Advice on caring for my Clarke 160TM (first welder, with pictures).

[silverzx]

So I've taken the plunge and bought a second hand welder!

In the end I went for a Clarke 160T (not TM) with a new regulator and a size B argon gas bottle.

After giving it a quick clean I set to work trying to strike some welds to a bit of steel I cleaned up.

I had the gas set between 15-20 and had the power setting on 3 and the min/max set to max.

After about 20 minutes of welding the 13A fuse popped and I ran out of 1mm wire that came with the machine.

I'd like to buy some 0.6mm wire and new tips etc so of anyone can advise me on where to buy, what to buy etc that would be much appreciated. I've been told 0.6mm wire is more suited to exhaust fabrication and body work for cars (which is what I primarily want to use the welder for).

Please go easy on me, this is the first bit of welding I've ever done in my life!

 

[Cobbler]

Look at Weldequip's web site, there is a link on the top of the page, Good helpful guy, he might still be catching up with orders from the Xmas shutdown as someone on here couldn't get hold of him. He only sells quality wire etc.

 

[optima21]

the fuse will be blowing as they need 16A for full power. if you dont normally use it on 3 max it shouldnt be a problem. if you regularly want to use it on the 3 max setting, you should think about getting a dedicated 16A mains socket fitted to a spare circuit breaker on your mains consumer unit.

 

[daleyd]

Worth getting a flow meter (either an inline one or a peashooter type you hold over the end of the torch momentarily) to check your gas flow.

The regulator won't give you an accurate indication of flow, you could be using too much or not enough gas (not enough = poor welds, too much = expensive gas wasted). For £10 they are well worth the investment, and if you are using too much will pay for itself in a matter of hours!

 

[silverzx]

Look at Weldequip's web site, there is a link on the top of the page, Good helpful guy, he might still be catching up with orders from the Xmas shutdown as someone on here couldn't get hold of him. He only sells quality wire etc.

Will do, cheers!

the fuse will be blowing as they need 16A for full power. if you dont normally use it on 3 max it shouldnt be a problem. if you regularly want to use it on the 3 max setting, you should think about getting a dedicated 16A mains socket fitted to a spare circuit breaker on your mains consumer unit.

Ah, well for welding body panels and exhausts I doubt it'll need to be on 3 max so I'll just grab some 13A fuses for now. Don't want to go messing with anything if I can help it!

Worth getting a flow meter (either an inline one or a peashooter type you hold over the end of the torch momentarily) to check your gas flow.

The regulator won't give you an accurate indication of flow, you could be using too much or not enough gas (not enough = poor welds, too much = expensive gas wasted). For £10 they are well worth the investment, and if you are using too much will pay for itself in a matter of hours!

Ah, didn't think of that, will have a look for one along with the other bits I need!

Here's my list of proposed items:

- 5kg roll of 0.6mm (decent brand such as UltraMag, is Super6 any good?)
- Gas Shroud (what size do I need? So many to choose from?)
- Contact Tip 0.6mm (all the same?)
- Contact Tip Holder (do I need left hand or right hand, not really sure what the difference would be here and why they'd produce both types, why not have it one way only...?)

Saw in another post Wallace said I've probably got a Binzel MB15 style torch?

Is this any good? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151485213821

 

[silverzx]

In the end I went for:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151485213821

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161474113671

 

[silverzx]

This bits arrived today, now need to figure out how to change a reel of wire..

 

[Cobbler]

This bits arrived today, now need to figure out how to change a reel of wire..

If you look at the top of this Clarke section there are the instructions for all the Clarke machines if you haven't got the ones for yours.