- Thread starter weldequip
- Start date
Just got a Clarke 135TE from Weldquip.
I had organised a cylinder or argoshield and regulator but didn't have a fitting to connect to the 4mm pipe on the Clarke. Out of impatience I had to give it a go so connected up the disposable CO2 canister that came with the machine and had a go on an old wing.
My only welding experience was stick welding which I taught myself years ago (and I wasn't great at that) and I haven't welded in almost 10 years so I was expecting to blow holes all over the place. Especially considering it was thin sheet metal and CO2 and I had never miged before.
I couldn't believe it. Within a few seconds I was laying down runs of weld with decent penetration and no holes (not great welds but much much better than I had hoped). Once I got the argosheild connected up (One thing I didn't expect was that I had to use a higher power setting with the C02 than with the Argosheild to get the same type of weld) it was even easier and I even drilled a few holes to play with filling them in. Again no problems, it looks messy but the holes are filled and after sanding look fine.
Its a lovely little unit and even makes me look good.
So +1 for clarke and +1 for Weldquip.
I had organised a cylinder or argoshield and regulator but didn't have a fitting to connect to the 4mm pipe on the Clarke. Out of impatience I had to give it a go so connected up the disposable CO2 canister that came with the machine and had a go on an old wing.
My only welding experience was stick welding which I taught myself years ago (and I wasn't great at that) and I haven't welded in almost 10 years so I was expecting to blow holes all over the place. Especially considering it was thin sheet metal and CO2 and I had never miged before.
I couldn't believe it. Within a few seconds I was laying down runs of weld with decent penetration and no holes (not great welds but much much better than I had hoped). Once I got the argosheild connected up (One thing I didn't expect was that I had to use a higher power setting with the C02 than with the Argosheild to get the same type of weld) it was even easier and I even drilled a few holes to play with filling them in. Again no problems, it looks messy but the holes are filled and after sanding look fine.
Its a lovely little unit and even makes me look good.
So +1 for clarke and +1 for Weldquip.
Hello everyone, A big thank-you to all for the information and advice on this forum (and to Malcolm for the excellent tutorial).
Before finding this forum, I was looking at totally unsuitable welders in a catalogue (min 60 amps) to weld up my car. Thanks to y'all, I now have a Clarke Pro 90, 0.6mm wire, argon/co2 gas and a super auto helmet (thanks weldequip, great kit).
Having made a mess (to put it mildly) of stick welding about 20 years ago, I was far from confident that I could do the welding myself. Seeing what other new users had achieved was a revelation, and I am now making *passable* lumpy caterpillars on 1.0mm sheet (I will keep quiet about my 0.8mm practice sheet, there is only so much humiliation a man can take!)
Welding clean sheet is, I'm sure, very different to welding into an awkward corner of the car, however good the prep, so I'm still some way off tackling the real job. I still get some popping and spitting when welding and I cannot gauge when the metal is about to burn through yet (but I have only had the welder for a day and a bit).
I chose the pro90 for the low 25amp setting, rather than on price. I find that I am using 2/min for 1mm butt welds, so perhaps I could have bought that 135te after all.
No real gripes about the 90, it seems to work very well indeed. Clarke no longer supply rubber/plastic feet with it, so I will have to make up something to prevent the metal case from wearing through my concrete garage floor.
B
Before finding this forum, I was looking at totally unsuitable welders in a catalogue (min 60 amps) to weld up my car. Thanks to y'all, I now have a Clarke Pro 90, 0.6mm wire, argon/co2 gas and a super auto helmet (thanks weldequip, great kit).
Having made a mess (to put it mildly) of stick welding about 20 years ago, I was far from confident that I could do the welding myself. Seeing what other new users had achieved was a revelation, and I am now making *passable* lumpy caterpillars on 1.0mm sheet (I will keep quiet about my 0.8mm practice sheet, there is only so much humiliation a man can take!)
Welding clean sheet is, I'm sure, very different to welding into an awkward corner of the car, however good the prep, so I'm still some way off tackling the real job. I still get some popping and spitting when welding and I cannot gauge when the metal is about to burn through yet (but I have only had the welder for a day and a bit).
I chose the pro90 for the low 25amp setting, rather than on price. I find that I am using 2/min for 1mm butt welds, so perhaps I could have bought that 135te after all.
No real gripes about the 90, it seems to work very well indeed. Clarke no longer supply rubber/plastic feet with it, so I will have to make up something to prevent the metal case from wearing through my concrete garage floor.
B
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Does have better pen, improved verticals, and stoving protenitial...... feel free to use smartarse any ware in your reply
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- 17,596
clarke mig151en
Firstly what a usefull forum....brillant.
I was wondering if you could help. I am in the process of buying my first MIG welder. I want to use it for various aplications, a little bit of automotive stuff, but mainly for light agircultural use..welding up trailers etc. It needs to be able to run on a domestic supply (1ph).
I was looking a the clarke mig151en, because it fits the budget (£200), it is "non gas" so suitable to use outside, got a goodish duty cycle, clarke seems to be good qulaity for the low end of the market, goes down to 30A for the automotive stuff, and goes up to 150A for the light agricultural stuff. What do you recon?? Anybody got any better model ideas.
Also at some point I was looking to get a genrator to run it on...What KW genrator would be required??
Thanks for your help.
Leland
Firstly what a usefull forum....brillant.
I was wondering if you could help. I am in the process of buying my first MIG welder. I want to use it for various aplications, a little bit of automotive stuff, but mainly for light agircultural use..welding up trailers etc. It needs to be able to run on a domestic supply (1ph).
I was looking a the clarke mig151en, because it fits the budget (£200), it is "non gas" so suitable to use outside, got a goodish duty cycle, clarke seems to be good qulaity for the low end of the market, goes down to 30A for the automotive stuff, and goes up to 150A for the light agricultural stuff. What do you recon?? Anybody got any better model ideas.
Also at some point I was looking to get a genrator to run it on...What KW genrator would be required??
Thanks for your help.
Leland
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- 17,596
I'd have thought the 151 might be a little underpowered for agri stuff if it's your only machine, something around 180A would be better suited or.............get the 151 and an old stick welder and you'll have most stuff covered.
Regarding gennys for welders, big big big!
There are a few threads about gennys on here and the general concensus is that you need a hefty one to run even a small welder.
Regarding gennys for welders, big big big!
There are a few threads about gennys on here and the general concensus is that you need a hefty one to run even a small welder.
Johnny™
Whistle! Squawk! Tweet!
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it really is a well built machine, very heavy but portable enough to move around the garage, everything about it is quality built, including the wirefeed. ill take some pictures of mine tonight.
Aarrgh....I knew I'd get confused!
Hello to everyone, first post I'm afraid so apologies if I come across as a bit naiive!
I was in a popular chain store today asking a very similar question and was told that the Clarke 151EN and 160EN need a 30 amp power supply. I would really like one of these machines but I only have a 32A feed to my garage (which also feeds some outbuildings) so I really need to be running off the standard 13A sockets. Am I limited to the 130EN or can I go for one of the more powerful machines?
Hello to everyone, first post I'm afraid so apologies if I come across as a bit naiive!
I was in a popular chain store today asking a very similar question and was told that the Clarke 151EN and 160EN need a 30 amp power supply. I would really like one of these machines but I only have a 32A feed to my garage (which also feeds some outbuildings) so I really need to be running off the standard 13A sockets. Am I limited to the 130EN or can I go for one of the more powerful machines?
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- 17,596
30A? no way! A 16A supply would be recommended but you'd get away with 13A unless you have to run it at full power all the time in which case it's not the right machine for you anyway 
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The worst thing that can happen is the fuse in the plug will blow, so what? If it blows just replace the fuse, you can't do any other damage as the fuse will always be the weakest link.
.The worst thing that can happen is the fuse in the plug will blow, so what? If it blows just replace the fuse, you can't do any other damage as the fuse will always be the weakest link
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