ned
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 12:34 PM |
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Is the clarke 160te over the top?
I now want to buy my own mig welder to finish my chassis off (have been using dads til now) as the chassis is no longer at my parents etc. Looking
around I quite like the look of the clarke 160te turbo mig. is this a bit over the top for my application? i didn't want one f the hobby migs
with the disposable cylinders as i've heard from various sources they're a bit of a waste of time.
i figure buying a welder is an investment as i'll use it for future projects etc etc. I've just seen that some people have used 135amp
welders quite happily which are a lot cheaper.
I'm hoping to go any buy it tomorrow so i can get on with the car.
Any advise appreciated before i spend my money..
link to above welder:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=010115161&r=2031&g=105
thanks,
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 12:49 PM |
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Ned,
The general rule is "buy the biggest and the best you can afford", so this model should be fine.
The effect will be to allow you to weld for longer at the lower settings before having to give the machine a chance to cool - not that this is usually
a problem when welding tubes, which is mostly "weld an inch or so, then fidget around until you can do the next weld"!
David
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ned
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 01:10 PM |
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Thanks for the reassurance David! I've rung up machine mart and it has my name on it for tomorrow morning!
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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Alan B
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 01:52 PM |
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Agree 100%....if the bigger machine is within budget go for it....
You won't regret it.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 02:01 PM |
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You often get other bonuses for paying more money - better switch gear, feed motors, and so on.
All these help make life easier when you're learning to weld!
David
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splitrivet
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 05:59 PM |
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Dont know how friendly you are with your local machine fart manager Ned but its worth asking when thier next VAT free day is.
I went into my local branch last saturday to buy a new compresor and he told me wait until March as they are having one of thier VAT free days, 17.5 %
off of everything.
Mind you when you want a new toy you want it straight away but a 35 squid discount aint to be sniffed at.
Cheers,
Bob
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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thommy2
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 06:04 PM |
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maybe you can buy an occasion on ebay or whatsoever. For that price, or less, you can find a better one. Not that this one sucks, but anyway...
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 06:06 PM |
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Definately buy the biggest you can afford, for all the previously mentioned reasons, and perhaps the best reason, they last longer, the sub 120A jobs
usually expire after a couple of years
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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JoelP
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| posted on 20/2/04 at 07:26 PM |
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its a nice thought to have the fully adjustable amps, mine only has 2 settings.
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ned
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| posted on 23/2/04 at 10:04 AM |
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picked up my welder sat afternoon, took AGES to get the settings right, but got some lovely results when it got going...
 
new toy
 
nice weld
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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James
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| posted on 23/2/04 at 11:06 AM |
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Definate improvement!
Looks like you're getting a better profile weld compared with before.
Less like pigeon droppings.... 
James
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 23/2/04 at 06:32 PM |
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A nice looking weld, it would be even better if you turn the power up by about 10%, and increase the pass rate, but hold the wire speed at the same.
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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Alan B
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| posted on 23/2/04 at 07:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
A nice looking weld, it would be even better if you turn the power up by about 10%, and increase the pass rate, but hold the wire speed at the same.
Beat me to it....
I was going to say looks good except for marginally high build up of weld...certainly looks well stuck on though....
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ned
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| posted on 24/2/04 at 09:35 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
it would be even better if you turn the power up by about 10%, and increase the pass rate, but hold the wire speed at the same.
This worries me slightly as I'm running the welder on one setting below max, and on a 13 amp plug! I'm sure theres a huge margin of error
on this sort of thing and if there is a problem the 13amp fuse should blow before it damages the welder, but this means I must be putting a lot of
amps through it al surely?
Also the instruction book that came with the welder recommends at these voltage/wire speed settings that i should be using 0.8mm wire, not 0.6 which I
am currently using.
yours, a bit confused..
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 24/2/04 at 09:00 PM |
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My home welder is a clarke 140, its only blown one fuse in about 14 years, used on full power most of the time. You are not going to damage the welder
by using it, at the very worst it may cut out on the thermal switch (mine has never done this - unlike my arc whick cuts out after 15 mins like
clockwork!).
0.6 wire needs a faster feed that 0.8mm wire as it is the mass of wire that determines the amp used (or should that be the other way around?). Your
weld is good, definately, just Alan and I were being really picky, it has a little too much build up, hence the setting advice. You could just weld a
little faster with the same settings.
If you do change to 0.8mm wire, get some 250A tips, the difference is amazing.
Damn nice welder
Mark
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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ned
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| posted on 25/2/04 at 09:26 AM |
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Marks,
Thanks for your help and clarification, greatly appreciated.
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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JamJah
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| posted on 25/2/04 at 10:14 AM |
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Not sure if you have seen this ned...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=632&item=2381556382&ssPageName=STRK:MEBWA:IT
Bout £20 cheaper than the machine mart for the same model and delievery is included in that calc. I know you were looking at the model above, just
thought Id let you know.
[Edited on 25/2/04 by JamJah]
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splitrivet
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| posted on 25/2/04 at 10:33 AM |
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Wouldnt worry about the ampage Ned I have a 185 amp welder with setings up to number 7 and keep it on 6,used to faff about with it on 4 till my lad
who is a coded welder showed me the error of my ways.
I shouldnt worry about current draw those machines are designed for domestic current supply.
I noticed the best aid to welding youve got is that the chassis is on saw horses welded mine up on axle stands and put it on saw horses later,it makes
a huge difference welding at waist height,so much easier.
Cheers,
Bob
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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