HELP! Need a Manual for Clarke Turbo 100en

[samiam711]

Howdy All,

Took a Clarke Turbo 100en in trade because I needed a welder in making Damascus steel and have NO IDEA what I am doing. Worse yet, it didn't come with a manual and I am a bit lost on what it can do and can't do. Does anybody have a manual or know where to find one online? I have searched without success, so please, HELP!

Thanks!!! Sam

 

[Unclefista]

Didn't search too far did you ?

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/manuals.htm

 

[samiam711]

Thank you, but unfortunately the manual for the Clarke 100en Turbo isn’t in the list. I have contacted the company representative in the US, but have not heard back from them. I was sure someone on this site had the info… Anybody?

Sincerely, Sam

 

[optionguru]

I don't have that particular Clarke but do you have any questions in particular. I'm sure if you ask some questions many people on here will be able to give you guidance.

Peter

 

[shenion]

A manual will not help much. They are not that detailed.

What do you need to know? There is not much to the Clarkes, some power switches and a wire speed knob.

Usually the power settings are a rotating knob with 1..4 or a pair of switches with 1/2 and min/max:

1-min
2-min
1-max
2-max

Only other info is loading the wire (not described in the manual) and setting the polarity (usually sticker next to the terminals.)

Other that the above, the rest can be found in the tutorials.

 

[samiam711]

Fair enough (and thanks to all the replies), what I am trying to do is weld on a piece of rebar to a billet comprised of several layers of high and low carbon steel. 10xx steel as well as nickel silver layers and the like to make Damascus for my custom knives. They will then be forge welded, folded, etc... I traded a wood working bandsaw in for a metal bandsaw and this welder. Until today, I didn't even know it was a mig welder, I thought it was an ARC welder, so the tutorials sound like a smart bet. I have a knob that is 1-4 on power and the wire speed control and a small plastic hose in the back. For the kind of welding I need to do, do I want to connect gas (I need as clean a weld as possible) as there is a hose in the back (no regulator or bottle came with) or just go without the gas? What kind of gas should I use for the type of steel? Someone in the US said O2, but according to the other Clarke manuals, it needs to be either CO2, Argon or a mix. The billets will be made up of 1/16 to 1/8 inch layers. The other use is to weld the end of large cable to make cable Damascus with out the cable coming apart. Thoughts?

 

[samiam711]

Thank you UncleFista, the manuals did help some, though my model isn't among them. At least now I know that if I use gas, I have to switch polarity on the gun. I am guessing that is pretty important. :-) Sam

 

[shenion]

The regulator is available from weldingdepot, I got my Clarke from them; they have been great to deal with.

That reg is for argon mixes, most use 75/25. Usually called C25 MIG gas. CO2 will work with a not as clean weld and requires a different regulator. CO2 is cheaper for the gas (about 1/3 the cost), but you biggest expense will be the tank. For a small tank, you will spend as much to drive there to fill it as the gas costs

You will need to go to Airgas/Linde/Holox/BOC in your area and pick up a tank and have it filled. You can also get a tank elsewhere, but I find they had them at about the same price. If you buy a new tank elsewhere and have them fill it, they just swap it with a filled used tank; so spending for a brand new one elsewhere is a waste.

The MIG will use about 14CF/hour of use (use about 6LPM on the reg.) So a 10 cubic foot tank will work for about 40-45 minutes of time the trigger is pulled.

You can get tanks from 10CF to as big as you want. 20CF is about $75.00 and a fill should be under $1 per cubic foot of gas. I had an 80CF tank and it cost about $145 with a fill for $48. Now have a 125CF tank an a fill is around $62.

They will ask you if you want to set up an account; that is a bottle rental. You just want to bring or buy a tank and have it filled.

You could use gas-less wire, it is harder to see and makes a mess that will need to be cleaned up with a wire wheel. Woudl save on gas but the wire is expensive compared to MIG wire.

1/8" is a bit more than a 100A MIG can handle, you will need to bevel the connection to get full penetration.

 

[samiam711]

Thank you for the reply Shenion!

Argon mix of 75/25 sounds like your best recomendation. Just so I understand, that is 75% Argon and 25% CO2? I understand the value of "buying the tank" rather than the rental thing and if they are swapping, just get the tank and gas at Airgas/Linde/Holox/BOC.

I wanted to clarify that the welding of a "stack" is down the edge of the stack, not through the metal, but at the butt end of the metal and the other end of the stack to the rebar. The stack will be 6 to 9 inch long x 1 inch wide with the stacked pieces being 1/16 to 1/8 inch thick. Will the 100en work for 1/16 to 1/8 inch when I am "laying a bead" down on the edge just to hold the stack together long enough to forge weld it? Will the "bead" keep the rebar on? Thanks again!!! Sam

 

[shenion]

Yes 75% argon, 25% CO2. And they will love to sell you a rental; the fact they do non-rentals seems to be forgotten at point of sale

If you weld both sides of the rebar it will be plenty strong enough. If you leave the stack square and fill the gap with the weld it will be real strong. Just be sure to grind the rebar down to nice metal, it is usually really rusted even when new.

The edge will be no problem.

 

[samiam711]

Thank you Shenion! You have answered all my current questions, so now I just have to give it a try! Thank you again for taking the time. Cheers! Sam

 

[shenion]

NP, the tutorials will get you the rest of the way. I started with a Clarke 130EN and got up to speed with the tutorials.

The wire speed video was key for me. I was using too low a speed.

BTW, if the MIG came with one of those handheld masks; get a decent auto-darkening mask. Even the dealer for Clarke said the mask that comes with the Clarke is useless "Only included for liability reasons, no one actually uses them." They are too dark and you need two hands free to do any decent welding.

There are several threads here on auto darkening masks.

 

[Weldingartisan]

samiam711,
Any pictures of your Damascus steel knives? I'm quite a fan. W/A

 

[samiam711]

Weldingartisan, I sent you a private message to answer your question! :-)