SIP or Clarke

[Calidor]

I know the general opinion on this site is that SIP is not as good as Clarke but specifically I would like to know if anyone has tried the SIP T90P for car body work. Weld UK implies this is a new model.

http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=545

It has good features like non live tip, a steel wire liner, 25A current output and automatic wire feed control (does this work?)

The alternative is the clarke Pro 90 as reviewed on this site:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/pro-90-mig-welder/path/diy-mig-welders

Also has 25A setting which I think is important for car body work. I can't however find absolute conformation that this one has non live tip. Machine mart implies it though.

the main difference seems to be the wire feed control (auto vs non auto). Prices are very similar.

I am not averse to paying a little more but these units seem to be the only ones with 25A current settings under £200 and I don't need to weld heavy guage stuff.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[shenion]

Go with the Clarke. They do not have a live torch.

The automatic wire feed on the SIP's is bogus. The wire feed is powered by the weld output and will vary with load.

 

[irondarren]

The normal thing with SIP is the wire feed unit not being as good as it should be. The problem is to get a good mig welder you need smooth power delivery, and smooth wire feed. Get a welder that has both and you end up with a nice machine that does good welds. Unless the New SIP has a different wire feed unit i would stay clear of it, certainly dont believe the manufacturers claim of welds 4mm thick steel. I weld for a living and i dont believe that at 90amps i could confidently send something out thats made from 4mm steel and welded up at 90amps that wont break, when under load.
25amps is a good low setting and ideal for welding car body material espically rusted extra thin stuff, most machines start at 30+ amps (with the exception of the portamig units which start at 20 amps, but are more expensive, having said that they are more of a professional automotive welding unit). My personal opinion would be to go for the clarke unit as it seems to get far better feed back on the forum

 

[irondarren]

shenion is right about the automatic wire feed, change the settings and you will still need to fine tune the wire speed. The only exception to that is the synergic units that have auto wire feed but they are £2000 +

 

[migmug]

I have checked a SIP catalogue and all the welders are now called Weldmate, the T90P-gas is listed as minimum current 40A not 25A.
The 25A minimum starts at the Weldmate T105P which would be the new name for the Migmate 105.

 

[Calidor]

thanks everyone

yes it just shows how hard it is to get at the real specs of these machines. Migmug is right, its the 105 p that has the 25 amp setting. On that basis the equivalent SIP is more expensive than the Clarke - no contest.

 

[tankslap]

most new machines under £200 quid are a total waste of time, sealey & sip offer very poor quality machines when in budget mode, as per above links

problem being most diy'er don't know a good welding unit from a bad one, most retailers are only interested in selling stuff, they don't use the kit they sale for long term, just a quick 5 minute session on clean metal.

probably best to go for a slightly bigger machine than you need, then it will last much longer & perform better..

on a budget use pub co2, it works fine, know many many folk using it.

i prefer a argon mix for mig..

for mig control its best to go for a fully variable setup in amps & wire feed not a preset rotary job, then again its down to what you welding, if its car body repairs, then its a must for a completely variable setup.

 

[irondarren]

Problem is a variable 'setup' requires an inverter based mig, most mig units have preset controls for the voltage because its easier and cheaper to produce. The more voltage steps the better, but a turn dial on the voltage is going to cost you ££££ either an inverter based unit or thyristor based. Not the sort of money a Diy er is going to spend just to get a car through its MOT. The welder will cost more than the car is worth or more than a professional garage would charge to repair, kind of defeats the object
If you talking about professional body shops thats a different matter, then you should be looking at a pulse synergic unit to get best results on MIG brazing, for the new boron based steels

 

[shenion]

Variable does not require it to be inverter based.

The Lincoln I have is variable, so is my Airco and Miller.

Lincoln has 2 ranges.
Airco has 3 (CC machine though)
Both use saturation transformers. Works well, only issue is the OC voltage is high as there must be a current to regulate (Airco is 90V, got some good zaps doing arc )

The miller is continuously variable, 10-44V - No electronics other than the rectifier. Built in 1979. Basically a massive 3-phase variac transformer and a big handle you crank to set voltage.