Clarke MIG230TEC comparisons?

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Since there's likely to be a Machine Mart "VAT free day" soon I was looking at the Clarke 230TEC machine which falls into my price category at £429.98 without the VAT.

How does this machine fare against other machines in the same price bracket,such as the Butters AMT 1800,or maybe the Cemont 180MEC etc?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Have a look at this thread and there's a few bits and pieces that weldequip mentions are the shortcomings on the clarke one. One being the wire feed assembly, it seems the same basic assembly is used throughout the range but just the motor is uprated. Butters machines usually have quite a decent wire-feed assembly, my 211 certainly has although I gather it's not the same as the one fitted to the 1800.
The Butters and Cemont ones haven't got the top-end grunt that the Clarke has, 180A vs 210.
You could really do with getting more details on all the machines, duty cycles etc but I can't seem to find much on any of them other than their lowest and highest settings.

 

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Thanks for the link Wozzaaah,I'm now concerned about the cheapo wire feed system on the Clarke welder.

Is there a 188A Mig welder out there with a really good wire feed system that costs less than £450?

 

[Wozzaaah]

That's where I can't help you I'm afraid, I can find machines in your price range but unfortunately without seeing what the wire-feed assembly looks like it's impossible to comment on it. Someone like weldequip or diywelding would be better suited to comment as they've seen far more welders than I'm ever likely to.
Having said that, the Clarke wire-feed system might not be a particularly robust one but it's tried and tested and you won't find many comments about the quality of them on here so they certainly work ok.

 

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I guess I'm getting a bit paranoid about wire feeds because it seems from what I've read on this forum that poor wire feed mechanisms are the achilles heel of sub-£550 mig welding machines.

 

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It looks like I'll be off to Thursday's VAT free day to pick up a Clarke MIG230TEC for just under £430,at 210 amps it seems like good value for money,and it will replace my Clarke MIG100EN that's been hugely dependable apart from a £20 gas valve.

Unless there's a better deal to be had elsewhere....

 

[dstealth]

It looks like I'll be off to Thursday's VAT free day to pick up a Clarke MIG230TEC

Hope you've rang up in advance because I doubt they'll keep a welder that size in stock - I know my local MM don't, they only have the small ones in store.

Chris.

 

[vikingjohn]

Hi I've just found this thread and I'm in the same position with my vat free coupon.
I've also been considering the Clarke MIG230TEC.
I was wondering if this is the welder you eventualy bought ? and How did you get on with it?
Cheers
John

 

[Afterimage]

Hi I've just found this thread and I'm in the same position with my vat free coupon.
I've also been considering the Clarke MIG230TEC.
I was wondering if this is the welder you eventualy bought ? and How did you get on with it?
Cheers
John

I think minimum amps on the Clarke 230 was actually 40 amps,not the 30 it said in the catalogue,in the end I got a great deal on an ESAB Origo 171 that I found to be an excellent machine.

If I were you I'd just get a Portamig and be done with it.