Clarke 135TE Mig Welder Review - Gas Regulator

If you are thinking of buying one of these, I hope this vid helps you make the decision. They are good, but not perfect, and there are good alternatives...

[@johndn9238]

Very helpful; was half wondering whether to buy one of the small regulators but your review has convinced me that my doubts were well founded! Thanks very much.

[@floydraser4603]

Thank you for the comment. Wow! I can't beleive this video is still being helpful 6 years on. It was my first go at KZbin. Very satisfying.

[@TheMoonhead30]

A friend just gave me my 1st mig its q clarke 151 te turbo and need some gas and found my self here lol thanks

[@haskyb9184]

Smashed it, Floyd ! Great little video. I’ll be going to buy one of these come payday !

[@floydraser4603]

Thanks Ben, Have a great time welding!

[@bat21bob41]

good vid havent mig welded in 20 years just about to start up again

[@floydraser4603]

Thank you. It's like riding a bike.....:-)

[@tachizha]

really enjoyed watchig your Video, great sense of humour. thanks Floyd , smashing ....

[@floydraser4603]

Thank you. That reminds me, I must put more humour into my latest vids as they seem to be getting a bit dull for some reason.

[@Theknotman1964]

Brilliant demo thanks very much for posting

[@floydraser4603]

Thanks for the comment. I would have been happy if this first video had got 50 views, over 1200 is insane!

[@steveclark..]

The first regulator on mine packed up, no gas coming out even on nine, got another one, that only really works when turned up high too, they do seem to be useless. I would never have guessed that this were your first video, you are a natural.

[@floydraser4603]

Hi Steve, Thanks for the very kind comment. There'll be a very short follow up vid soon as I've just found some nifty side cutters.

[@steveclark..]

Nice TR7 by the way,....I've toyed with the idea of owning one myself, just for something to tinker with, Sunday drives etc, they seem pretty rare now, just don't know that much about them apart from an overheating/head warping issue back in the day.

[@floydraser4603]

The head warping thing was down to the alloy used and the average owner's lack of attention to the anti-freeze; it has to be the expensive Unipart stuff and maintained at the right concentration. I never had problems so I had to find another excuse for the V8! Handling wasn't brilliant but that just made it more fun to drive. Wish I still had it.

[@steveclark..]

Thanks for the info, why did you sell it then?

[@floydraser4603]

I wanted to do something for the Heartlink charity at Glenfield Hospital, who had looked after my newborn Grandson and his parents during a very difficult time. Stuff the idea of walking, running or cycling for hours on end: I sold the TR7 and wrote a cheque out! Must have been around 12 years ago now as the lad will be changing schools this summer.

[@richardlympany6732]

Nice video Floyd, especially the gas reg issue

[@floydraser4603]

Thanks for the comment Richard.

[@olrenison]

Great video thanks. I 'lol'led' when you ran down the path. Might just go and get me one to replace my under powered sealey mighty mig 100.

[@floydraser4603]

Great to make someone smile; anyone can make sensible vids! Thanks for the comment

[@ArronAdams1990]

Cool video, i have literally just got the same machine today and it was also to replace my old Sip machine, i also had the same problem with the gas regulator which i wasn't aware of it being a common problem with the clarke regulators, luckily i too have my old that i used on the Sip machine

[@floydraser4603]

Hi Arron, Thank you for taking the time to comment, it's much appreciated. Good luck with the welding, it's so much easier with those wheels!

[@mattmerrett5224]

thanks for posting/sharing, very useful. Cheers pal.

[@floydraser4603]

You are very welcome Matt, thanks for the comment.

[@tonyr1963]

Thanks for the vid Floyd. The 135TE is on my shopping list. Got quite a bit of welding to do on my Discovery 1. I bought that very regulator to use with an old MIG that I was given. It didn't seem very consistent from the word go so I'll be taking your advice and buying something more reliable although I'm thinking of using the larger gas bottles and buying a welding cart to put everything on. Cheers

[@floydraser4603]

Hi Tony, Thanks for the comment. To use the larger gas bottles you need to be the opposite of me: young and fit, have plenty of room around the vehicle you are working on, and not be lazy. I would recommend giving it a go with a brass regulator and see how much you get done with the first bottle of CO2 (the one that comes with the welder), you may be pleasantly surprised if you've only ever used a duff regulator. All the best with the Disco.

[@farveree]

Thanks Floyd, good to see an English video, so annoying when you want info and all these American vids say, got this at Harbour freight for a couple of bucks etc etc. Nothing's cheap like that over here, and I have a SIP like yours that plays up, so I might invest in a Clarke, though sorely tempted by a Tig welder. Thanks again. Adrian

[@Cupat1]

You're right good ol rip off Britain yet again!!

[@adrianpolley9419]

@@Cupat1 Yep. I bought a TIG in the end, £166 from China !. Works well but takes practice.

[@indianscout1019]

Good effort Floyd, better than I could do I'm sure. TR7, my first car which I absolutely loved. Wished i hadn't sold it for that clapped out rust bucket MGB.

[@floydraser4603]

Thanks for the comment, nice to see people are still getting something from this video, my first. I wish I could find my old TR7. I sold it in 2008 and it was taxed for one year then nothing since. I hope it hasn't been broken up.

[@bestoca]

Great little vid, I think you have a natural presenting style and come across well. I've got the same welder - my first, which I bought second hand. I've had it a little while and whilst my welds are slowly getting better I still have trouble getting the settings right, any tips? Cheers!

[@floydraser4603]

Thank you for the very kind comment. I have another vid in the pipeline, about my sailing boat. You've just given me incentive to get on with it! Cheers. Hard to give tips but from my own experience if I were to give myself tips I would say, "Stop being a whimp and turn the power up!" I was always a bit conservative and trying to everything at the lowest possible setting. Also, keep everything clean. Experienced (pro) welders don't seem to bother but it makes things easier to see and eliminates muck as a variable. If the unit is second hand, is the wire you're using quite old? It could be oxidised. Hope some of that helps, good luck.

[@blittlej]

Cheers Floyd, I found this useful and it's good to see a snippet of what you've achieved using just budget migs. I think I'll be going for something similar and stop looking at the £500-up models that I can't afford and don't really need. I have to remind be myself that I'm not a pro! just someone who wants to be able to handle car bodywork and the odd bit of general fabrication.

[@floydraser4603]

Thank you. I think these are ideal for that, I just hope it lasts as long as the old SIP!

[@pinknblues1]

thanks for this mate

[@floydraser4603]

You,re most welcome Andy.

[@keithmabbitt4030]

Great vid thanks. Have you got a link for that regulator please?

[@floydraser4603]

Thanks for the comment. Sorry I don't have a link, it came with the old Migmate unit.

[@zedman442]

Have to admit the regulator is pants however I stuck with it. I never use the numbers to guide me I go by the sound, probably not very scientific but does the job fine. I hold the trigger full then dial the regulator until it sound right. Since there is slack in the regulator that's the only way I can get it to do decent welds without the dial. Also for some reason I get better welds with CO2!

[@zedman442]

Also I hate using the cow hide gloves too clunky so use TIG gloves, much more supple but enough protection.

[@floydraser4603]

Thanks for the comments. I reckon there's probably not much in it between CO2 and Argon/C02 mix once you get going, unless there's a big price difference of course! :-) Never used TIG gloves, probably because I never knew they existed! I'll give them a try, thanks for the tip.

[@AW-Services]

Lovely review Top tip for hobby mig welder Bin the regulator & mini bottle Get a decent two gauge regulator and hobbyweld argon c02 bottle and weld at 20cfh

[@AW-Services]

@nasser d small regulators aren't precise and the flow is not as good. Plus a £50 two guage will allow a better flow control. Larger mix co2 Argon is the best gas

[@AW-Services]

@nasser d I use handy gas. Co2 argon mix. 3 foot bottle. One off deposit of £85 and haven't refilled it yet. The best ever advice is to always remember to turn off the bottle after every use

[@welderstv4947]

What the deference between TIG ang MIG i want to buy mig welding machine

[@pycaddraughting7875]

I suggest you copy your question and paste it into a google search and you will get a very good answer.

[@donk45]

Can you use this welder without gas?

[@floydraser4603]

I would think so but I don't know for sure. I'm guessing you would have to use wire for gasless welding but best to ask Machine Mart.

[@TheCitroenman1]

i had a 135te mig and found it not as good as the 90 en yes the regulator is rubbish i use a hi lo regulator from gaffneys Middlesbrough i now use air products euro bottle

[@6lr6ak6]

I'm was a coded welder years ago, these sets are OK but considering the price, pay more get a stamos set, it's Mig, TIG, and MMA, way better built, I got mine just over 400 you'll pay over 300 for the clarke,

[@floydraser4603]

I think you pays your money and takes your choice. If I were going to use it a lot I would have gone for a MIG/TIG set up but this just sits under my bench and pays for itself by coming out once in a blue moon to get me out of the sh*t. For that , the price is right. If I took on another car restoration I would factor in the higher cost of a better set up. Thanks for the comment.

[@andrewbradford5028]

Yes I also have one and the supplied regulator is definable rubbish 😖

[@ashleymenton1369]

I had this welder hated it it will last a very long time being an transformer mig but at £280 new its over priced I sold mine after a month it did make good welds but due to low powered fans suffers from poor amount of welding time at higher amps I upgraded to an r tech mig 180 paid £407 at that time and difference is massive infinite amp control metal wire feed 35% at 180 amps euro detachable torch regulater heavy duty ground clamp unbeatable customer service 2 year return to base warranty I had a problem with mine and it was picked up free of charge and returned in three days parts for the clarkes are expensive if the gun gets nakerd it £90 and only £30 in the r tech didnt like plastic wire feed either in the clarke anyone considering a welder look at r techs range well worth the price

[@floydraser4603]

I think there is a vast difference between the two machines. The R Tech is their cheapest model and all they do is welders, so it should be good. They are aimed more at professionals. The Clarke's descriptions make it clear it is aimed at the DIY enthusiast. I'm not sure many enthusiasts would want to spend £400 plus for an occasional use item, but it takes all sorts. I would still recommend Welders Warehouse as an alternative supplier. Thanks for the post though; alternative points of view are always welcome.

[@ashleymenton1369]

it's still a lot of money for a diy machine my welder being only £120 more for massive improvement will check them out i can recommend welding supplies direct great prices on welders and customer service is really good

[@vanillagoose4444]

Crikey it doesn’t even have the Euro Torch ! I bought an NTF Mig off Amazon its a 16amp model and is the exact same machine as the R-techs £700 250 model ! but cost me £305 ! All these companies use chinese welders and they import them and re-brand them including sealey , Clarke and Draper 🙄 You should use a Hobbyweld cylinder cost you £107 all in the £35 each refill after that ! one full bottles equivalent to 21 disposables ! best regulator i could find and i returned about 8 lol was the blue draper Argon and i bought a flow meter to match plus a 90 degree elbow as all regulators seem to be for the american market 😩 Anyway just my tuppence worth

[@floydraser4603]

Thanks for the comment Goose. Fair comment but I think you are a bit further up the market than some; I only use the disposable bottles because I hardly use them and they are easier to use in terms of moving stuff around. If you do a lot of amateur welding then fair enough, much more and you may as well go pro and get some tax relief on it.