Dont know if I should ask but.......

[Montreal]

I'm probably going to show how much i don't know but who cares..
Can I use a spool gun to do Aluminium but connect it to my SIP migmate?
I've got the adaptor to connect it to a big bottle but a supplier said I needed a Euro torch type mig.
Are there any out there that can work with my old machine? It's the quick change that I'm after.
I've got it set up to weld Ali (works very well for the sort of thing I'll do) but it takes an age to change liner back to do steel. Maybe another SIP or Clarke is needed for steel bodywork?
D

 

[rtbcomp]

I'd be inclined to consider converting the SIP to a Eurotorch.

 

[BrokenBiker]

me too, opens up a whole range of useable torches then, can have one set for Ali, one for 0.8 steel, one for 0.6 steel etc

 

[Montreal]

OK, How much fro Euro torch, plug etc? How easy to convert a SIP. I'm not a sparks but did add a fan to my Sip in a lunch break that actually worked.
Seen Spools for £50-60 or £500-£600. Are the cheapers ok?

 

[BrokenBiker]

does your mig has a solenoid gas valve in it? if so you can pick up a euro conversion kit for about 60 quid, maybe cheaper if you look harder. comes with a torch and euro panel connector. pretty much just join the 2 trigger wires on the connector to the trigger wires you have to cut to get the old torch off, plumb the gas into the gas outlet and make sure the wire feed lines up with the relative bit of the connector.

 

[Montreal]

Ok, Understood. £60-£70 should do it. Now.... can I leave the standard torch on and wire feed AND put a Euro connector on the front of the machine (with new Euro hose Spool gun for the Alu) and share the power feed? It will be a bit of a Frankenstein with two torch hoses but I'll only be using one at a time. Separate gas supply to the spool and one for the mild steel??

 

[BrokenBiker]

you can, buy I honestly can't.see why you would want to. It is a matter of seconds to swap a euro torch over, and the only other thing then is remove gas for steel and plumb in argon, which again only takes seconds, especially if you put a pcl fitting on a tail on the machine, and then pcl fittings on the gas pipes to the bottles. Everything then becomes plug and play

*actually, edit.that, no you cant as the wire feed.motor has to be lined.up with euro connector, meaning no space for the current torch

 

[mike 109444]

IF you only want the euro socket to feed the power for welding to the spool gun (think you will find the power for the spool gun motor goes via a separate plug) then you could fit the socket below or above the existing torch outlet. If you fit it as though you existing wire spool was turned up side down then at a later date you could move the existing wire feed motor/feed roller assembly to the euro socket, connect up and go euro... NOTE you will need to check for clearance for the new position of motor/feed asy. Hope that makes sense.

 

[mike 109444]

Bit like this

 

[Montreal]

Thats it. I've got a 2nd welder now. Good point about using pcl on the gas connection. I'll do that on my TIG.