New user, Clerke 160

[Clive Austin]

New user, Clerke 160 TM

Snap! I am also complete novice at welding and have just bought a Clarke 160TM too using argon CO2 mix and 0.8mm wire. I'd be really interested to hear how you get on since I am having similar set up issues. No rust etc since the kit is new. Seemed ok on thinner stuff but am struggling on thicker tube. Burn back, globules, crap welds, soot etc. Suspect I might be using too little wire and too low power. Maybe the torch is too far away too. Power is set at 3 / Min (1 - 3 and a min / max switch so effectively 3 of 6) and wire about 6 / 10. Only have the Calrke reg which shows bottle pressure so just assumed you cranked the valve full open. No idea what flow this equates to. Was trying to weld two square tubes together into a capital T shape. Tube walls were c3mm. Any thoughts welcome...

Are there any good books / video's etc that people are aware of? I am also looking for a DIY evening course in the Worcester area if anyone knows of one.

Cheers.

 

[Sparkey]

Sanp! Am also complete novice at welding and have just bought a Clarke 160TM too using argon CO2 mix. I'd be really interested to hear how you get on since I am having similar set up issues. No rust etc since the kit is new. Seemed ok on thinner stuff but am struggling on thicker tube. Burn back, globules, crap welds, soot etc. Suspect I might be using too liitle wire and too low power. Poweer is set at 3 / Min (1 - 3 and a min / max switch so effectively 3 of 6) and wire about 6 / 10. Only have the Calrke reg which shows bottle pressure so just assumed you cranked the valve full open. No idea what flow this equates to. Was trying to weld two square tubes together into a capital T shape. Tube walls were c3mm. Any thoughts welcome...

Cheers.

Hiya Clive welcome!
Yeah as you stated already you should up the power a bit!
Your welder power range is from 30 to 150 amps right?
Just try it out, have a play with it!

ps: i've asked the mods to give you your own thread, otherwise it will be missed!

 

[Clive Austin]

Thanks Sparkey. Yep 30 - 150 Amps and 0.8mm wire.

 

[keith19]

Hi Clive,

On your previous low settings mentioned above you'll be losing heat too fast on 3 mm, and get 'balling', little balls of melted wire splashing around.

You're going to need to crank that welder up toward the top end to weld 3 mm tubes together. Get them tightly clamped, too. And get in close with the torch.

You need to hold the torch momentarily in one place when you start, to get the weld heated up before moving slowly along. These little welders tend to start a bit 'cool'. They need to bite into the steel first before the torch is moved, otherwise they skip, and you get a blobby line of weld. Take a look at some of the 'First Weld' picture posts on here and you'll see what I mean.

Do a few powerful short tacks of about 4-5 seconds each to get good penetration first, about six inches apart, to hold a bigger job together.

Getting the machine set up correctly for the gas and the metal thickness being used is the first job. Then you can get into learning technique. It's all practice and more practice, really. When you get good settings for a particular thickness, make notes. You may not touch that thickness again for some time if you're only hobby welding, and it can save a lot of time and fiddling about in future to be able to read off the settings and set up the machine quickly.

Welding takes a bit of a learning curve to start with, but you'll soon pick it up. Best of Luck!

 

[PaulMcElhinney]

Clive,

PM me your details. I'll send you a copy of a DVD that I have that is excellent.

Regards,

Paul (Halesowen)