mig

[highlander1v]

Hi,

i'm looking to buy my first MIG welder and after reading loads of posts on it i'm still undecided.
My main choices are the clarke 151te the 160en or maybe at a push the 165tem.
I did some gas and arc welding at college on an engineering course when i left school but haven't really done very much welding since and that was a lot of years ago.
The main reason for the clarke's is price as i hope to get a vat free one from MM if they send me a voucher.
I was originally looking to spend £250 to £300 max but without the vat could get a better one and might even go the extra for the 165tem but is it really worth the extra? as it doesn't seem to be that much better than the 160en or even the 151te and i will have to buy a full sized regulator for which ever one i buy anyway, wont i?

Any help would be great,
thanks!

 

[shenion]

The 160TE ot TM should come with a regulator. The 160EN may come with a full-size reg depending on seller.

I'm not sure but the 165tem might be one of their Chinese models. They have not been reviewed here yet. Most have a high minimum current not not good for bodywork.

 

[keith19]

According to machine mart the Clarke 165 tem goes down to a minimum amps of 30, so should be okay for bodywork.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mig165
But the maximum amps is only 155 amps, (and for how long?), so not much different from the much cheaper models which have a max of 150 amps. The only thing which might have made the high price reasonable would be a Euro torch, but it looks like it is fitted with the same as the cheaper models.

 

[highlander1v]

So is this right?

Considering the Clarke 151te, Clarke 160en, Clarke 160 tm and the Clarke160tem

they all are around 150 amps tops and 30 lowest?
they all will have portable bottle regulators?
none have euro torches?
They are all roughly the same price?
The 165 tem might be chinese?
The only one which is dual purpose is the 160en?

So if it was you buying one which one would you buy???

 

[shenion]

The 160 will come with a reg for refillable bottles and also has a shelf on the back to hold it.
The 151 would come with a reg for disposables and no shelf on the back.

All the EN models are gas/gasless (130EN, 135EN, 151EN, 160EN) TE and TM models are gas only.

 

[keith19]

"So if it was you buying one which one would you buy???"

The 151EN. It's probably the cheapest of the lot, comes set up for gasless, so you'll need to get a regulator kit for whatever gas you'll be using, but it has been around for some years and has stood the test of time. It's a very good all-rounder. I've had one a couple of years now, and for hobby work of all kinds up to about 4 to 5 mm steel it's fine. Anything heavier than that and the little arc welder comes out.