Mig torch options?

[Akimbovermon]

Hello!

I currently use a mb25 binzel torch. I’ve seen the American style torches and wonder if they are worth a try? I know parts can be expensive but it’s worth it in the long run if they last.

 

[Gareth0123]

What machine are you running and what is your welding application? without this basic information it is difficult to make a comment.

 

[Mark 2]

Americans won't use euro torch surely. They'll have something called a world torch

 

[Erie Fred]

I have a couple of Miller 4 roller wire feeders (hanging from door track) and one I put on a Tregakiss torch. I think it's great, the ball socket where the lead goes into the handle makes it easier to manipulate.

 

[Akimbovermon]

What machine are you running and what is your welding application? without this basic information it is difficult to make a comment.

I have a bohler Uranos 2000, running 180 amps welding about 4 seconds doing fillet welds, with maybe 20second breaks inbetween. Welding for around 4 hours. The mb25 tips are getting hot and the shrouds are warping. Tempted to get a abimig torch but worried it will be garbage.

 

[knighty]

bump up to an mb36 torch?

could go water cooled but I don't think that would be any less cumbersome than an mb36 torch?

 

[Gareth0123]

Yes. Agreed, bump up to an MB36 torch and umbilical assembly, I saved an absolute fortune when I did.
Here is my experience from 5 years ago: www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/today-i-acquired.50192/page-412#post-1149054

 

[Theblackbox]

Seems odd to be warping shrouds and burning tips on a 250amp torch at 180amps. What consumables are you using? some of the stuff out there is junk!

Would be worth trying genuine binzel consumables if you aren’t already.

 

[hotponyshoes]

The abimigs are nice torches, certainly well made and nice to use.
But, they are basically a heavy duty torch in a smaller body.
Ie, an abimig that is about the same size/weight as an mb25 will have a power/duty cycle rating closer to an mb36.
(check the exact specs yourself)

When I started pulse welding aluminium I started with an mb25 and had feed issues due to the torch heating. The mb36 was too cumbersome so I tried an abimig amongst others.
A bigger torch works better for longer after you first start welding but eventually heats up as well. The problem with the bigger torches is once they are hot they take longer to cool back down so if its for a production machine you don't really gain anything!

 

[Gareth0123]

Seems odd to be warping shrouds and burning tips on a 250amp torch at 180amps. What consumables are you using? some of the stuff out there is junk!

Would be worth trying genuine binzel consumables if you aren’t already.

If you read the link I posted; "the instructions and specs originally supplied with the Paraweld SB250 torch. I’ve only owned and used these torches for five years and what I read was: Rated at 250 Amps CO2, 200 Amps Mixed Gas @60% Duty Cycle." It is the duty cycle that is the predominant figure here and Paraweld torches are one of the better brands. That is why I move up to MB36 torches and consumables... to get the better 60% duty cycle oft 300amps mixed gases knowing that I was working at 200amps and therefore now in the region I wanted to comfortably be in of a possible 85-90% of my required duty cycle.

 

[knighty]

I havn't stipped one of those torches down...

is there room to run another liner up inside it, connect it to another solonoid and have it blow compressed air through the torch while you'e not using it?

 

[hotponyshoes]

I havn't stipped one of those torches down...

is there room to run another liner up inside it, connect it to another solonoid and have it blow compressed air through the torch while you'e not using it?

There is not much spare room in any of the ones I have seen open.
I don't see how you could get the air where it's needed for cooling without tapping into the gas line either.
You could mount something on the outside of the torch and maybe blow air through an adapted shroud but if it makes the torch bigger/bulky you may as well just use a bigger/water cooled torch anyway.

If you just wanted to cool it quicker between uses one way might be to swap the standard solonide in the welder for a 2-way one and mount an airline fitting on the case. Then, when you stop welding it would automatically switch over to cooling air.
But it would wast a bit of gas each time and you wod need a welder with pre-flow to purge the line every time.

Or, make up a torch holder something along the style of a wine bottle cooler. If you could connect a airline offset to a bit of tube to get a vortex going dropping the torch into that between uses might cool it down quickly enough?

 

[arther dailey]

lay the torch on a heavy piece of cast iron inbetween welds ,I find genuine binzel mb36 good.

 

[chris pruteanu]

I would just use a water cooler and a suitable torch…it will solve most of your problems. On my 3 phase weco sinergic mig welder I have a binzel torch with a fume extractor and that is cumbersome ! You will get used to anything sooner or later so invest in water cooling !

 

[Trevorleach]

Americans won't use euro torch surely. They'll have something called a world torch

Dont be daft, it will be flames/biggest/baddest plus some other macho name tacked on the end, then they will have an immigrant doing the welding!

 

[Munkul]

Seems odd to be warping shrouds and burning tips on a 250amp torch at 180amps. What consumables are you using? some of the stuff out there is junk!

Would be worth trying genuine binzel consumables if you aren’t already.

It doesn't surprise me, the mb25 design is fine for light duty stuff but it's woefully underspecced for a true 180 amps of production work in spray transfer.
The abimig guns are nice but so is an mb36 evo pro... And that would handle the duty no problem at all.