Clarke Mig Welders

blackace · Post by **blackace** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 4:16 pm

I am in the market for a Mig welder and came across a pretty good deal. Its a Clarke Mig Welder. Has anyone had any experience with them. I have never heard of them. I have heard of the usual Hobart, Miller, Lincoln but never Clarke. Here is the deal.

http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldi ... mage=.html

I would purchase the one with everything besides the tank for $388.90. I would pick one up at the local welding supply store.

I was considering buying a craftsman mig welder but the Clarke is a better deal.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product. ... site=CRAFT

Both have basically the same specs.

What ya think??

Travis S · Post by **Travis S** » Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:53 pm

If you do get one make sure you get on with mig, also I would buy a name brand one, they aren't that much more, and if this one turns out to be junk you still have to buy a nice one

Air-Cooled Head · Post by **Air-Cooled Head** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:52 am

I have the 130EN (3rd down). Had it a couple years or so and haven't had any problems, whatsoever. I've welded floorpans, aprons, a ragtop clip, iron fence, and modified a shopping cart to make my welding cart with it. I've never had to turn the power all the way up.
Think I paid $25 for my bottle, w/ gas. Something like $17 to refill.
Get this accessory to keep both hands free.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=34306

This may not be a "professional" welder, but more than enough for the hobbyist.

blackace · Post by **blackace** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:58 am

I was just looking through the Eastwood Company catalog and noticed that they sell the Clarke welders. I am still debating whether to get the Clarke or not. I looked them up the net and I have not read a bad review about them.

Mach1VW · Post by **Mach1VW** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:14 pm

Travis S wrote:If you do get one make sure you get one with mig, also I would buy a name brand one, they aren't that much more, and if this one turns out to be junk you still have to buy a nice one

I would strongly recommend getting a name brand ie Miller or Lincoln. The Home Depot has a Lincoln Weldpak 110 for around $399. A gas kit is another $70 without bottle. Sam's club also sometimes sells these. The Weldpak is still not a professional welder but it is much better then Clarke or Craftsman.

Rescue912 · Post by **Rescue912** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 7:08 am

The Miller or Lincoln will most likely have a longer duty cycle - ie: you won't have to stop every 10 minutes and let it cool down. Good in a production environment.

Check the wire feed rollers inside the case too. If they are plastic I would'nt buy it. For mobile/track use I have a 110VAC Campbell Hausfeld (yeah, I know

) with a bottle and it does ok.

Not something I would want to work with all day but does fine for quick fixes. I learned with a torch and that is still what I reach for first...

Kes · Post by **Kes** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 7:53 am

My buddy has a Clarke with no cooling fan. He welds about 30 seconds and has to let it cool for 10 minutes. Home Depot locally sells the Lincoln 110 for $337 and tne gas model for $437. I totally understand saving money, but sometimes it's buy once cry once.

Air-Cooled Head · Post by **Air-Cooled Head** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 9:24 am

All very interesting comments.

Since I don't weld in "a production environment", the Clarke works very well for me. And since almost all body welding is just a series of spots, and I weld some, dress some to keep the heat down, I've never run up against the duty cycle issue. (If you're pulling the trigger for ten minutes, or even 30 seconds, somethings wrong!

)

As I said, it's not a "Pro" welder. It's for the hobbyist, not a production shop. It will serve you well in repairing your VW, but it's not for ship building.

I'm very happy with mine after 2 years, and haven't cried about it yet

jwvert · Post by **jwvert** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:25 pm

I looked at the Clark brand as well. Was turned off by the 6 foot hose. Ended up buying a Hobart 135 from Sears. Very good machine and I am surprised how inconvenient the shorter hose would have been when welding in new pans.

moebius3 · Post by **moebius3** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:34 pm

i bought a campbell hausfeld from a walmart supercenter that runs off of household current and i couldnt be happier...after about a week of messing around with it i finally started laying some nice welds.....I learned that my biggest mistake was not grinding everything down enough....once i started prepping properly it was a totally different experiance...you can hear and see the differance......I think that like everything else it isnt always the equipment it is the skill of the person using it..in the beggining i thought man maybe i made a mistake in buying this brand..but it was just inexperiance and the fear of blowing a wad of cash talking........I'm pretty sure that no matter what brand you buy and no matter what anyone says that if you just hang in there and have some patience that you'll end up with work that looks like it may have been done buy a more expensive rig...

blackace · Post by **blackace** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 9:27 pm

Well doing a little research I think I am going to get the Lincoln Weld-Pak 3200. It welds both aluminum and steel upto 5/16" which is more than most and it also comes with a mini cart. I went to Home Depot today and they have there for $437. All I would need is the Argon bottle and maybe a new mask.

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalo ... asp?p=7112

moebius3 · Post by **moebius3** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 5:22 am

i bought a solar powered helmet from a harbor freight store and really like it alot..it,s a western safety and i think that they are on sale now for 60..about 1/2 price.....you should get a pair of goggles also...i found out last week when welding around my pedal assembly that i was bumping the helmet alot and it was annoying.........good luck

Mach1VW · Post by **Mach1VW** » Fri Nov 21, 2003 7:04 pm

blackace wrote:Well doing a little research I think I am going to get the Lincoln Weld-Pak 3200.

Good choice!!

You said you would need to buy a bottle of argon, I guess that means you have a bottle of co2. or mix (ar. co2). 'cause that's what you need for welding steel.

moebius3 wrote:after about a week of messing around with it i finally started laying some nice welds

Practice make perfect. When you get your new welder take some scraps and have at it. You'll be much better when you need to weld something important.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Nov 22, 2003 6:26 am

I didnt practice enough before i tried to do something important and found out quick that big fat juicy weld beads are a pain in the but to weld......shortly after i think i read somewhere that the welded are ends up being stronger thab the surrounding area.......I had to weld my tunnel after installing a clutch tube and it took forever to grind it all down flat and smooth.....I found myself having to do a weave bead and whatever they call it when you fill in holes.....ended up with some built up areas in these spots........i left one really nice 1 1/2 " bead ungrinded because it was such a beautiful thing....Im trying to practice on my 70 because i need to weld in rockers on my 63 and at this point am sort of scared toooo...moooore practice needed

blackace · Post by **blackace** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 6:19 pm

Mach1VW wrote:
Good choice!! You said you would need to buy a bottle of argon, I guess that means you have a bottle of co2. or mix (ar. co2). 'cause that's what you need for welding steel.

co2 alone is not good for welding sheet metal it will get to hot and warp the panel. Argon with about 20 to 25% co2 is perfect. I dont have a bottle. I plan on picking on up at my local welding supply store. I just bought the Linclon Weld Pak 3200 HD for $330. About $100 less than what Home Depot is selling theirs for.