The euro torch is a definatly a previous conversion. Looking on the website it would have been supplied with a fixed torch. Looks to me you are reaping the problems of someone else’s tinkering.
even as standard they are a good mechine ive had mine a few years now one the first problem to me was sorted its been faultless and had a few mig welders
No, really, today's £99 Chinese "MIG Welders" do not have chokes, in fact they don't have rectifiers either - they are just a transformer and a Dinky Toy motor in a tin box.
I think a lot of the sellers could be done under the Trades Descriptions Act - they are not really MIG welders, they're MMA/ARC/STICK with a continuous electrode.
Talking to the owner I got the feeling that they want a diversion from daily grind, that they have an Idea they want to try- how realistic it is I don't know- But some sort of firepit, BBQ etc.
I understand where your coming from and it's at the stage where it welds- not something I would use with confidence on anything critical- but it sounds like Garden furniture etc.
So what is good in the following
Price bracket
£250
£500
£750
£1000
£1250
£1500
£2000
I'm thinking a good second hand machine and a new euro torch may be all he can afford if persuaded to sell this on at later date- but it would be great to give options.
I don't have the heart to charge for looking at it other than parts, I don't want it keep coming back either
If I was looking, I'd go for one of the Oxfords, they have a wide range, good reputation and made in UK, bit expensive with an entry level price of about £700.00.
I'd also consider a good multi function - one that would do MIG and MMA and TIG. Whatever your line of work is, there will always be that occasion where MIG isn't the most suitable solution (+ arc welding is always much more fun than these point and squirt miggy things ).
It's very likely that you are going to be overwhelmed with opinions and recommendations