bigbubba
Well-known member
Never had one,But there is a pretty good deal on a 130 amp mig welder and cart local to me.So anyone have one? Good or bad?
Clarke welders?
- Thread starter bigbubba
- Start date
Amitygravel
Well-known member
Yep. I have the 160 EN. While I purchased regulators for it they've never been hooked up.
Just never have gotten around to getting a tank. For what I do , flux core works fine.
Since I got mine new about 3 yrs ago the only issue i have is it can be picky about feeding wire. Typically , for the tip size being used use the next size smaller wire.
My machine gets used little at this piont , when I bought it I used it for fabbing iron railing and drink rails at a bar I was helping build.
It did fine on stock up to 5/16 and the occasional joining of something to thicker bases.
Obviously I'm not doing chassis or roll cage fab with it.
You do realize Clarke is no longer in business ? Somewhere I have heard that there are parts available online.
Check it out and run the machine before you hand over any dough. If it works and is cheap enough you should be ok.
Craig
Just never have gotten around to getting a tank. For what I do , flux core works fine.
Since I got mine new about 3 yrs ago the only issue i have is it can be picky about feeding wire. Typically , for the tip size being used use the next size smaller wire.
My machine gets used little at this piont , when I bought it I used it for fabbing iron railing and drink rails at a bar I was helping build.
It did fine on stock up to 5/16 and the occasional joining of something to thicker bases.
Obviously I'm not doing chassis or roll cage fab with it.
You do realize Clarke is no longer in business ? Somewhere I have heard that there are parts available online.
Check it out and run the machine before you hand over any dough. If it works and is cheap enough you should be ok.
Craig
Zeke
Well-known member
Read the threads on this search I did for you:
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=45863&highlight=clarke
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=45863&highlight=clarke
5lima30
Well-known member
I've got a Clark 95E arc welder (120v) I picked for places where I couldn't use my big Lincoln. It seems to work OK. It seems a little harder to start an arc than my Lincoln. I did use it to patch a mower deck. It actually did pretty good on that. I wouldn't want to do any heavy fabbing with it though. YMMV.
I've got a Clarke 180EN that I only picked up because it was a close out special deal for a display model.
Ended up finding that the wire speed dial was fubar and had to replace it. Since they are out of business, it was nearly impossible to find the correct potentiometer. Found a similar one and made it work.
Seems to be working just fine now. Only used it on a few projects so far.
Ended up finding that the wire speed dial was fubar and had to replace it. Since they are out of business, it was nearly impossible to find the correct potentiometer. Found a similar one and made it work.
Seems to be working just fine now. Only used it on a few projects so far.
toyotadriver
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 1,586
I have a Clarke welder and I like it. Works well for what I need it for.
From what I can tell, Clarke may be out of business but Forney welders are clearly the exact same thing. I bet parts are available from them.
http://www.forneyind.com/newprod.html
From what I can tell, Clarke may be out of business but Forney welders are clearly the exact same thing. I bet parts are available from them.
http://www.forneyind.com/newprod.html
PCO6
Well-known member
I started out with a Clarke 100E for doing sheet metal body work and light duty fabrication like the cart I built for it. I found it was very easy to use and really liked it. I replaced it with a Lincoln 180 which is a much better welder. The Clarke served me well though for quite a few years.
Last edited:
oilslick
Well-known member
I regret ever buying one and wished I would not have bought twice to get what I should have bought once a lincoln sp150
Griff93
Well-known member
I had a Clarke 130EN that I bought about 10 years ago. I welded a bunch of stuff with it. I think I ran about 15 10lb spools through it. I bought a Miller 175 due to wanting to be able to weld thicker stuff. I traded it to a friend of mine that is into round track cars. He's still using it today. With that said, there's a reason most people buy lincoln or miller welders.
bd8134
Well-known member
I ownded a Clarke 100E until last year when I bought a Miller. The Miller is such a nice machine to weld with, making excellent welds. The Clarke I bought about 30 years ago and had been of tremendous service. Welded many cars, added a large tank and used many, many spools of wire. The wire was permanently live making welding more interested. In all the years I owned it, it never broke or let me down. I added a fan so it could run for longer and just keep replacing the tips, shroud, wire and gas. I certainly got my moneys worth out of that machine.
I'd say you get what you pay for. I've used a couple of cheaper welders. I spent more time dicking with the welder than welding.
A cheap welder is something that I would not waste my money on, put a little with it and buy a good welder the first time. I think you will be happier.
A cheap welder is something that I would not waste my money on, put a little with it and buy a good welder the first time. I think you will be happier.
Iv'e got a millermatic 250 but it's at my grandpa's shop 50 miles away.I dont have 220 in my garage here so i cannot bring it up,And i don't really have the room either.Besides all i need it for right now is sheetmetal work(Chopping and channeling cars and rust repair)
Then I would suggest atleast spending a little more and getting a Miller or Hobart 115V unit.
Have you checked CL for anything ?
Have you checked CL for anything ?
What do you mean the wire was permantely live? If I understand you correctly, if you touch the wire to your work piece without pulling the trigger it would still arc.
If that's the case, then they might have changed that because mine definitely isn't that way.
Amitygravel
Well-known member
Even though I've never been let down by mine , I'm going to agree with NUTTSGT.
Unless they are going to sell it to you for 50 bucks , and its in out of the box condition if it breaks down that would have been money and time invested in something more current. I guess if its cheap enough and they have other stuff to throw in with it that let's you get a few jobs done with it then you might come out alright.
Craig
Unless they are going to sell it to you for 50 bucks , and its in out of the box condition if it breaks down that would have been money and time invested in something more current. I guess if its cheap enough and they have other stuff to throw in with it that let's you get a few jobs done with it then you might come out alright.
Craig
Last edited:
Amitygravel
Well-known member
That's not a bad price. When I bought mine new about 4 years ago I gave almost 80 bucks for the gas kit alone. The welder is a 220v model and I gave about 360 for it if I remember right and that was the sale price at Menards.
I guess if you can risk the 100 bucks ,try it. It sounds like it didn't get much use.
Craig
I guess if you can risk the 100 bucks ,try it. It sounds like it didn't get much use.
Craig
Amitygravel
Well-known member
Too funny.
Well if you get it let us know how it works out.
I bought mine at Menards and they still have Clarke nozzles and U.S. Forge tips , so if there is one near you they might have some as well.
If not let me know and I'll try and snag some for you.
Craig
Well if you get it let us know how it works out.
I bought mine at Menards and they still have Clarke nozzles and U.S. Forge tips , so if there is one near you they might have some as well.
If not let me know and I'll try and snag some for you.
Craig
gsport
Well-known member
for that price it may suit you for awhile but you will eventually want a better machine...
i had a clarke 130 also. it was my first welder and i hadn't used any other brand to compare with.. so at first i was excited to have my first welder, it didn't take long to relize i should've just went ahead and bought a good one in the first place. i had a heck of a time finding the "sweet" spot with the clarke. i eventually sold it and bought a miller 211.. the difference is like night and day..
good luck with what you end up with....
i had a clarke 130 also. it was my first welder and i hadn't used any other brand to compare with.. so at first i was excited to have my first welder, it didn't take long to relize i should've just went ahead and bought a good one in the first place. i had a heck of a time finding the "sweet" spot with the clarke. i eventually sold it and bought a miller 211.. the difference is like night and day..
good luck with what you end up with....
toyotadriver
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 1,586
$100 bucks is a good deal. I'd snap it up.
toyotadriver
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 1,586
Mine has been fine. Welded some almost 1/2 inch steel with it and it's not "supposed" to be able to do that. Welded it in multiple passes and it worked fine.
For a homeowner welding small repairs around the house or farm, you will be happy with it.
Add a 220 stick welder to your tools and you'll be able to weld almost any repairs around the shop that you might ever need to.
I like mine and would go to Forney for parts if mine ever breaks.
For a homeowner welding small repairs around the house or farm, you will be happy with it.
Add a 220 stick welder to your tools and you'll be able to weld almost any repairs around the shop that you might ever need to.
I like mine and would go to Forney for parts if mine ever breaks.