Anyone own a Clarke welder??

80sc man · 03-03-2004, 05:39 PM

I am looking to get a Mig welder and came accross the Clarke welders. They are a great price and seem to be good quality. Anyone have personal experience with one??

Doug Zielke · 03-04-2004, 06:34 AM

Seems to be a discount-house brand.
I'd bet the x-fmr is wound with aluminum. If so, pass on it.

80sc man · 03-04-2004, 08:26 AM

how about the hobart 135?? anyone use this one?

KTL · 03-04-2004, 08:49 AM

Hobart is supposed to be a good brand. Kinda like Miller.

That's just what i've read. I own neither, but plan to get a Hobart 175 whenever I get around to it...........

I remember thinking 175 was the minimum capacity/size welder i'd like to have. Other's opinions may vary...........

Mike O'Meara · Mike O'Meara's Garage

I bought one a couple of months ago. It's my first welder, so I don't have a lot experience, but I'm very satisfied with it so far. Don't know if the transformer wrap is aluminum or not. I've used a Hobart briefly, but again, can't make a comparison. Like many tools, if you are not a professional using it on a daily basis, affordability can factor a little more in the cost/quality equation.

03-05-2004, 08:18 PM

Get a Miller. It's what the Tuetels use.

A Quiet Boom · A Quiet Boom's Garage

Lincoln, Miller and Hobart are all good. I have a Lincoln 230V Mig and a Lincoln 230V Tig at work and they both work great. I have a 125 Miller at home and it does a nice job on sheet metal and thin (1/8" or less) stock. If you can afford it bigger is better, I wish we'd gone one size larger on the Tig at work. It's better to have a little more than you need than not enough IMHO. On ther other hand the smaller welders are great if you're only gonna weld sheet metal but don't plan on a roll cage etc. I doubt you'd get enough penetration for it to be safe. Lastly spend the extra money and get a Speed-Glass helmet, best tool I ever bought for welding.

toolman · toolman's Garage

Clarke is one of the brands I sell and I would not buy one. They are a cheapie welder that will not hold up well. If you plan to do any body work, you will need to get a mig with the gas as a flux. Do not use flux-core wire for body work, the welds will be too dirty and you will have adhesion problems with your primer. Get a good Miller, Hobart, Lincoln, or Firepower welder, the bigger the better, you could always turn it down if it is too hot. Also, good brand name welders will always have parts available if something does go wrong, not so on a cheapie, you will just throw it away and wish you'd bought a good one.

89turbocabmike · 03-06-2004, 09:40 AM

FWIW, Hobart is now manufactured by Miller

cab83_750 · 03-06-2004, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 89turbocabmike
FWIW, Hobart is now manufactured by Miller

Yup!

FYI, I bought my first welder. Lincoln mig 220v. Been practicing and welding some. Pretty happy with it. My only complaint is that I am stuck in the garage (much like my 220v air compressor). On the other hand, I know that if they are 110v, they would still be used locally in the garage.