New or Second hand??

[macca666]

First post so be gentle!! I'm looking to learn welding and after doing a bit of research here was going to go for a Clarke 160tm if I could catch a vat free day at machine mart. Not had any offers for a bit on machine mart and now have the opportunity of a Clarke 151te turbo second hand for £100. Didn't want to pay full price for the 160 as it's just out of budget but could've stretched to the vat free price.

I'm totally new to welding and looking for it for my old car when getting rid of the dreaded tin worm. Don't anticipate I'll use it for any other welding.

I think the 151 is a good price but would it be ok for a total newbie to learn or do I hold off in the hope another vat free day comes round soon and generally are Clarkes likely to last as I don't want to buy one that's just going to break.


Thanks in advance.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum..if you are 100% sure the 151 is in good order then grab it, a good machine at a good price.

 

[macca666]

Thanks. Can't be 100% sure as new to welding and don't know the pitfalls. Don't know the seller personally but no reason to doubt his word. It's a few years old hence the cheaper price though as far as I can see looks well enough looked after and works ok.

Is there anything obvious that I'd see or that I should look out for?

 

[rikrobson]

Don't forget you will have to consider the gas options too. the 150 is a hobby gas welder as standard and the 160 has a regulator for Big Boys Bottles (not sure of its quality)

may be best to start on the 151 then upgrade the gas to big boys regulator and bottles

 

[macca666]

I don't have major welding at the moment so was thinking the smaller gas would do in the meantime while practising and could upgrade later. I'm thinking Upgrading to new regulator would still come out considerably cheaper in long run.


It's maybe just a mental thing just now wondering how I'll get on with the welding and think if I'm only out £100 or so and I'm a total div then won't feel as bad as opposed to 3/4 hundred. Then again I know at times it's a false economy buying cheap.

I think I confuse myself at times haha.

 

[shed or dead]

Welcome

Another vote for the 151, at £100 it sounds like a good buy if it doesn't look like the rollers etc under the cover are too worn, and if there are no obvious signs of neglect / repair.

You'll likely need at least an hour or so practice on thicker materials (2 - 3 mm) before going anywhere near a car so don't be tempted to use small bottles, it will cost you a fortune.

 

[jackjosh]

I have a Clarke 150TE that I keep even though I have a Portamig, if the 151 is anything like the 150 then a £100 is a steal and definitely the option I would take. Once you have gained more experience you may want to upgrade but many a car has been restored using Clarke MIG's

 

[macca666]

Thanks all. Looks like I'm being swayed towards the 151. My only worry I suppose is that its 2nd hand and won't last but I suppose its a gamble I take

 

[macca666]

Welcome

Another vote for the 151, at £100 it sounds like a good buy if it doesn't look like the rollers etc under the cover are too worn, and if there are no obvious signs of neglect / repair.

You'll likely need at least an hour or so practice on thicker materials (2 - 3 mm) before going anywhere near a car so don't be tempted to use small bottles, it will cost you a fortune.

I like your confidence if I only need an hour or so practice I'll be delighted. I was more thinking hours and hours of practice so will look at regulator as would need big bottle for the 160 anyways.

 

[jackjosh]

There are a few offers around for gas but I use the BOC Volkszone offer. It cost me £42 a year rental for a "Y" sized bottle which is a fair size. Not had to get a refill yet so don't know what they cost.

 

[Bill Edwards]

£25 + VAT. Not much when you consider just how much is in them.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Thanks all. Looks like I'm being swayed towards the 151. My only worry I suppose is that its 2nd hand and won't last but I suppose its a gamble I take

If the seller can show it working then you should be ok, there are many ancient and battered Clarke MIG's still working well and the beauty of them is parts are readily available so buying a used one would not worry me... in fact it didn't and my 135 was a used machine when I got it... it's never missed a beat and is an excellent unit capable of producing first class welds.

 

[jackjosh]

If the seller can show it working then you should be ok, there are many ancient and battered Clarke MIG's still working well and the beauty of them is parts are readily available so buying a used one would not worry me... in fact it didn't and my 135 was a used machine when I got it... it's never missed a beat and is an excellent unit capable of producing first class welds.

My 150TE is 20 odd years old I would say, all I have put in it is a new liner. It cost me £80 with a bottle of pub gas and a regulator

 

[macca666]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Must've been a good deal as he sold it to someone else so I'll keep on looking - or waiting for my vat free voucher ☺

 

[dannyp]

my experiance of old and new machenes surface apperance is nothing much to go by.

a batterd looking machene has probaly done some hard work in it's life so it may need a littel TLC but that also means it was good enough to put up with hard work and if it's lasted that long it'll proably carry on just fine. i've seen plenty of immaculate looking machenes that are just a couple of yeras old in the skip.

 

[dannyp]

infact a few mates have bought cheep new machenes over the the old boxes that i'd offerd them at mates rates. one was most ****** off as turned down an old sealy unit, to be fair it was batterd and bent as it had a very hard life, would have been a ready to work set for the price of the new torch that was on it. but he bought some chinese thing that no one chold get a decent weld out of. that old plant is still going infact in near daily use by a guy down the road

Mod: Language edit

 

[rangel]

Hi THERE I HAVE VAT FREE VOUCHER TO GIVE WAY IT IS GOING TO EXPIRE IN TWO DAYS LET MY KNOW IF YOU WANT IT?

 

[penfold]

When I bought my Cebora pocket turbo 130 it was a good 10 years old; when I sold it to someone on here last year I'd had it 18 years and it worked as well then as it did when I bought it and looked more or less the same, a few dents and scratches with dribbles of paint down the side. Provided you get to see them running, used Clarkes or similar will be a good buy.

 

[macca666]

Hi THERE I HAVE VAT FREE VOUCHER TO GIVE WAY IT IS GOING TO EXPIRE IN TWO DAYS LET MY KNOW IF YOU WANT IT?

That is a very generous offer and one I'd be rude to refuse ☺ If you're not going to use it I'll happily take it and looks like the 160tm it is.

 

[rangel]

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