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I'd also be interested to know if more than one type of wire feed is used across the SIP MIG range. Until we know the type of unit fitted to the 195, how is it possible to say it would benefit from the modifications designed primarily/uniquely for the small wire feed module? And how do you know it's no good, if you're not sure what it is?
rtbcomp
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because i've got one and it's crap
look like ther all crap
I'm not so sure. As you can tell, emotions tend to run high here whenever the SIP brand is mentioned. rtbcomp hasn't yet told us which model he has; at least not on this thread.
Your original question remains a good one and I hope someone might still be able to indicate the type of wire feed fitted to the 195 model.
Here at: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/sip-wirefeed.htm Malcolm says:
"The SIP Migmate shares it's wire feed system with the Topmig, and it's common from the 105 amp model up through the 150 and 170 amp welders."
The above comment may suggest that the 195 is different.
malcolm
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Roger has a SIP 195 see http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2050 and his comment in this thread where he says he's got one.
I must admit the Autoplus 180 I tested (an old one) just didn't work properly either, but I'm sure that could have been improved with a good service. From memory the wire feed motor on that was much larger than the smaller, later SIPs, but the wire speed stability still sucked. (Don't know how much of that was down to the need for a service, but it meant I couldn't find a sweet spot).
I must admit the Autoplus 180 I tested (an old one) just didn't work properly either, but I'm sure that could have been improved with a good service. From memory the wire feed motor on that was much larger than the smaller, later SIPs, but the wire speed stability still sucked. (Don't know how much of that was down to the need for a service, but it meant I couldn't find a sweet spot).
Luke
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No I didn't miss that. I thought he could have been talking about the SIP brand in general. He did not specifically say he had a SIP195, and I din't know from other threads; hence the confusion.
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rtbcomp
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To Clarify:
Means I wasn't sure if the wire feed was the same on the TopMig 195 as the smaller welders
Means that the wire feed isn't very good on the TopMig 195
As the OP didn't say why he wanted to know I thought it relevant to make the point I did in case he wanted to fit a TopMig feed system to a different model and I reckoned it would be useful to save him the bother.
Means I wasn't sure if the wire feed was the same on the TopMig 195 as the smaller welders
Means that the wire feed isn't very good on the TopMig 195
As the OP didn't say why he wanted to know I thought it relevant to make the point I did in case he wanted to fit a TopMig feed system to a different model and I reckoned it would be useful to save him the bother.
Sorry, I assumed you'd know the appearance/type of lightweight wire feed module fitted to the small SIP MIG welders, from all the photos posted by members making modifications and improvements. I'm shocked if SIP are so mean that they don't give a heavier duty wire feed on the 195 and other larger models. Any chance of a photo of the specificc wire feed unit on your 195?
i asked the question wire feed on 195 is it the same wire feed as 105 as iv been offered a 195 if it as got the same problems then i will leave it , not worth the bother i need another welder to weld a beetle as my 105 wire feed is all twisted the rollers dont even touch the wire iv been welding for 30 years and never come across a welder that this as happend ?****** it ill buy a clark an use sip welder to keep the shed door open
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Spacecowboy
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Sorry if I'm late to this, but I have the SIP TopMig 195 Turbo and I can't say that the motor in mechanism is any different from the smaller ones, but I can say that a previous owner has cobbled up a bracket for it as described in other threads.
So, yes.......it is crap.
So, yes.......it is crap.
At least you are honest, i.e that you appear to have made a serious error of judgement in buying the machine (assuming it wasn't an unwelcome gift), let alone any time spent in trying to get results from it, or on costly gas, etc. Have you now given up or do you soldier on with your SIP 195? If so, why? As a warning to anyone else considering a SIP, how were you mislead, or whatever, in the first place?
George, I'm afraid you yourself were mislead... by price! and are very likely to encounter far more serious issues than niggling wire feed problems in the near future
The SIP models in question are built down to a price for a given market but, although their marketing might be a bit questionable, you will still get decent spare parts back up - unlike the now defunct Wolf.
The wire feed/motor assembly on the Topmig range is exactly the same as on the smaller Migmate range; at least it used to be, they may well have changed it.
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Spacecowboy
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Hi GeorgeB, my serious error of judgement was due to lack of funds, and thinking I was getting an industry standard machine for hobby welder money. The wire feed has never given me any problem, but I have had to replace some bits and pieces. Had I joined the forum before buying it, I would have been better informed. It does not get much use at the moment, but has done a few jobs around the workshop. I made a frame to sit my lathe on and while some of the welds look a bit iffy, it hasn't fallen apart yet. All in all, the welder is all I need. When I start getting serious about putting some bike frames together, I might upgrade. Thats a bit 'in the future'. I've been using 0.6 wire in it and have kinda sussed out that I need to start using 0.8 for the projects I have.
So, I know the potential problems and limitations of the machine, and I can live with that. I can only hope that the problems don't surface while I need to use it.
Making a small bracing bracket for the wire feed might be a small price to pay.
So, I know the potential problems and limitations of the machine, and I can live with that. I can only hope that the problems don't surface while I need to use it.
Making a small bracing bracket for the wire feed might be a small price to pay.
Weldequip - your post brought a smile to my face. I have a short memory! But I would claim I bought the Aldi-Powercraft machine for R&D purposes, a bit like Malcolm did with his SIP. Is simple possession an offence? Also, it came with 3 years warranty, which Aldi said they would support, so it represents very good value for money. Seriously, what are the other issues likely to cause problems for these cheap MIG welders in your experience? Here are the main components and some of my thinking:
1. Wire feed motor, gearbox and rollers - definite weak point - yes
2. Main transformer - suitably robust, I'd say. Not copper, but I can't see it failing in a hurry.
3. Choke/inductor - as for transformer, perfectly solid. Likely to last a lifetime.
4. PCB - another potential weak spot, definitely but so are the PCBs on Clarke and other hobby machines, aren't they? I trust Portamig's PCBs are of much higher build quality, and much less likely to fail.
5. Torch - not much to go wrong. Shroud, tips, etc widely available and a new torch would be easy and relatively cheap to fit, if ever needed.
6. Wire liner - plastic as with most hobby MIGs. It's easy and cheap to replace it with a 50p curtain wire, so it's not an issue.
7. Rectifier - standard unit as fitted to most MIGs. I think Portamig probably use the same type.
8. Switches, relays, etc look perfectly good to me, so why should they be any more likely to fail than on any other machine costing less than, say £400?
Spacecowboy - Like you, I'm hoping to get 'industry standard' performance out of a cheap hobby MIG welder. As several others have demonstrated here, I think it can be done. I don't think there are many weak points apart from the wire feed and PCB. Which parts have you had to replace on your SIP 195?
1. Wire feed motor, gearbox and rollers - definite weak point - yes
2. Main transformer - suitably robust, I'd say. Not copper, but I can't see it failing in a hurry.
3. Choke/inductor - as for transformer, perfectly solid. Likely to last a lifetime.
4. PCB - another potential weak spot, definitely but so are the PCBs on Clarke and other hobby machines, aren't they? I trust Portamig's PCBs are of much higher build quality, and much less likely to fail.
5. Torch - not much to go wrong. Shroud, tips, etc widely available and a new torch would be easy and relatively cheap to fit, if ever needed.
6. Wire liner - plastic as with most hobby MIGs. It's easy and cheap to replace it with a 50p curtain wire, so it's not an issue.
7. Rectifier - standard unit as fitted to most MIGs. I think Portamig probably use the same type.
8. Switches, relays, etc look perfectly good to me, so why should they be any more likely to fail than on any other machine costing less than, say £400?
Spacecowboy - Like you, I'm hoping to get 'industry standard' performance out of a cheap hobby MIG welder. As several others have demonstrated here, I think it can be done. I don't think there are many weak points apart from the wire feed and PCB. Which parts have you had to replace on your SIP 195?
Spacecowboy
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I replaced consumables mainly, but had to get a new swan neck, liner and of course tips and shrouds. The main offenders were the power lead, which I replaced and rewired to a round 32A plug and the earth lead which was chewed to ******y. I've been luck that none of the internal components were faulty. I still worry about the wire feed, I'm sure it's failed to deliver a couple of times, but I'm not experienced enough to blame that. It is probably my welding skill needing work. 
Weldequip is a very nice man to deal with if things start to go tits up.
I'm hoping to save up for a nice new Portamig.
Weldequip is a very nice man to deal with if things start to go tits up.
I'm hoping to save up for a nice new Portamig.
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