opinion please on two clarke welders

[txargyll]

which one is better, the mig 145 https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/010110125 or mig 130en https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mig130en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder

in both cases they have what i want, gas and no gas and low enough amps to do car panels with high enough amps that i dont have to upgrade my house fuses.

there seems to be a big difference in price for not so much gain that i can see, yes the 130 welds 5mm rather than 4mm but it states "Uses 0.6 / 0.9mm wire", does that mean only two wire diameters or 0.6, 0.8 and 0.9 can be used, does anyone have one can varify?

The cost is driving my decision here, both are in my range but almost 100 quid of difference........Why?, is the EN really that much better?

I agree you should buy the best you can afford but here the question is more like "whats the point in wasting a ton"

 

[Robotstar5]

The 130 is a better built machine rather than the cheapanese 145 built down to a price

 

[cumbriasteve]

^^^^ Agree
The 145 is one of the new range, which may be ok but they are bound to be built 'cheaper' to be priced so differently.

The 130 is the older range, same as the 135 and 150, 160 etc, they are well liked machines, have been produced for years and many owners have been using them for 20 years or so.

If you are considering owning the machine for a number of years the extra is well worth it, if your task will last within the guarantee period and then you will have no further use for it, then save some money.

As usual the sales claim it will weld 5mm is pushing the limit, it will weld 3mm easily enough and 5mm with some prep if ornamental stuff but I would not use it for a trailer or similar where critical strength is essential.

It should take all 3 wires, my 135 does.

 

[txargyll]

Thanks for the advice will i be able to weld 5mm on a 13amp house circuit without upgrading fuse box? i need to have the versatility of gas/no gas so for me the 135 is out, if i had the extra i would buy the 151en but its out of my range and i have read it needs a few amendments to its stock build as soon as you get it anyway. One of the projects i have is to make a motorcycle trailer but thought the 130 would do the job. Just to double check, the you have Steve, its gasless only, is that correct?

 

[cumbriasteve]

Thanks for the advice will i be able to weld 5mm on a 13amp Just to double check, the you have Steve, its gasless only, is that correct?

Mine is the 135TE working on gas, if memory serves me right the 135EN is a dual machine.

Regarding the fuse supply, this can be a strange situation in that some owners find any machine welding above for example 130amps will blow a fuse occasionally, where as I have used a Portamig at 235 amps for short runs and never blown a fuse ever on a normal plug with 13amp fuse in.

I am not an electricity expert by a long shot so can't help with the reasons for the variables.

Will it weld 5mm, yes to a fashion and no, not to a full penetration weld that would be required in some situations, will it blow the fuse on full song... I doubt it but you may be one of the unlucky one's and your supply may not be as forgiving as mine.

 

[Richard.]

A 13amp plug should be ok with the right machine but a 130 amp unit for 5mm thick steel is really pushing it.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Initially read too fast and missed the bit where you mention you are building a bike trailer, is this why you are asking about welding 5mm?, if so then my advice is don't, unless you have a machine that will weld 5mm without doubting it's strength, anything less than 150 amp would be a 'no go' for that specific task in my opinion.

There are loads of Clarke 150's or similar pop up on ebay, ideally you would want one within travelling distance so you can be shown it working but I always think you can weed out the dodgy listings by reading between the lines and their previous sales/feedback.

 

[optima21]

my clarke 151 TE welder is a 150 amp welder, and blows 15A fuses on my consumer unit, but its fine with a 15A MCB (both on its highest setting). some people say they are fine on 13A plugs, but just to make sure got it wired in on a 16A socket direct to the consumer unit. I might just have been unlucky, but some people say that the limit from a 13A socket is a 130A mig welder.

 

[Roadrally]

You need to check duty cycles on the welders. 150amps @ 20% = 2 mins welding in every 10
There is no point getting a welder that will thermal trip after 2 mins of welding.
You would be better off getting a 180-200 amp second hand Murex or Cebora.
I used to have a Cebora 130 turbo which was great for the 1mm stuff but as soon as I got onto the 3mm it took ages to do the chassis work.
Now I have a 250amp Esab Smashweld (same as Murex 251 Tradesmig)

 

[jackjosh]

I would go for the earlier style machine, I have an old and well used 150 TE that may be available in Helensburgh. It works perfectly well and comes with spare tips and a spare liner. I kept it as a back up to my Portamig but I have a Thermal arc 200a TIG/MMA as well now. If you want a new one though I would still go for the earlier design machines that are blue. The 150TE is gas only though.

 

[Roadrally]

Hmmm, 2 minute continuos weld is a long weld for most

Not if you have tacked up a job and are going round doing runs with 0.6mm wire on 5mm steel.
2 mins in 10 is the guide to make it easy.
Just to put it into perspective how would your boss feel if you said you were only going to work for 12 mins in every hour!
It's always better to have a bigger welder than you need. Imo.

 

[J.F]

You say you want to weld car panels, then the welder with the lowest setting would be better the 130en goes 5amps lower which is better for car panels. Some welders will go down to 20 amps which even better. I used to have the 130TE which I think is the same apart from the no gas function, using gas for car panels is best as you can pulse the trigger with out having to remove slag between each pulse/weld. The duty cycle on the max setting is poor, I noticed on mine the wire feed speed would become erratic before the welder cut out.

For welding thicker metal like 5mm why not look at some of the inverter stick welders which can be picked up fairly cheaply, they have a good duty cycle, ideal for welding outside etc. A 140A inverter stick would weld 5mm with a 3.2mm rod.

 

[txargyll]

thanks all for the advice and the offer...........im going to stick with mig gas/no gas option, hopefully get myself the 130en second hand, though it is very tempting to get the 145 new. Cheers

 

[T0rnado69]

i have a 155turbo, and had it for like 16 years now. its been great
and had to replace the wire liner about 3yr ago as it started to bird nest. opss....

 

[Roadrally]

If my boss only had the 2 min welder, not much of a company and i sertainly wouldn't weld 5mm steel with it not to mention the 0.6mm wire, horses for corses

Exactly.
This thread is about a hobby welder not an industrial one. The majority of these sets use 0.6 wire and people don't change it to do one job.
We use 1.0 and 1.2 wire for HGV chassis work, 3mm upto 12mm steel and 550amp welders.
I was making a point about working time in any job not specifically welding.

As I said earlier I would go for a Murex or similar older type welder than a new one around 200 amps for home use.

 

[txargyll]

starting to swing towards tig, decided not to buy another mig for the moment and stick with what i have. im looking at a different kettle of fish for my money https://www.weldequip.com/parweld-xti160.htm

 

[Alister]

I have an inverter stick welder GYS146. Never tried TIG welding with it but for stick welding it's brilliant. I am a useless welder but even I can make metal stick together with it.

 

[LC Racer]

I've got a 130EN, I really can't fault it, well built for the money and seems to be the last of the old skool Clarkes that have such a good reputation. Easy to use and puts down a decent weld even in my suspect hands. Good bit of kit for the money and the one i'd choose over the newer Chinese looking Clarkes.

But we bought one of these the other week to keep in the back of the van for those occasional 'stick it back together' moments, have to say it is the dogs nuts, welds really easily and so much better than any other low priced arc i've used

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-at150-150amp-arc-tig-inverter-welder