Clarke Mini Mig

[helloern]

Hi Guys, I've just found this site after having been given a Clarke Mini Mig welder by the widow of a friend. I was hoping to see a pic of this welder so I could maybe get some info on it. I have no handbook. I think I should post a photo then maybe one of you would recognise it. On the front panel it says Clarke7Mini Mig mk2. There is nothing about Amps.
It has languished in a garage for about 25yrs, with a full spool of wire, and looks clean. When I switched it on, the wire fed through the nozzle. The Co2 bottle is obviously empty. I have never Mig welded so it's something I've got to learn, although I have gas and arc welded.
Together with the welder was a larger cylinder that looks like an ex-fire extinguisher that I guess my friend was going to use instead of the small bottle mounted at the back but it has no regulator fitted.
Fingers crossed some of you might recognise it and give me some info, as well as how to fit an applicable regulator to the cylinder, and where one gets them filled.
Thanks!
Ernie

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome aboard Ernie.

A photo would help. In any event I'd wind wire off the spool to reveal shiny new wire otherwise rust will contaminate the liner. That said given how long it's been stood a new liner would be required anyway.

I'd get a proper gas bottle and regulator too, makeshift arrangements can be dangerous.

This may help with gas http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27

 

[helloern]

Clarke Mimi Mig

Thanks for replying. I hope you can give me some info on this after seeing the pic. Ernie

 

[rtbcomp]

The yellow knob is the wire speed, the two white switches work in combination to produce output voltage, (current is a function of wire speed).

The red light next to the arrow looks like mains power, the other next to the thermometer will come on when the thermal cutout trips.

 

[helloern]

Thanks for that rtbcomp, sorry about the delay in replying but I had to get assisstance in posting the picture as I'm new to this game. Maybe I can get a handbook from Clarkes for this welder.

The wire spool is bright and feeds smoothly so I don't think there is any rust problems.

Ernie

 

[madkayaker]

what color is the wire? Is it stainless or it should have gone rusty

 

[helloern]

Hi madkajaker, the wire has a bright coppery look. The only piece of it that looked different was the couple of inches I cut off that were protruding from the shroud, which must have been left since it was last used years ago. When I pressed the button bright wire fed out as that on the spool. It's been 20-25 yrs in a dry garage, and the only thing that had some specks of rust was the top cover. I cleaned that off and sprayed it with some dark reddish aerosol paint I had left from a car job which dosn't match the original blue.

It seems all I've got to do is get a Co2 cylinder, a hand book, and get learning!
Thanks for replying ,
Ernie