First Welder

[S7ewie]

Hello,
Newbie here, I work in agriculture around Suffolk in UK so do a bit of welding here and there. Looking for one for general home use, DIY and automobile stuff. Thinking of something like the Clarke 151TE or 160TM. According to the specs the 151 can handle thicker metal than the 160? Anyone know why? I like the 160 for the gas canister space. Can't imagine those little ones last very long haha. Budget around £300/£350.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Cobbler]

The 160tm is actually a 150 amp welder, not a 160. I've got a 160tm & are happy with it. Try to get a Machine Mart vat free voucher as it gives a good saving. There are vouchers about, I've just had one that ran out on the 16th

 

[gaz1]

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/151te-turbo-mig-welder/

many have the blue one including me

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig151en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder/

for the same machine except the colour its 70 pound less but has one advantage you can swap it to the gasless setting if you want to do

what i can tell you is with prep you can weld 5mm at maximum in a corner fillet a t fillet is a bit ackward but can be done with the machine

as just goes for transporting the bottle with it

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/mig160tm-welder/

its easy enough to build your own transporter for your mig welder and gas bottle infact you can make a much better unit instead toys are toys after all

so a plasma cut 50 gloves and consumables and wire all stored on your home built transporter is much better than a built one also it gives you a nice practice on building your own frame up

on another note a look at the gys models is also worth doing but dont forget your budget a contract bottle 90.00 is way better than disposables and a helmet as well

 

[S7ewie]

Hey cobbler, yeah I figured it was a 150amp. Is the only real difference then the trolly design? Other than that it's basically the same thing?

I'll have to keep an eye out for a vat free voucher! Would definitely be a good saving!

Hey gaz1. Yeah those were the ones I was looking at. Didn't realise the no gas one was basically the same. Didn't realise they could be set up with gas too. Definitely worth looking at.

Thanks

 

[gaz1]

heres the manual for it to read

https://www.clarkeservice.co.uk/manuals/mig_welders/mig90en_151en.pdf

also watch your duty cycles on mig welders not always true

 

[Cobbler]

I think you might find the duty cycle on the 160tm is slightly higher, maybe the cooling is slightly better I don't know. Clarke state that it's suitable for light industrial use, but I think that's mostly B.S. There used to be a page on the M M website comparing the duty cycles, but it appears to have gone. With the 160TM you get a gas regulator included, with the gas less ones you will have to factor this into the cost, also with the smaller ones you get a connector to fit disposable bottles, I won't call it a reg. cos their awful. Basically you pay your money & take your choice, you won't go far wrong with any of them. Spares are readily available & they are well proven. I would steer clear of Clarkes budget range as there has been no feed back as to their reliability, also the lowest setting is a bit high for car bodywork.

 

[Cobbler]

Just found the duty cycles, the 160Tm is 60% at 75 amps, so yes it's higher. On car bodywork this would make no real difference though as you would be on the lower settings.

 

[S7ewie]

Awesome thanks.
Still debating as to whether 150amps is high enough.

But if so I'm leaning towards the 160tm.. if I can find a vat free voucher I'll probably go for it

 

[cumbriasteve]

Put it up in the social club section you are seeking a VAT free, members are usually brilliant at sharing them out.

 

[S7ewie]

Awesome thanks I'll do that!!

 

[Cobbler]

It states on the web site that a 16 amp supply is required, don't worry about that, everyone runs them on a 13a plug. Just make sure it's a good quality plug top & keep a few spare fuses, on its highest setting it might blow them sometimes. You say you don't know whether 150a is enough, you won't get any more without a 16a or 32a supply

 

[Lufbramatt]

I had a similar budget and found a second hand, lightly used Portamig 185 which has been perfect. Runs faultlessly off a 13amp plug. Might be another option worth considering.

 

[gaz1]

Awesome thanks.
Still debating as to whether 150amps is high enough.

But if so I'm leaning towards the 160tm.. if I can find a vat free voucher I'll probably go for it

what material are you wanting to weld up would be the question migs on 13 amps run up to 5mm not the 6mm clarke are claiming at the moment and thats with preparation of the metal

any higher than 5mm then your clocking over 13 amp fuse thyerefore needing more amps to the machine in turn you need a dedicating power supply to the mig welder 16-20amps fuse is needed or higher for the machine

any higher i swap to the arc welder myself as much easier than the cost of the expensive migs for diy use

 

[S7ewie]

Ahh yeah I forgot about the power supply. Is 150amp the max you should be running off of standard single phase?

To be honest I couldn't tell the max depth of metal I need to be able to do until the day comes that I need to do it haha. 5mm would be too thin for frame work I imagine, repairing cracks and such. Then again if I need anything deeper I could probably use the farm one.

A large part of why I want one is to get the practice in. So if and when I did have to weld something bigger I'd feel confident to do it. Whether it be with my own or not.

I guess arc welders are another option. Had probably more experience with them. What amp do they go up to on a standard single phase?

 

[gaz1]

160 amp via a 13 amp socket plug there after its hardwired or via a blue socket plug other than those options your then hitting 3 phase migs

arc welders not sure on how high a 13 amp socket goes with them

 

[Cobbler]

arc welders not sure on how high a 13 amp socket goes with them

I think about 140a is the limit for 13a, but my understanding of it is, this limits rod size rather than what you can weld. With 13a you can burn a 3.25 mm, possibly a 4mm if your lucky, but you can weld just about anything using multiple runs & v prep. I don't know a lot about it, although I have an arc welder, but hopefully someone will be along in a minute to help.

 

[gt6s]

My Sureweld 161 Monomig used to blow fuses at highest two setting even tho the Sureweld agent said it wouldn't. I ran it on a 13 amp plug with two neutral pins in it. On 16 amp now though.

 

[S7ewie]

Got my Clarke 160TM today! Pretty happy with it so far. I've set it up on a 13a plug and we'll see how it goes. Gonna get some gas next time I get chance to go into town. I might upgrade the regulator to one with a double gauge. Also thinking of upgrading the earth clamp, and the gas pipe looks a little weak? Is it worth upgrading that too?

Thanks

 

[cumbriasteve]

Also thinking of upgrading the earth clamp, and the gas pipe looks a little weak? Is it worth upgrading that too?
Thanks

Mine operates perfectly with neither upgraded, by all means change the earth clamp if you need to due to wear or damage but I doubt you will notice any significant difference.

 

[S7ewie]

Thanks
I looked up the regulator, its an Oxyturbo Mini. Looks like these can come with two gauges and there is a slot for a second so I'm wondering if I can buy the gauge separately to add it on? On closer inspection the pipe is better than I thought. If it works, it works I guess :P

Clamp was just something I read up whilst looking online at lower end migs. I'll give it a try, If I struggle getting a good earth I'll upgrade it.