Soz welders again....

[Uncle Jimmy]

Yes, we've had this discussion 94 times before but...I need a mig welder and I'm asking for recommendations.

I want one with several or variable Amperage settings, exclusively for thin stuff- I have a stick welder for the chunky bits.

Looking at Sealey 180, Parweld, Gys and Jasic. A local welding supplies shop sells Jasic welders, they're expensive but come with a 5yr warranty which attracts me. Gys are cheaper but I know nowt about them, another local company sells Parweld. The Sealey is good value but I hear they aren't what they used to be- repackaged Chinese crud.

[gnorwebthgimi]

I have a three pin plug and play Clarke's thing. Got it from machine mart. It's alright, I only need it for light stuff like exhausts

[mouseflakes]

I have a Clarke 151TE which seems pretty good. A few years ago Ratdat picked up some spares from me. He said he had the same welder as a back up, but found himself using it most of the time instead. Felt like a 'proper' recommendation.

[Tamworthbay]

I have a Clarke 151TE which seems pretty good. A few years ago Ratdat picked up some spares from me. He said he had the same welder as a back up, but found himself using it most of the time instead. Felt like a 'proper' recommendation.

+1 and mine has survived years of use and abuse. I have one of the Clarke pro range at work and whilst it's nicer to use it doesn't make life any easier and takes up more space.

[fordperv]

i have a clarke 135te its great to use, ive had it around 9 years and its still going strong

[dieselassist]

Clarke are a bit overpriced - I bought a 150TE from wales; the chap that big's up the Clarke machines on the MIG welding forum; from memory I think the sealey equivelent was €200 cheaper - both sealey n Clarke are essentially the same machine's, but different body's - they are made in 2 factories in Italy; sister plants - across the road from one another; the thing about Sealey is that 50% of their production was farmed out to china, 8 or 9 years ago, so its 'pot luck' as to whether you get an Italian built welder, or a Chinese built one - no real was to discern; until it fails...

 

I have my Clarke welder about 2 years; not that impressed with the machine; turbo fan runs all the time, rather than thermo switched, n theres no led or bulb behind the switch to know its on or not - you have to listen for the fan; I upgraded from a 20 year old 130 SIP machine which had all those features, but eventually the internal transformer heated up n burned out... the Clarke machine also came with no plug, n without the promised spares kit....!! ... for them reasons I wasn't that impressed with it for the price paid, it does weld reliably n nicely, tho the settings are counterintuitive, n overcomplicated.... 

[Dave_Q]

I've got a clarke, don't really use it enough to recommend it or not.

 

What I would say though is if you are wanting to buy one, don't pay full price, if you sign up for Machine Marts email spam you'll get a No VAT on Clarke voucher several times a year making them 20% off.

[PhillipM]

They're all repackaged chinese machines, but the Jasic and Parwelds tend to have the internals checked over and tweaked hence the longer warranties, the Clarke 151's aren't really a bad machine for occasional use either.

[dave21478]

The best thing about my old SIP 150turbo welder was the nice thick side panels which I cut up to use as repair sections on a car chassis and to make a cart out of the leftover bits for my Clarke 151.

 

[billyboy406v6]

Mig welding forum is full of the information you need, very nice people there !

[Uncle Jimmy]

Mig welding forum is full of the information you need, very nice people there !

Seconded; I have tried said forum.

[mouseflakes]

The best thing about my old SIP 150turbo welder was the nice thick side panels which I cut up to use as repair sections on a car chassis

 

LOL! I did exactly the same with my Topmig 150 . Hateful thing.