What d'ya reckon??

[evad1980]

Hi chaps,

Been looking at a couple of mig welders (after looking at the buyers guide section) and I think I've narrowed it down to a Clarke 160TM as it comers with the gas regulator for refillable bottles, I was looking it the 151TE also but it does not come with the appropriate regulator connection... Also it's the top end of my price range....

Currently I am using a Clarke 85EN gasless to restore my a car which is painful to use...

Do you think I'm heading in the right direction for a new welder? What about the minimum Amps, should I be looking at something that could go down to say, 20A for thin panels?

All comments greatly appreciated before I commit!!

Cheers!!

 

[shenion]

Both are fine. All the 160TM would need is a bottle.

The 151 and 160 have the same range and a 30A minimum. That is fine for bodywork.

 

[cumbriasteve]

If my set blew up tomorrow I would replace it with the 160TM because I like Clarke's and my welding is now usually 2 to 3mm material with the occasional blast at some 5mm.

So I would suggest it's a good buy, if however the budget is tight at the moment and you will never require the 150 amp top power because it's solely for car work and nothing else, then why not buy one of the lower power Clarkes that will accept a gas bottle.

 

[evad1980]

Thanks guys.... Steve, which of the lower power welders would you recommend?

 

[cumbriasteve]

As mentioned I like Clarke, they do a 90EN which is a gas/gasless machine and has a bottom setting of 24 amps so fairly good for car work.

A VAT free machine mart day makes them fairly cheap and the members here usually give away their vouchers if not using them

You have to remember you will need a gas conversion kit and a regulator to use gas, so the extras will then push it up a bit.

If you can find a second hand Cebora, they are good machines but as always with second hand you must see it working well before handing over the £££'s.

Wolf and SIP are not makes I personally would consider at all.

Ebay can be hit and miss, you can get some good bargains in the lower range of hobby machines, you can usually read between the lines and use the feedback ratings to eliminate the one's that are looking dodgy.

 

[marlinspike]

Where are you in the UK, Evad? I got my mig from the For Sale section on here and good deals regularly come up. You could advertise in the Wanted section.

We had been thinking of converting our gasless Clarke to gas - Steve at Weldequip kindly sent me an explanation of what it would need - but decided to upgrade instead. I reckon if you budget around £200 you will find a good deal in the ads on here, it just depends how long you want to wait for the right machine to come up.

 

[evad1980]

Thanks guys, some more good info there...

Ya I'll keep a look on the for sale section, I kinda want it straight away to be honest, need to crack on with the car.

I'm in London by the way..

Cheers!

 

[evad1980]

Would I be right in thinking that the Clarke 90 would be a similar machine to the Clarke 85 I have already?