Sorry to bore everyone about these again.
Just had first chance to try out the Britweld since collecting it last week & am afraid to say I am a bit dissapointed with it. It is rated at 195 amps max, same as the Topmig Super 196, but it is without doubt that the Sip has better penetration on full power. I haven't had a chance to cut throuigh the welds yet but I would guess that the Britweld only manages about 2.5 - 3mm penetration on 5mm plate where as the Sip is almost breaking through.
On thin material however it is by far superior. I can weld 1mm plate with 0.8 wire easily without blowing holes. An impossibility on the 196 even with 0.6 wire as the wire speed and power are somehow out of sink on lower settings.
The only dissadvantages I can see the Britweld has is that it has a 3m mains lead made from what I would guess is 1mm cable with a 13a plug on the end (Sip has 1.5m, 1.5mm & 16a plug). It also has a 4m earth lead compared to 2m on the Sip, but I would like to keep that.
Does anyone think that it would definately be worth changing the mains lead to see what happens or any other suggestions, or should I just sling it back on ebay.
The whole point of buying the Britweld was to get rid of the two Sips. I have to use the Topmig 196 on 5mm to get decent penetration @ better duty cycle and the Migmate Pro 170 on anything below 2mm as the 196 is just uncontrollable at lower settings.
Thanks in advance for any replies / advice
Just had first chance to try out the Britweld since collecting it last week & am afraid to say I am a bit dissapointed with it. It is rated at 195 amps max, same as the Topmig Super 196, but it is without doubt that the Sip has better penetration on full power. I haven't had a chance to cut throuigh the welds yet but I would guess that the Britweld only manages about 2.5 - 3mm penetration on 5mm plate where as the Sip is almost breaking through.
On thin material however it is by far superior. I can weld 1mm plate with 0.8 wire easily without blowing holes. An impossibility on the 196 even with 0.6 wire as the wire speed and power are somehow out of sink on lower settings.
The only dissadvantages I can see the Britweld has is that it has a 3m mains lead made from what I would guess is 1mm cable with a 13a plug on the end (Sip has 1.5m, 1.5mm & 16a plug). It also has a 4m earth lead compared to 2m on the Sip, but I would like to keep that.
Does anyone think that it would definately be worth changing the mains lead to see what happens or any other suggestions, or should I just sling it back on ebay.
The whole point of buying the Britweld was to get rid of the two Sips. I have to use the Topmig 196 on 5mm to get decent penetration @ better duty cycle and the Migmate Pro 170 on anything below 2mm as the 196 is just uncontrollable at lower settings.
Thanks in advance for any replies / advice