GYS Smartmig 162 or Clarke 151EN

[dsj1979]

Hi,I seem to find myself going round in circles with welders. There are two I like the look of, GYS Smartmig 162 £365 inc. delivery from Weldequip, or the Clarke 151EN which on a VAT free day would be £200 from machine mart. Looking at Clarke the 151 160 etc. seem to be much the same and the 151EN is the cheapest in that boat. Is the GYS worth spending nearly twice as much on? The thing I really like the look of is the Eurotorch but I'm not sure if that's enough to justify the extra?

Or any other suggestions to rock the boat?

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[cumbriasteve]

I don't think you would notice any significant difference in the welding performance between the machines.

The GYS has the euro torch and looks nicer, the Clarke is a long time proven and popular machine with a massive following of suppliers for consumables and parts.

I think most of us would be happy with either machine, the crowd would be split if having to pay for them and I think it would probably go towards the Clarke simply for the price difference.

 

[weldequip]

Two very different machines. If you want a direct comparison to the GYS you would be looking at the Clarke 160TM. You didn't say what you wanted the machine for?

 

[Tman]

Depends on the thickness of the metal you're welding if you using the higher end of the scale 120 + take the duty cycle into account. Price can't really be compared between the two as two different levels of machine. Like comparing a BMW to a Astra

 

[dsj1979]

It'll mostly be used for car bits and pieces but it's always nice to have something to cover every eventuality! Looking at specs, I thought they were mostly the same. If the difference is an Astra and BMW though that makes the GYS more appealing. I would like a welder to last......

 

[Tman]

It'll mostly be used for car bits and pieces but it's always nice to have something to cover every eventuality! Looking at specs, I thought they were mostly the same. If the difference is an Astra and BMW though that makes the GYS more appealing. I would like a welder to last......

Smaller cheaper one will more than do for car body work and will last well.
but if your doing 120mph all day the BMW will last longer
Lol vs
But if your only doing 30mph you will get better mpg with the Astra will feel better with the in your back pocket

 

[Tman]

I would choose the Clark personally and keep the extra money mate

 

[lshigham]

It'll mostly be used for car bits and pieces but it's always nice to have something to cover every eventuality! Looking at specs, I thought they were mostly the same. If the difference is an Astra and BMW though that makes the GYS more appealing. I would like a welder to last......

Clarke is made in China to be as cheap as possible, GYS is made in France. They aren't even comparable

 

[cumbriasteve]

Clarke is made in China to be as cheap as possible, GYS is made in France. They aren't even comparable

Could not disagree more, I am sure the GYS is a very good machine and I am also sure every manufacturer tries to produce their machine for 'as cheap as possible', it's business.

I own a Clarke and it is a first rate, very capable machine and I have owned other machines to compare it to including a Portamig.

There is a newer range of Clarke that I can't vouch for but the original range, still available, are excellent machines for the price.

 

[migmug]

Smart Mig 162 could be from China, look at the data sheets they show "Made in" at the very bottom.

http://www.gys-welding.com/prods-832/SmartMIG/en

Smart Mig 110 China (PRC)
Smart Mig 142 China
Smart Mig 162 ? does not say but suspect China see below
Smart Mig 3P China - looks like a 162 with MMA


Get the manuals downloaded and read, look at the specs, ignor the names and check out the duty cycles with care.

Lastly look at the factory location, if the correct spec and well made China should be no problem, well people pay a lot for apple products and we know a lot of those come from PRC.

 

[dsj1979]

I think the reason I like the idea of a EuroTorch is getting a click on spool gun which is £70 argon gas 9litres £55 which then gives me the option to weld aluminium. Very very badly no doubt.... but if it could weld the odd snapped bracket that would be nice. Or will this not really work?

There are another two options. I've seen a shoddy Clarke which should be under £50. Convert to EuroTorch put a good earth lead and clamp on and hey presto (maybe?).
Or, I considered a second hand Oxford or Lincoln, but I think they're bloody heavy which as I don't have a workshop and will be dragging it through the house, chucking it in the back of the car means it'll probably cripple me. Would I be right in thinking that?

So that's two options to four..... wish I could just buy a portamig! lol

Thanks for the replies guys, must be annoying going over the same things with newbies time and time again!

 

[Cobbler]

Clarke is made in China to be as cheap as possible, GYS is made in France. They aren't even comparable

If you check the MM catalogue only the budget range is made in China, the others are made in Italy. They show a made in Italy sticker

Cobbler

 

[Wallace]

You won't like lugging a Portamig around! By the time you have fitted a Euro torch etc. to the used machine the cost will be up around a new machine. I looked at doing this with a new wirefeed to freshen up my old but perfectly capable machine then decided the money would be better spend against a Portamig. What model is the "shoddy Clarke"?

 

[dsj1979]

It's a 150te. Shoddy as in the condition. This is the problem, I'm going round in circles then thinking but if I'm spending x refurbing something, do I just buy new with no hassle problems and guaranteed working!? Argh!

 

[dsj1979]

Being realistic it needs to be something i can move about, in and out of the car or dragging down the garden... Which I'm 99% sure puts a secondhand Lincoln Oxford etc. out of the picture!

 

[cumbriasteve]

It's a 150te. Shoddy as in the condition. This is the problem, I'm going round in circles then thinking but if I'm spending x refurbing something, do I just buy new with no hassle problems and guaranteed working!? Argh!

Shoddy means very little, I have had and seen machines you would think only fit for the scrappie and they perform brilliantly, shoddy also means you don't worry about another scratch or ding.

If the price was right and it welded well, it's appearance would not bother me at all.

There are quality mig's that are portable but you are in a different price bracket altogether.

 

[Wallace]

With wheels and castors they move about on decent flooring easily but they're not designed for off roading! A Eurotorch is not a necessity and unless the wirefeed has a quick release tensioner you will soon become bored with removing it and having to set up again. The Clarke torches on the smaller machines are quite flexible, I lent my old Mig to a friend who had been using a Clarke and he missed the cable flexibility. Portability usually ends up costing more, the bigger machines take 15kg rolls of wire and will support a full size gas bottle which cuts running costs if you are doing a lot of welding, the smaller machines take up to 5kg and some will not hold a bottle much bigger than a disposable so you end up tethered to the gas supply.

 

[dsj1979]

I'm going to be using a 9 / 10 litre gas bottle on whichever machine, but to make it easy will be carrying it separately when moving the welder around. I'm not thinking offroading so much (or am i? lol), but if it's 20kg - 30kg ish then I can at least carry it and move it about without too much bother.

 

[Wallace]

Just checked the weight of my Portamig 215, 55kg bare.

 

[dsj1979]

I'll say the portamig is out of the question due to weight then..... (honestly has nothing to do with money...... )