Purchased Clarke Mig

[tommyj3]

Purchased Clarke 130 EN today and it came with cart, regulator and full size hood. Justed welded a couple beads with flux core and it does a good job. Not crazy about flux core so I have to get to the local LWS and purchase a bottle.

[MicroZone]

Yep, they are a good unit. I've had no trouble from mine and it just keeps on melting metal. Make sure you pick up some spare tweco tips. They are about $4 for 4 or 5 of them...on average.

[tommyj3]

After reading your posts on this brand MicroZone is what helped me decide to buy this machine. Also the local Rural King farm supply at a super price on this package at 349.00. Its really a well made welder for the money.

[MicroZone]

Cool, I'm glad my posts make some type of difference. I spend WAY too much time on here. :laugh:

Yes, the Clarke is really well made.

[WelderBoy]

I had two of them. A little 90-100ish one and another one in the mid 100's. Used the small one once. Never used the big one. I saw no problems with either of them. They look about the same as far as quality goes as the little lincolns.

[ElectroLight]

Tommyj3, for that kind of coin you could get a real welder! Look at the Hobart Handler 140. I've had mine for three years and it has always done what I have asked of it and worked perfectly. Even MIG'd aluminum...

[tommyj3]

I,ve used a Hobart 140, Lincoln 140T and I would put the Clark 130EN up against either one. They all weld the same in my IMHO. I am not a beginer I've been welding for over 30 years and just needed a small mig. The Clarke fit the bill for me.

[WhiskeyDeltaBravo]

I don't see how the Ho
Could be any better than the Clarke
Especially when you are talking about real money.
Even though I have only been welding for about 200 hours.
The EN130 has out performed of what I expected and did it flawlessly.
They tryed to scare me into buying a Miller, but cost to damn much.
The next choice was to buy the Plastic version of the Miller..a Hobart.
Well, the plastic version of anything for that kind of cash is out of line.
I got my EN130 to my door for $300,
I have not regreted it yet.
WDB

[ThunderRobo]

Tommyj3, for that kind of coin you could get a real welder! Look at the Hobart Handler 140. I've had mine for three years and it has always done what I have asked of it and worked perfectly.


The Clarke is a great welder, welds just as nicely as a Miller MM140 and the Lincoln 135 that I've used. Not to mention the fact that for the same price, the Clarke comes with the Reg, cart and a bunch of tips.

Only down point is that i cant run a spool gun.... :realmad:

[MicroZone]

Thunder - they have the 130 amp Hot Shot spool gun welder. Give Clarke a call and ask them if the gun will convert over the the 130EN machine.

[WelderBoy]

Thunder - they have the 130 amp Hot Shot spool gun welder. Give Clarke a call and ask them if the gun will convert over the the 130EN machine.

I talked to clarke before and they said you can put other guns on them just as easily as any other welder. Some of the parts to adapt have to be ordered from bumfreak chine though.

[iWeasel410]

If I were to pick up the Clarke 180 amp mig welder with the spool gun, would I be able to do some aluminum automotive work (intake manifold sheet metal, piping)?

[MicroZone]

I believe you would be able to do some aluminum sheet and piping but I'm not so confident I would do intake manifold work...that is, if you want it to look decent. :)

[Cheap5.0]

I just picked up a clarke 180, i will post up once i get some hands on with it. So far i have been impressed with what i have read, and seen. They have a great warranty, and i have not seen too many complaints about them.

As far as a comparable *new* Lincoln or miller, there is not one out there. The price for a new miller is about $700, where as the Clarke was about $400. As long as it last me for a few years, i will be happy...it is only a stepping stone until i can afford a Lincoln 225.

[iWeasel410]

By any chance are you gonna try do some aluminum with it?

[Cheap5.0]

iWeasel....if you are asking me the answer is no. I have no plans of welding aluminum with it.

[Cheap5.0]

I got to lay a few practice beads on some 1/4" square scrap with the supplied flux-core. I must say i like it, the flux is a little messy but the penetration is good and it functions as it should. The setup was easy, i was worried about "threading" (i don't know what its called) the wire through the feed motor but that was really easy too. All in all not a bad deal for what i payed, now i will have to see about how long its gonna last.

[MicroZone]

How long it's gonna last?

It has a 10 year warranty, it should last a LONG time. :)

As much as I like my Millers, they don't even have a 10 year on them.

[cmartman46]

I'm glad to hear positive feed back for the Clark welders.
I also ordered the Clarke 180amp/220V Hot Shot Spool Gun Welder.I won on Ebay for $341.00
As for as warranty: 2 year/10 year on transformer.
I did notice it is built in Italy.
I am hoping that it will weld mig aluminum 1/4". I like the fact that it is a spool gun for better wire push and less waiste..
As for as made in USA! I believe in buy America but I thought my Thermal Arc was made in the USA. When I recieved it, I noticed a little sticker on the back! Made in Japan!
I truely believe Japan and China has the electronic market covered.
I visited a web site called "MADE IN CHINA"
I was surprised to see alot of welders that look just like Miller,Lincoln welders.
I'm wondering if the tips are universal on the mig gun?
If anyone has any more information about the Clark welders please reply.

[cmartman46]

I just picked up a clarke 180, i will post up once i get some hands on with it. So far i have been impressed with what i have read, and seen. They have a great warranty, and i have not seen too many complaints about them.

As far as a comparable *new* Lincoln or miller, there is not one out there. The price for a new miller is about $700, where as the Clarke was about $400. As long as it last me for a few years, i will be happy...it is only a stepping stone until i can afford a Lincoln 225.

I should get my Clark 180 spool gun welder by Thursday 12-10-09. Do you know if the tips are universal? Where did you get your Clark 180?