SIP Migmate 105 repairs - Euro Torch?

[wickmesh]

Hi all,

I have the "fortune" to own one of these "wonderful" machines. But I've had it for 10+ years, it's served me well and I can weld reasonably well with it.

Problem is, the torch is worn out. I think the liner has had it, also the gas valve no longer shuts off the gas flow. I was recommended by a mate with a similar (150 amp) welder to do the euro torch upgrade, he says it's like a different welder with that done. Question is, which solenoid do I need, 24V or 240V? If 240V, does that mean there's mains on the euro connector?

Also I've read on the forum of the wire feed rollers brace mod and separate feed motor transformer mods, these look easy to do and well worth it - and probably zero cost too as it will be a spares box job I like the idea of properly smoothing the DC to the motor too, again a spares box job for the relay and caps. I only wish I'd found out about these mods sooner

Now I know you'll all ignore me and tell me to just buy something else but recent redundancy means I'm time rich and cash poor - I have £100 to spend absolute max. But it means I now have the time to fix my rusty Discovery (I have to check for cats before setting off ) so I need my welder working!

Any advice gratefully received

Andrew (Wickmesh)

 

[wickmesh]

I think I've answered the 24V/240V question on my own:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=11532

Thanks to BillJ that's a schematic of my welder!

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=136198&postcount=60

Thanks to BChild, erm, yes dumbass moment, of course I can just used whatever switched supply I make for the wire feed supply, depending upon what transformer I use I could use either 240V or 24V. Hmmn, methinks a 24V solenoid driven from a nice smoothed DC supply, maybe even a switch mode PSU.

So - the question is simply - to euro torch or not???

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370535587509 (looks good value at £77.90?)

 

[wickmesh]

So - the question is simply - to euro torch or not???

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370535587509 (looks good value at £77.90?)

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=165764&postcount=5

me i need still to pimp my 160tm with a 4mtr euro torch conversion....
not easy puting in a disco floor with the 160t alongside you in the car cause the torch lead is to fek**** short...
hope that helps...

Like every dumb question, it's already been answered

Think I need to buy the torch kit

 

[BChild]

I know it's not much in terms of conversation but I do believe that you have the search facility completely sussed

 

[wickmesh]

I know it's not much in terms of conversation but I do believe that you have the search facility completely sussed

I actually had a couple of pages of your mod thread bookmarked already, but I've just gone through and read it all, clearly there's mods to the 2 pots needed as well, maybe even replacing the motor control board with something better!

Current status:
- Euro torch ordered and in the post
- Still working out which gas supplier to go with (maybe Albee if the price is OK so holding off on regulator replacement for now)
- List of possible mods growing (torch, feed brace, separate motor power supply with brake relay, motor speed pot, trim pot, motor control board)
- Discovery stripdown underway...

I'm shocked I've managed to weld with it as well as I have previously without all this

(Yes it is that early and no I can't sleep tonight )

 

[Sean]

They aint all that bad, although the recent ones have taken a serious drop in quality like many of the "Hobby" sets, the older ones like yours( and mine) seem to function OK with a steel liner.

I suppose you just get used to it. Was using an old clarke last weekend at the racing and couldnt make it work for me just didn't respond like my mildly tuned SIP

 

[Jesus-Ninja]

Was there a simple answer or link to this - or a "how to convert your welder". I stumbled across this, as I have similar problems with my Migmate 105. It's had the tensioner mod and runs on big "proper" bottles of argoshield, and I swapped out the plastic liner for a diy metal one (although our net curtains have nothing to hang on now... )

My problem is that the copper wire bundle has completely frayed off at the welder end. I've soldered it all up, and it seems to be functioning, but it's only a matter of time before if goes to pieces again. I've also had issues with the trigger on the torch and a sticky valve, so time for a new umbilical etc - and if I'm going to do that, then I should probably go for a Euro Torch setup.

Or should I.....?

 

[Sean]

Was there a simple answer or link to this - or a "how to convert your welder".
>snip<
so time for a new umbilical etc - and if I'm going to do that, then I should probably go for a Euro Torch setup.

Or should I.....?

OE torch

Sean

 

[wickmesh]

Was there a simple answer or link to this - or a "how to convert your welder". I stumbled across this, as I have similar problems with my Migmate 105. It's had the tensioner mod and runs on big "proper" bottles of argoshield, and I swapped out the plastic liner for a diy metal one (although our net curtains have nothing to hang on now... )

My problem is that the copper wire bundle has completely frayed off at the welder end. I've soldered it all up, and it seems to be functioning, but it's only a matter of time before if goes to pieces again. I've also had issues with the trigger on the torch and a sticky valve, so time for a new umbilical etc - and if I'm going to do that, then I should probably go for a Euro Torch setup.

Or should I.....?

Sounds remarkably familiar!!!

My wire has failed and been repaired (and is failing again), the torch valve doesn't work, and the liner has had it. £58 for the OE torch or £78 for a 4m euro torch conversion kit? I think it's worth the £20 extra for the longer length, not even considering how cheap and easy torch repair/replacement will be in future...

I don't think there's a specific "how to" on this as every welder is different, even the same model seems to differ if they were bought 6 months apart. However I can copy and paste here the links I've saved to help me with my welder conversion:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/sip-wirefeed.htm - site page to do with SIP mods
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=11532 - circuit diags!!! and how to use a SMPS for the wire feed
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=42117 - fix the wire feed
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=8028&page=6 - euro torch mod
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4061 - euro torch mod
http://phiangle.wordpress.com/2010/10/23/sip-mig-130-turbo-welder-euro-torch-conversion/ - euro torch mod
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=8028&page=9 - speed pot mod to multiturn etc
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=8028&page=15 - trim pot change to 100ohms
http://eddiem.com/projects/mig/speedfix.html - trim pot change to 100ohms