Euro torch pros & cons

[Splatterer]

When saving up for a first Mig, would one with a Eurotorch be a better bet?
Also, can a Eurotorch spool gun be stuck on easily when wedling ali? Or do they need internal tinkering to make things work.
I'm hovering between the Clarke 160 and the GYS smartmig 162.

I'm intending to eventually make myself a custom drop side roofrack for getting my sea kayaks on and off a high top van, so will prototype in steel prior to eventually making the working one in Ali.

Advice on machines, gas and torches would be welcome.

 

[Wedg1e]

Yes, is the short answer! They tend to be of better quality than the hard-wired torches, have more spares available, you can detach from the machine for storage if space is tight, fit a longer or shorter cable as needed... what's not to like?
Also the machines that accept Euro torches tend to be further up the quality scale than most of the hard-wired torch variety.
There aren't many cons unless you want to convert a hard-wired set, when it can seem a bit steep for what's involved, especially if you didn't pay a lot for the welder in the first place.
Just don't waste money buying a bigger torch than your machine can handle: a 400A torch on a 120A set for example. The bigger torches tend to have stiffer cables and are physically bulkier, not what you want when you have your head inside the boot of a Mini

I have a pair of sea kayaks and a Connect van: lifting a 50lb, 18 foot boat above your head after a 12 mile paddle is no fun, so I know where you're coming from with the side-load rack. I've scribbled a few designs myself over the years but never seem to get round to it...

 

[Splatterer]

Got a Renault Traffic at the mo, but that's the loading limit. I want a high top to sort as a camper van, but a knackerd 18 stone baboon on the roof of one of them in the cold slipery dark on the edge of the docks is a bit too risky.

Quite a few of my friends have the Scotish side loader, but they seem very flimsy and one had had damage to a Brand New VW when the rack twisted as it was loading.

Thanks for the info. I'll save a bit more cash up then go looking.

Do you know how easy or hard it is to fit a Euro spool gun to a euro machine?
Are they plug and play?

 

[octo0072000]

remember there is a loading limit for roof racks hence some seem flimsy that if a heavy rack is made you cant have anything heavy on it

 

[Splatterer]

Luckilly enough the current rack on the Traffic is factory plated at 200kg.
I'm assuming a bigger van ought to be similar or greater capacity.
Trouble with the current market leader is they don't come down all that far.

 

[octo0072000]

rack

Luckilly enough the current rack on the Traffic is factory plated at 200kg.
I'm assuming a bigger van ought to be similar or greater capacity.
Trouble with the current market leader is they don't come down all that far.

depends on if it's a steel roof or fiberglass if fibre it's normally mounted to the roof gutters so maybe less weight last rack i was of the side loading was on a trancso van high top LDV van looked more bother than it was worth

have a look here only suitable for roof height up to two metres

http://www.roofrack.co.uk/sideloader_trukrax

 

[ColourweldUK]

Euro Torches all day long to be honest.

Generally better build quality and designed for higher running specs. Also if anything goes wrong it is a lot easier to fix and replace the specific parts.