Clarkes 100E

[ttwlr]

Hi
I've just got a 100e mk2.
I've bought all the bits I needed to get going, did my 1st attempt and it looked like bird pooh and it fell apart, I can't seem to get the right settings, I've got mixed gas and 0.6 wire, I had feed on 3 and gas on 3, turned gas to 5 and feed 6, was like a machine gun ha ha but still the weld not holding
Help please, anyone got a clarkes ?

Thank you

Tony

 

[Wozzaaah]

Welcome to the forum Tony.
Please post some decent quality photos of your attempts so we can advise where you're going wrong but one thing is if you're using disposable cylinders you need to have the regulator turned right up to max.

 

[ttwlr]

It's a little 110bar bottle of gas from machine mart

 

[madkayaker]

By the look of the plate in the photo your are being very optermistic what thickness can be welded with a small clarke. 5/6mm is about as good as it gets with plenty of preparation work to reduce the thickness at point of weld.

 

[ttwlr]

Hi
I was given the metal to practice on, I guess it's way to think then ?
I want to start making a few bits for my garden, bird stand etc, and then move onto welding car bits, would like to get a car boot or door to practice on, would a 100 E mk2 be ok for this ?

Many thanks

Tony

 

[madkayaker]

Best to start with stuff about 3mm till you get the hang of it. Stuff to thin or thick will give you problems. There is lots of info in the tutorial sections plus get a proper gas bottle those disposables are very poor

 

[Wozzaaah]

As MK says, the chances of successfully welding steel that thick with a tiny Clarke are slim to none, those attempts show the classic signs of too little power and too much wire, hence the machine-gunning.
From the look of things you are probably holding the torch too far from the workpiece too.

 

[ttwlr]

Many thanks guys, will try thinner metal and post pic, I am using the small bottles as that's all I could find with out renting or paying a £50 deposit, as I'm just starting out didn't want to pay out any more money until I feel it's worth it, I was told to get pub gas but then told you can't get them refilled so I opted for the only way I knew, disposable bottle.
I was offered a pub one.
So gas right up and speed at what 3 ? Or lower

 

[madkayaker]

Gas all way up and that gives you about 10min of weld time.

 

[ttwlr]

Wow that's not long at all for £15 a bottle
Maybe leave it at 3 then not 6 ha ha

 

[madkayaker]

Yep there rubbish. At 3 there is a high chance of not getting enough gas coverage

 

[ttwlr]

Not happy about them, will cost a fortune, but that's only option I got.

 

[marlinspike]

If you say where you are, someone might be able to point out a cheap local supplier. I know it seems like you have to fork out a lot of money up front, but it's much better value to pay a deposit and pay for refills. Practising is really important and it's going to cost you a bomb to get your confidence if you use disposables.

 

[ttwlr]

Gas

I'm in Basildon Essex
Just had another go, looks better to me and used thinner metal but still fell apart

https://attachment.fbsbx.com/messag...QBbM_I0XbpJfLDzMOBv_QoA8jnydmOKXnEGaW7WMWcQig

 

[Wozzaaah]

Doesn't look good tbh.
What power setting was that using?

 

[ttwlr]

Full gas and feeder on 3 woz

 

[Wozzaaah]

What power setting though?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Ah, full power and gas and wire both on 3?

 

[ttwlr]

 

[ttwlr]

Not touched these bits yet, also not sure why there's a 6 by the 3