New Clarke 151TE

[ThePiraat]

Hello everyone,
Got the welder this week.
Will sign up for an X size gas bottle from my local dealer on Monday, on a yearly not daily charge (I've been reading the forum).
This is my first MIG welder so cannot comment on it yet except that it looks good quality.
Past experience is with O/A.
I need some advise please on setting up for my first try at practice welding.
I intend to weld up a collapsible wall mounted welding table using sq tube and plate.
From reading the forum, it appears that the manual on settings is a little off so any suggestions on how to begin will be most welcome.
My hobby is building miniature steam engines - locomotive and traction.
Regards,
Geoff in Diss, Norfolk

 

[66-V8]

The only 'problem' I have with my 151TE is setting the gas flow rate, I now aim it at my ear, and set it to somewhere between a ssssss and a SSSSSS, if that helps.

With the power turned 'off', obviously!

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

if you read the tutorials on the forum and start by running some beads down a bit of scrap plate then you'll pick it very quickly. Try each setting in turn...1 min, 1 max, 2 min, 2 max, 3 min, 3 max.

Also try with the wire at speed 5 and again with the wire at 7 or 8.

When I first started I kept burning back to the tip so I set the wire slightly too high, you can feel the wire stabbing into the workpiece if it's too fast.

Regards
Peter

 

[Finalreminder]

Good welder, I use one on my Land Rover periodically

 

[ThePiraat]

Thanks for the responses everyone.
Appreciated.
Practice, practice, practice and then some more plus reading the tutorials.
Regards
Geoff