What torches you got?

[Richard.]

I'm pretty excited about a new arrival coming Monday in the form of a weldtec speedway sw320 professionally built to fit straight on my unit by a Mr J Davey. I've been a weldcraft man most of my life having owned quite a few (crafter cs310 my favourite) I've never held a weldtec before in fact I've hardly had any use with most brands but I have read reviews the SW and Jim has been great with all the info and options available.
I'm interested in what you guys have used,owned, liked, disliked because I'll be honest torch brands are not something I know a great deal about as I've always bought weldcraft.
It's your opinions I'm after and a little info on what's about.

 

[NickyEng]

I'm pretty excited about a new arrival coming Monday in the form of a weldtec speedway sw320 professionally built to fit straight on my unit by a Mr J Davey. I've been a weldcraft man most of my life having owned quite a few (crafter cs310 my favourite) I've never held a weldtec before in fact I've hardly had any use with most brands but I have read reviews the SW and Jim has been great with all the info and options available.
I'm interested in what you guys have used,owned, liked, disliked because I'll be honest torch brands are not something I know a great deal about as I've always bought weldcraft.
It's your opinions I'm after and a little info on what's about.

The parweld pro-grip is beautiful to weld with.
I also have a CK 200 trimline with manual gas valve for using with lift tig on the Miller & Lincoln invertec. That is a dream to use too.

 

[Chris Stevens]

I got 2 Parwelds, and a Speedway. Parweld is pretty good, not comparable to Speedway, but very good value for money and works well.

 

[super noob]

No idea....my Kemppi came with a nice wp17 that doesn't match anything on their site.
Not a Kemppi torch though

 

[Tom Orrow L]

My torch of choice at the moment is a Binzel WP17 with a simple momentary button but i've used Parweld's pro grip and eco grip which I enjoy using very much.

I did have an old WTC valved torch which was very nice, very light & easy to use.

 

[doubleboost]

I use a "Weld Craft" WP20 water cooled torch most of the time

 

[Piero]

When it comes to tools. I am a very fussy git.

I have held (in my hand) quite a few tig torches. Inc ck flexlock.

Never the weldtec.

Many moons ago. When everyone was going ck mad. I did post about welted. But my genral feel is this.

The difference from a mega nice tig torch to a very usable tig torch is NOT reflected in the price.

You definitely don't get that much of a difference.

Lovely as they may be. In my opinion there nit worth the massive extra cash difference

 

[Richard.]

I have not used a ck before. I have held a flex loc before that badgerbear bought which seemed a nice torch but one I don't think I could get on with. I'm so used to the conventional type now. I used the original kemppi for a bit before my new order and stubby kit made it usable but the boxy handle was becoming a bit of a pain

 

[Piero]

Looking forward to hearing any comments on yr new torch when you get it.

 

[Richard.]

The thread will defo be updated tomorrow when she pops out the box tomorrow evening.
Obviously the true review will be 6 months down the line when it's been dropped and dragged across the bench and (hopefully) still kicking out great welds.

 

[Shox Dr]

When I first starting TIG welding the torch that came with the unit was basic with the switch zip tied to the body. I hated it. And yearned for better.

Then after trying a few I realised it wasn't all the bad, as the switched could be easily moved about, and even held in my mouth, or taped to the bottom of my boot.

Since then (5yrs) I've used the torch that came with the Kemppi. Disliked it at first, boxxy and numb were my first thoughts. But it's grown on me, and does what's required, and feels no different after 2mins welding than another

I think the biggest improvement you can do to a torch is go small, and use a quality flexible head.

'Piero' summed it up.

 

[Chris Stevens]

When it comes to tools. I am a very fussy git.

I have held (in my hand) quite a few tig torches. Inc ck flexlock.

Never the weldtec.

Many moons ago. When everyone was going ck mad. I did post about welted. But my genral feel is this.

The difference from a mega nice tig torch to a very usable tig torch is NOT reflected in the price.

You definitely don't get that much of a difference.

Lovely as they may be. In my opinion there nit worth the massive extra cash difference

Have to agree with that. I currently have 2 £100 Parweld Pro torches, a 400A Speedway, and formerly used a CK for many years. The higher end torches are nice things to own, and I may well end up getting a 320A Speedway at some stage, but the difference in price is not reflected by noticeably better performance over the cheaper Parweld torches.

 

[langy]

I have used the CK with gas saver pyrex for a long time and been very happy with them but recently got a CK flexloc and use the same CK gas saver and pyrex on it and love it

 

[langy]

Thought I would add before I discovered the CK's I used the river weld Weldcraft copies off ebay and never had a problem with them, they were excellent, only changed because the CK's have an edge

 

[Richard.]

When I first starting TIG welding the torch that came with the unit was basic with the switch zip tied to the body. I hated it. And yearned for better.

Then after trying a few I realised it wasn't all the bad, as the switched could be easily moved about, and even held in my mouth, or taped to the bottom of my boot.

Since then (5yrs) I've used the torch that came with the Kemppi. Disliked it at first, boxxy and numb were my first thoughts. But it's grown on me, and does what's required, and feels no different after 2mins welding than another

I think the biggest improvement you can do to a torch is go small, and use a quality flexible head.

'Piero' summed it up.

I admit I did also get used to the boxy feel on the Kemppi and I did grow fond of the finger thumb grips. Yours is a smaller size Kemppi torch To what I had which Id imagine is even better. Flex heads ain't my thing really.

 

[Richard.]

I have used the CK with gas saver pyrex for a long time and been very happy with them but recently got a CK flexloc and use the same CK gas saver and pyrex on it and love it

Thought long and hard about CK before my choice was made.
Even got a quote from rapid for one pre built to fit the unit which was cheaper than what I went for. I decided on speedway really from Internet research. The 270amps @ 100% on AC is just phenomenal for a tiny head (320amp DC). The speed bump hand grip looks a delight also. Flex hoses like ck also.

 

[Richard.]

Have to agree with that. I currently have 2 £100 Parweld Pro torches, a 400A Speedway, and formerly used a CK for many years. The higher end torches are nice things to own, and I may well end up getting a 320A Speedway at some stage, but the difference in price is not reflected by noticeably better performance over the cheaper Parweld torches.

I must of only used there rubbish ones (we are talking a while back now) but I've had a couple of encounters with water leaks on parweld torches from the heads and the back Unions which put me off there products.

 

[Piero]

It's seems were all the same!!!!!
We adapt to what we have and achieve good results.

A good point Richard made was duty cycle and amp capability for its size.

This point would have a big effect on any make of torch I bought.

Still can't see the massive price tag attached to a good quality torch.

Production cost ain't going to be a big difference

 

[AndersK]

Parweld 9, 20, and 26

The 26 is the new Pro grip. Power line is fairly flexible but the PVC cover is way to stiff.

The 9 & 20 are about 10 years old.
The 20 has leaked. They just used twisted wire around the water lines on the head.

 

[Chris Stevens]

My Parweld Pro torches have nice flexible leather cover about metre long on the end closest to torch. Power and gas lines as flexible as torches costing double. Not that sure about performance of the 20 at higher amps though, and will at some stage fit a Speedway to the machine that isnt used exclusively for sheet work.