- Thread starter schnappi
- Start date
tis true, but the original Ops post of "Something that completely blows the SIP out of the water"...for the same money?! Come on man, what planet are you on?!'Horses for courses'
So are you saying that the SIP is comparable to the Clarke? The SIP really does seem to be bordering on unfit for purpose.
This is the kind of honest answer I was looking for though because if I spent £250 on another welder that performs like my SIP then I'd be gutted.However... It doesn't necessarily follow that 2 similarly priced items from different manufacturers perform the same. When I said "blows the SIP out of the water" (for the same money) I'm saying something like I'm looking for a base model Vauxhall Corsa because my Fiat Punto is lame. I'm not saying I'm looking for a Porsche Carrera for Vauxhall Corsa money because my Fiat Punto is lame.
If I was restoring cars for a living I'm sure the Portamig (or better) would fit the bill. I'd know I'd love the Portamig, but I also know I'd love a better car too
. The Portamig looks great value for money for its target audience, thing is, I'm not restoring classic cars or welding up JCBs I'm simply doing a few hours welding patches every other year to get all the old rust buckets my family drive through the MOT.What I'm looking for is a decent improvement over a badly performing SIP welder at the budget end of the market. The Clarke machines look well priced and people seem to like them. All I'm trying to figure out is whether these same people would be equally happy with a SIP (or put another way, would I be equally disappointed if I bought a new Clarke?).
Can be a bit like home gym equipment; people buy it with good intention, find out it's not so easy, and come the end of January it's all for sale!
I'm not saying I can't lay down a weld with the SIP I'm just saying it's a misery. As others have said, without even changing the settings the results can go from fine to dreadful. Having owned the SIP for over a decade I'm not really in the "flog it come January" category, I'd just like something that performs the job it's sold to do because I feel I've suffered with the SIP long enough.
Ho hum, guess I'll just stick with the SIP and try some of the modifications in the SIP section (seperate transformer for the wire feed for example).
PS: Sorry for the post being so wordy, I type like I talk - loads!
malcolm
& Clementine the Cat
- Messages
- 9,803
- Location
- Bedford UK
You should find the Clarkes a considerable improvement over the SIP.
There are various things you can do to the SIP to make it work a bit better - steel wire liner and clamp are a good start - http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/sip-wirefeed.htm and should improve many wire feed issues so it at least works.
Even with the wire feed in good condition the SIP wire speed control is poor, and even with modification the arc doesn't seem so nice and the wire is very slow to get to speed so starts are a pain. I find it difficult to weld nicely with them and wouldn't attempt anything tricky like overhead.
Clarkes are a lot better in these respects. This is the reason the forum tends to recommend them as a budget welder. I ran one for 13 years.
There are various things you can do to the SIP to make it work a bit better - steel wire liner and clamp are a good start - http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/sip-wirefeed.htm and should improve many wire feed issues so it at least works.
Even with the wire feed in good condition the SIP wire speed control is poor, and even with modification the arc doesn't seem so nice and the wire is very slow to get to speed so starts are a pain. I find it difficult to weld nicely with them and wouldn't attempt anything tricky like overhead.
Clarkes are a lot better in these respects. This is the reason the forum tends to recommend them as a budget welder. I ran one for 13 years.
