Draper 08165 or Clarke MIG151EN

[ryn079]

Hi all, I am new to this forum and have never welded, but i decided to repair my car myself and want to learn. I live in Malta, and all mig welders which can go down to 20-30 amps cost 900euro. I was looking at amazon and found the draper and clarke welding machines.

Which one would you reccommend please keeping in mind that the draper goes down to 25amps?

Thanks

 

[gavuk]

Welcome to the forum,clarke would be the obvious choice,not so many rave reviews for draper here ,the clarke is a good machine don't worry about the 25amp min, the clarke is often used on car repairs without problems

 

[ryn079]

Thanks!

 

[gavuk]

Don't just take my word ,try the search button near the top of the page and search clarke 151en and draper 08165

 

[ryn079]

It looks like thw draper is the only one which can be shipped to Malta

Should i buy it or back off?

 

[gavuk]

Hold fire and wait for some reviews from others that may have used draper migs,is that the only make you can purchase in malta?

 

[ryn079]

it is the only mig i can get from amazon uk at a decent price, i am afraid!

 

[gavuk]

Looks like we haven't even got a sub forum for posts on draper.Never used one ,they may be ok?......I do know the Clarke and they are a good budget welder,Surely there are other manufactures you can get in Malta?....eBay?....or is it the p&p that,puts you off?..........how will you manage,for wire and gas?.....

 

[gavuk]

Is the 20-30 amp range affecting your choice? What can you get at 30-40 amp? Min

 

[ryn079]

Dear Gav,

thanks for trying to help. Parts, gas etc will not be a problem as these are available for the larger units. Problem is that entry level units have high minimum amps, 60 - 90 amps,and i have tried these and blow holes in car panels. Ebay uk welding machines do not ship to Malta, so does thw amazon Clarke MIG 151.

 

[gavuk]

I tried looking to,have you already ruled out oxy/accetylene or oxy/propane?......Malta sucks for welders

 

[mike 109444]

Welcome ryn079. Have you thought about any of the other EU countrys near Malta? Itlay is/was where a lot of the smaller welders were/are made and parts for current ones are still (I think). Might be worth asking for members in the nearby countrys for there input? ebay Itlay, Germany, Spain.....

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

hi, machinemart send intrnatinal

 

[ryn079]

Hi,

machinemart deliver to uk mainland only. As for italian suppliers, i read somewhere over here that the italian welders are cheap chinese equipment.

Anyone got info about the draper welder?

 

[Robotstar5]

Machine mart stock welders made by Clarke International so they should be able to export one?

 

[keith19]

It's here, towards the bottom of the page:
http://www.clarkeservice.co.uk/index.shtml

 

[ryn079]

I sent an email....hopefully they will reply back

 

[ryn079]

Hi guys I came across a telwin telmig turbo 161/1, and the guy wants to sell it. On the welder there is a table saying 45amps @100%. on the telwin site it says that the welder goes down to 30 amps.

Can anyone pls shed some light?

Thanks.

 

[Robotstar5]

Hi guys I came across a telwin telmig turbo 161/1, and the guy wants to sell it. On the welder there is a table saying 45amps @100%. on the telwin site it says that the welder goes down to 30 amps.

Can anyone pls shed some light?

Thanks.

It has a minimum setting of 30A (good for bodywork) but you run upto 45A continuously (100% duty cycle) once you go above that, you have to allow it to "cool off" every so often.

 

[ryn079]

Thanks robotstar. The mig looks brand new, with the gas cylinder etc. Should I give it a go at 100 euro?