Finally picked up the welder and gave it a check.

[chevyman_de]

Must depend on the gun. I have guns where the liner goes straight up to the rear of the tip.

 

[pedrobedro]

Do all swan necks have/need liners?
I noticed this topic in a couple of old posts and noticed that mine doesn't have a liner. The steel liner goes up to the swan neck but not into it, the swan neck internal diameter is much smaller.

My friend's SIP had a plastic liner in the swan neck and it melted seizing the wire in place. I burned it out with a blowlamp and didn't bother replacing it, you just have to take the tip off when you rethread the wire. I put a piece of compressor airline round the swan neck to insulate it.

 

[Sphinx]

Thanks guys. I was talking to the bloke in the shop I bought the gas from (Mig Tig and Arc in Portsmouth, very friendly guys fyi) and we had a look at a couple of swan necks and it looks like mine isn't supposed to have a liner but time will tell.

Anyway:
Welder - check!
Auto darkening helmet - check!
Gloves etc - check!
Wire - check!
Spare tips - check!
Gas - check!
Scraps of metal to practice on - check!
Fire extinguisher - check!

I think I'm ready to rock