Why are so many clarke migs..which one.

[zippy500]

Sorry guys another clarke mig question...

Wana replace my sip 105..only affordable option is the clarke range..

There are so many to choose from..I plan to spend about £200-£240 will hang out till the next vat free option comes along ..

just going to go for the gasless models as are cheaper..I have all the gas stuff so dont see the point of buying the more expensive option as I have all the kit anyway..

so...my 2 choices are

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mig130en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/mig151en-turbo-no-gas-mig-welder

why is the blue 151en cheaper than the red..? it is more powerful and more settings..?

Which would you go for..

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

The blue 1 is cheaper because you dont get a gas regulator, hose or fittings with it, also the dudy cycle ont he Red 151TE has a 60% duty cycle at 75A anf the blue 151EN has a 60% duty cycle at 62A so with the red machine that uses sheilding gas you can weld longer at higher amps than the blue machine

 

[spaffmonkey]

Why not get a second hand one off fleabay? yes there used but you can get a much better make and model for a lot less.
They dont make em like they used too .

 

[PaulC7]

looking at getting a clarke one myself.. bought many tools from them and all have done me well... but as said check ebay for better models second hand... just do your research on them to make sure its suitable for your needs.

 

[zippy500]

not too sure about buying a 2nd hand one.. dont want the hassle of replacing worn out parts.. the sip105 i have bought that off ebay..replaced a few parts still not happy with it...

The other angle is im not going to weld anything other the thickest metal that you get on a classic car..am i better off the just getting a small 100amp mig...or is it better to get the biggest you can afford...will it be less strain on it..

 

[Wedg1e]

...or is it better to get the biggest you can afford...will it be less strain on it..

Yes to both questions! That said, it's usually fairly easy to add cooling fans to most budget welders that will enhance the duty cycle no end... I started with a SIP 90A set that would weld at full power for 5 minutes in an hour if you were lucky.
I screwed a couple of ex-mainframe computer fans on the side (no room internally) and you had to work it hard after that to get the thermal trip to cut in.

I have an electronics background so have bought a few non-working sets cheaply over the years and resurrected them; they often have only simple faults (sometimes not though!) and now I have more weld current available than the house electrics can power... if I need the extra grunt I just take the MIG into work and hammer their electricity bill

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

A bit dearer than you are looking but in the for sale section there is a BOC 190 mig for sale for £400 looks a cracking machine, id snap it up if i wasent at the other end of the country.
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=39036

 

[ibrooks]

The other angle is im not going to weld anything other the thickest metal that you get on a classic car..

Then gasless MIG is not for you.

I really wouldn't recommend gasless for anyone working on car bodywork metal thicknesses. Apparently it's better if you are working outside - I use my Clarke 150 outside with no problems. If there's a bit of a breeze then you can usually shelter the torch with your body and pick a time when the wind drops to weld. If it's blowing a gale - do you want to be outside welding anyway? If you're doing it for a living then you probably have a proper workshop and if it's just a hobby then there should be no rush so if the weather is against you do something else today and come back to the welding tomorrow when the weather is better.

When I was looking to buy mine there seemed to be a red welder and a blue welder with almost exactly the same specs but the red ones were more expensive. I assumed that they were maybe changing the models and the red ones were going to replace the blue ones and I was just looking to buy in that period where they had both types on the shelf at the same time. So I bought a blue one. Many years later they still have red ones and blue ones with very similar specs but the red ones are more expensive. I'm still trying to work out why since my assumption was obviously wrong.

Iain

 

[Exuptoy]

I spoke to the guy behind the counter at Swansea and he told me they get more of the red machines returned with faults and that they were being made cheaper!

 

[WelshAdam]

The blue ones are more expensive and apparently made of better parts. I have a 151EN (blue one) and am very happy with it. You will need gas to weld thinner material but fluxcore welds thicker material very well.

 

[zippy500]

I dont need buy a welder with all the gas bits as I have a large bottle with regulator and flow meter.. also the blue machine has 6 power settings as oppose to the red which has 4.. does that make a difference... also the blue mac is psyically larger...still cant make my mind up...y dont they just make 3 machine small med and large...

 

[WelshAdam]

The blue ones drop down to a lower power setting than the red ones (apart from the 145 if I remember correctly) and obvioulsy having six settings is gonna be much better than having only four.

 

[WelshAdam]

Just realised that they do the EN models in red too so ignore everything I have said!!! If yo are getting a 'budget' Clarke then get an EN model

 

[keith19]

The 151EN is a well-regarded basic model, in the older blue colour. Not such nice switches as some of the red EN models, and no thick plastic buffers around the edges. But about £40 -£50 cheaper than the 160EN, which despite its name, still has only 150 amps available.
http://www.wilstar.co.uk/products/2/118/clarke_151en_mig_the_welding_centre_surbiton/

http://www.wilstar.co.uk/products/2/117/clarke_160en_mig/

MachineMart have them at about the same prices, cheaper if you can get a VAT-Free voucher...

 

[Sir Crashalot]

I am also confused by all this, I already have a large bottle, regulator & conversion hose to go to the small plastic tubing found on smaller machines.
I want a reasonable quality unit primarily for car body work (rebuilding a Mk2 Escort for rallying).

So the choice in my price range would appear to be:

160EN £250 + vat
151TE £260 + vat
150TE £260 + vat
151EN £200 + vat

Obviously the 151EN looks great value but do I have all the bit to convert to gas use & is it an inferior model to the others? or are the other models more expensive because they come with stuff I don't need?

Talk about confused.com! suggestions or mud clearing most appreciated by this complete novice.