New clarke migs a machinemart

[Hos]

New clarke migs at machinemart

Hi noobie here looking at buying my first welder,from what i've read on here clarke seems a good bet,been looking around and found these new migs at machinemart,they seem a bit cheaper than there older range,anybody got any thoughts on this before i commit to buying one.any advice appreciated.............. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p.../path/dual-purpose-and-inno-gasin-mig-welders

 

[gaz_moose]

personally id steer clear of no gas machines as they produce a lot of splatter.

the red machines have been around for a long time. a buddy of mine has one that is about 200 amps and it lays down decent welds. he has abused it for about 4 years and its still alive and kicking.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Ooh, Clarke machines are now identical to Wolf ones! Who'd have thunk it eh?
I reckon the days of us recommending them as ideal hobby machines are possibly numbered.

The old red ones are Italian made and are fine btw.

 

[NeilH]

clarke buzz boxes have been the wolf/aldi/screwfix ones for years.

 

[Wozzaaah]

How do you know that Neil?

 

[NeilH]

because they are literally identical.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Hmmm, not sure about that.
They're in a metal box with a turny handle on the front and an on/off switch but that's about it regarding similarities, the case style and machine specs are very different.

 

[NeilH]

opinions vary.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Opinions are irrelevant here Neil, it's facts which are the important bit if we're going to give proper buying advice to members.
Anyway, we're drifting slightly off-topic here.

Those migs most likely ARE 'Wolfalikes' as can be seen from these ALMOST identical photos:
The only major differences seem to be the wolf has a rotary voltage switch vs the Clarke's rocker ones and a different style of work return clamp.
I'd put a fiver on them coming from the same factory.

 

[NeilH]

i said buzz boxes.

what i was actually referring to is the arc welders that are identical that are sold under various brand names.

i only just realised that the word mig is in the title.

 

[Hos]

Well,going by Wolf reviews on this forum, if these new clarke migs are (Wolfs) in disguise I think I'll give them a miss and go for the tried and tested older models

 

[NeilH]

hos, absolutely definetly totally positively DO NOT buy a wolf buzz box. i own a rebranded one myself.

i dont know what their mig welders are like though.

dont be put off a clarke mig, i love them.

 

[keith19]

The new Clarke mig in the link has a low amps output of 40A, a bit high for thin metal work, car panels, etc. All the older range go down to 30 A, which is easier to work with. Wonder why they've done this, cheaper build perhaps?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Got it in one Keith.
Hopefully they'll continue selling their Italian ones alongside the new Chinese ones.