TIG torch (CK Flex Loc)?

[Piero]

Thats the thing Richard,

I am not agruing with YOU per say,

I tottaly get that there are a quality item, I tottaly get for some one like you who welds day in day out that the cost is not so important than the reliability.

I get all of that.

But none of that directly effetcs the cost it takes to make one of these torches compaired to a lesser torch.

happy to end it there mate.

and a little jelious of your lovely torch lol

 

[Richard.]

Fair point they do probably cost FA to make. The hoses will be on big reels I'd imagine so probably very cheap.

 

[Piero]

I hope you dont see me as I am beating you into submission mate,

I TOTALY respect your differant point of veiw.

we all have our own take on things thats all

 

[wheresmejumper]

Piero I think the issue for me is what the yanks pay for the exact same product.its x2

 

[Richard.]

Not at all. I wouldn't expect they cost a lot to make. The only difference is to me personally they are worth the cash.

 

[Chris Stevens]

I do quite a few fiddly welding jobs, which the FL will make a good deal easier. The difference between a cheap torch and something like an FL is very noticeable when you use them back to back. If you have a good quality Tig set fitting it with a cheap torch seems to me a bit like putting cheap far eastern tyres on nice sportscar................

 

[Chris Stevens]

Sorry to say. I am not convinced of the rip off prices for these so called mega torches.

The costs involved to build/sell a cheap torch ain't that much less than the Costs of building a so called mega torch.

For £300 you cam buy a complete tig welder.
Not the best I grant you.
But a welder none the less.

Think how much more effort goes into build a tig set.

Sorry to sound harsh. But if everyone runs around singing the praises to these grossly overpriced tig torches not only will they keep getting sold.
But more people will think there worth the price tag.

Please note. I am not saying there not any good. Nor am I saying they ain't better than the standard torches that come standard.

All I think is the price tag some of these torches demand is grossly over the top compared to what the cost to build.

It's mostly a length of rubber hose. Simple.
Cheap cloth overbraided rubber hose.

Rant over

If you have a cheap Tig, or are hobby welder, a good torch is probably questionable. However if you want something WP20 size which will be reliable at 200A in watercooled form, nothing inexpensive will fit the bill.

 

[Chris Stevens]

I looked up the sw320 from the states which came in £100 cheaper but after buying the adaptor kit and anphonal plug (which isn't a standard 7 pin FYI) kemppi modded it so standard ones don't fit. It actually worked out the savings were not that big on what I paid here. Also saved me the hassle of fitting and wiring it in etc. I think if it was a dins or 3/8 thread live I'd of been lots better off importing it but the Mls fittings and gas through live on a WC torch made it not really worth it. That adaptor was over 45 quid alone and the genuine kemppi one is silly Money.

Kemppi do an adapter to allow fitting any BSP thread torch. Got a brand new unused one from Ebay, think it was about £20? The second amphenol plug which is usually connected to the torch needs to be fitted, with a couple of the pins bridged to allow watercooler to work properly.

 

[Richard.]

Piero I think the issue for me is what the yanks pay for the exact same product.its x2

Looked on weldfabulous page and it's pretty much $ for £ is the difference in prices which is quite a lot. lower roughly)
When you consider a few things that 35

Piero I think the issue for me is what the yanks pay for the exact same product.its x2

£117 weldfabulous for the air cooled ck FL
£230 over here. It wouldn't be too bad if the vat wasn't there but with it the price is through the roof.

 

[langy]

Has anyone considered the exchange rate as its not very good

 

[langy]

Sorry to say. I am not convinced of the rip off prices for these so called mega torches.

The costs involved to build/sell a cheap torch ain't that much less than the Costs of building a so called mega torch.

For £300 you cam buy a complete tig welder.
Not the best I grant you.
But a welder none the less.

Think how much more effort goes into build a tig set.

Sorry to sound harsh. But if everyone runs around singing the praises to these grossly overpriced tig torches not only will they keep getting sold.
But more people will think there worth the price tag.

Please note. I am not saying there not any good. Nor am I saying they ain't better than the standard torches that come standard.

All I think is the price tag some of these torches demand is grossly over the top compared to what the cost to build.

It's mostly a length of rubber hose. Simple.
Cheap cloth overbraided rubber hose.

Rant over

I would agree with you about the prices, but have you used a quality torch ??? because when you do you will see the difference they can make

 

[Richard.]

Has anyone considered the exchange rate as its not very good[/QUOTE

The dollar is strong at the mo at 70pence a peace so they are slightly more expensive than I thought over there but still a lot cheaper that here. By the current ex rate £126 usa £230 UK.
The Sw320 is $295 usd (£200 roughly) and they are around £300 here starting money.

 

[Richard.]

I would agree with you about the prices, but have you used a quality torch ??? because when you do you will see the difference they can make

This was what I was trying to say word for word. Yes overpriced but very nice when compared with lower cost ones.

 

[Member 66061]

all you superstar welders picking apart whats cheap and whats not should be able to pick up any reasonably fit for purpose equipment, regardless of price and produce better welds than us amateur hobby welders using the highest end stuff. Theres so much getting done perfectly well with whats seen as low end stuff in back garden sheds by people who are pleased with the result and proud they done it themselves. Theyre a long way from whingeing about the inadequacies of high end equipment.

 

[Richard.]

all you superstar welders picking apart whats cheap and whats not should be able to pick up any reasonably fit for purpose equipment, regardless of price and produce better welds than us amateur hobby welders using the highest end stuff. Theres so much getting done perfectly well with whats seen as low end stuff in back garden sheds by people who are pleased with the result and proud they done it themselves. Theyre a long way from whingeing about the inadequacies of high end equipment.

You've missed the point by such a distance you wouldn't of even seen it fly by.
No body is saying cheap torches cannot produce welds as perfect as any other torch. After all it's the driver that does the driving.
The only point made was 1 how much of a rip off they are and 2 how much better quality they are to use when in a professional or heavy use when the things are put under strain . I saw no winging on the subject, don't know about the other fellas.

 

[Piero]

To be honest. The best quality torch I have ever used. Is the Lorch I torch.

 

[Chris Stevens]

The dollar is strong at the mo at 70pence a peace so they are slightly more expensive than I thought over there but still a lot cheaper that here. By the current ex rate £126 usa £230 UK.
The Sw320 is $295 usd (£200 roughly) and they are around £300 here starting money.

SW320 Ebay £144 + approx $75 shipping and import duty.

 

[Jim Davey]

They don't cost an awful lot where they are made, but they are a lot dearer by the time they get to the UK. They pass from factory to a shipping company, a UK importer, a carrier a UK dealer then another carrier then finally a UK customer gets his hands on it. By the time all those folks have earned a few quid off the back of it and the government has had import tax and VAT out of the bargain it becomes a very dear luxury indeed.

However they are still a pleasure to use and over time slowly claw back their initial purchase price by lasting and lasting. Breakdowns can be very costly and some people prize reliability over anything else. I have repaired/replaced more cheap WP20 torches than I want to remember and all of those instances costed the customer or me lost time and or money. I'm not saying the Speedway torches won't fail but they are holding up better than anything I've ever had on my hire fleet, and if I can avoid half a dozen callouts a year because of a better torch then I'm sold.

 

[Piero]

Maybe I am one of the lucky ones as I have never had a cheaper torch fail!!!!!

Maybe it's my Lorch water cooler that's switches it's self on !!!!!!!!!

 

[Richard.]

SW320 Ebay £144 + approx $75 shipping and import duty.

That's pretty good (£196 all in)
Still not that economic if building for the mls and you want it switched too.
£196+£45(adaptor)+£30(kemppi plug with switch and cable)
£270 all in! I'd rather get it here and have it delivered ready built to go for another £50.
Unfortunately Chris we've selected a machine that's not the best or cheapest to get a torch built for.