Tweco or Euro torch

[flak monkey]

Picked up my new mig yesterday.

Its a Lincoln SP170I 30-175 amp machine. About 12 months old so still has another 2 years of warranty.

It uses a plug in torch, which I have managed to find direct fit ones from the US for about £75 inc courier. The one that I have at the moment uses consumables unique to Lincoln apparently.

I intend to swap the torch for something with more readily available spares.

The commonly available one is compatable with Tweco parts (Magnum 100L torch). Does anyone know if these are the same as Binzel as well?

The other option is to fit a euro connector to the front which will allow me to fit any readily available torch I liked.... but this will require a fair amount of work and mods to the front of the case. All doable though I think.

So the choice is any euro or Tweco... what would you do?

 

[pedrobedro]

What consumables will you need apart from tips ? The liner will be standard. I'd just get some tips to fit whatever you've got with the set and start using it instead of thinking about hacking it about.

 

[flak monkey]

True enough

The one thing I dont like is the fact that the tip sticks out beyond the shroud on the current torch. Seems strange to me? Also the shroud is a bit mangled

 

[pedrobedro]

A new shroud is going to be a lot cheaper than a new gun and you could cut a tip down if it bothers you that it sticks out. I use a cut down shroud to get in corners with no bad side effects.

 

[Tino]

Personally I would choose a Tweco, nothing wrong with lots of other torches but I've been using Tweco for a long time and find they fit my hand better than most. They are very tough and easy to repair-refurb as well. As for fitting a euro fit I think you can get a plug in conversion, we have three welders (two Hobart, one Thermal arc) with euro fit sockets that are plugged into what looks like the same fitting as the one on your set (think it's a 'Quicke fit' or ' Quick connect' and just as good as a euro fit). Will take a pic Monday. But pedrobedro is right cheapest and easiest thing would be to fix and use the torch you've got.

 

[shenion]

I have had 4 Tweco guns, from a MiniMIG gun up to two 400A #4's. They are good guns. My #4 is 30 years old and still works like new (looks ragged on the outside.)

The Clarke's have a clone of the Tweco MiniMig torches. I used to buy shrouds/tips for the Lincoln welders and they fit fine. I do remember the Clarke shroud was a bit longer.

You should have no problem getting the consumables for the Lincoln torch. Parweld makes Tweco/Lincoln compatable torches, liners, shrouds etc (Lincoln uses a Tweco torch connection with a slightly modified fitting.)

 

[weldengian]

Hi, you can get a adaptor kit from BINZEL to change to a euro fitting torch. A MB25 3MTR torch would be good, Tweco tend to be for heavy duty welding machines.

 

[flak monkey]

After having a bit of a measure up today looks like Binzel MB15 torch tips and shrouds will fit as the current lincoln torch takes M6 tips and 12mm bore shrouds. The shroud is also 10mm longer than the std one so the tip should be back inside the shroud too.

Problem solved at least short term.

 

[shenion]

Tweco has two lengths of tips. Probably 90% of the torches use the same tips. Tweco was first, everyone copied them (my #4 is 30+ years old.)

The big Lincoln I had came with a Tweco #4. I think even many of of the Lincoln brand torches are made by Tweco (Thermadyne).

Clarkes use the smaller (#11-xx) tips (they cloned the MiniMIG gun), Bigger ones use the #14.

Note: if you happen to see some Tweco 14H-xx tips (longer ones) or 11H-xx (short ones) they are heavy duty with the bore plated with something like tungsten. They seem to last forever.

Yes the eurotorch guns I see on the forum look the same. Binzel looks the same, just a different style of torch handle.

 

[Tino]

Here are the pics of the euro fit on one of our hobart sets we have a newer thermal arc set the same.