Hello from West Yorkshire

[cutter]

Hi every one my name is Alan from Bradford West Yorkshire England do not let my user name confuse you I am a retired guillotine operator in the printing trade no experience in cutting metal looking for a course in welding just as a hobby,intend buying a Clarke 135TE MIG, having lurked on this forum for a while and read the advice given a Clarke seems OK for a hobby machine.Alan

 

[ian of fev]

hi alan and welcome to the forum another newbie from west yorkshire as for the mig yes defentley if you intend to do small jobs around the home or automotive work i have the same mig and set up with refilable argon/co2 cylinders and turns out real nice results with a little time and practice you will get there if you get stuck the pros on here will be able to help you out

 

[Wozzaaah]

Welcome Alan .
If your budget can stretch another £24, go for a 151TE or spend a bit more still and get a 160TE, they're a bit more versatile than the 135 should you ever find the need to weld thicker stuff.

 

[cutter]

Thanks for the welcome

Hi I have also looked at the Siegen EM130TX mini mig ? but I assume with it saying mini and about £50 cheaper than the Sealey 130 there must be something missing maybe only takes the mini spools ?,also looked at the Kende 150A (Chinese) in Screwfix catalogue but it says 60-140A range and having lurked on this site for a while I gather that the minimum 60A is not low enough remembering I am a newbie.
I was tempted by a Clarke 195TEC in the clearance section at my local Machine Mart but where do you draw the line for a hobby plus why was it in the clearance had it been returned faulty?
Thanks for the welcome its nice to know there is help if needed. Alan

 

[Wozzaaah]

Don't buy a mig with anything over 30A lowest setting if you're planning on using it for car bodywork. 60A is way too high. Nothing wrong with the clarke 195, 30-185A so a nice lowish bottom end and a bit more grunt at the top end should you need it. It may just have had some cosmetic damage, I bought a rollcab in their clearance section which had a small dent in it. Worth asking why it's reduced if it's still there.