fittings - generally rated for 10 Bar (150 PSI)

Like these:

Push-In Fittings | Air Supplies™ UK

Plastic & Metal Push-In Fittings

www.airsupplies.co.uk

(Although the CO2 setup for my MIG does involve aquarium tubing - nowhere near 90 PSI though - more like 5!)

 

[Jack Ryan]

It's what is commonly used for disposable bottle setups...

Sorry, never used them, never seen them. I guess I need to get out more.

It's "Push-fit" self locking fittings - generally rated for 10 Bar (150 PSI)

I meant push plastic hose on a barbed fitting. I don't have a fish tank either.

I really do need to get out more - sorry, I didn't mean to confuse the issue.

Jack

 

[Jcrease]

What do you guys reckon to the look of the quality of this hose.

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