Welder for body metal

StrokerScamp said
Oh, and lastly, I got news. Do you know what duty cycle is? Evidently not. It's how long you can weld continuously in a 10 minute period. So, a 40% equals 4 minutes of straight welding out of ten. There ain't a welder made that'll weld on a 100% duty cycle. That's nonstop. No way no how. Even if the welder could swing it, you'd melt the torch, and end up trippin the breaker. But WTF do I know? I was only certified 16 years. Maybe that wasn't long enough. Yeah, some advertise 100%, but you just try it. LMAO.

I certainly due know what duty cycle is and the Lincoln I mentioned is rated for continious use which to me means 100%. In any case I have had the thermal breaker trip on my neighbors Clarke when using it and have never had the breaker trip on my Lincoln. Also, a number of years ago I took a course in welding and the last couple of weeks of the class I used all the different 120 volt mig welders the school had (Lincoln and Miller brands) figuring that if that was what I was going to own I should get as much practice with them as I could and understand the differences. I never had the thermal breaker trip on any of those either.

Now, my neighbors Clarke may very well have something wrong with it, he purchased it used too. But that does not change the fact that parts are not readily available for them. The two welding supply houses near where I live do not have any parts for them at all. One of the places knew of them the other place had never heard of them. Both of those places sold Lincoln and Miller products and had parts for Hobart.

To the original poster: Before making the decision to buy this welder check around to your local welding supply houses and see if they have at least the normal wear items; tips, hoods, drive rolls for differnent wire sizes, torches. You can get this stuff on line but it certainly is an inconvience. Also, if you need repair parts like a wire feed motor, or voltage control board you will be stuck dealing directly with the company in the UK. Clarke welders are imported by retail suppliers and they do not have a presence in the US.