SIP Gasless question

[Pootle]

Hi
I recently bought a SIP from eBay as I'm planning on an outdoor project and I live in a very windy area.
The leads/liner were broken (no surprise) I bought a steel liner and fixed broken leads. Here's the problem, when I switch on the wire will arc without the torch trigger being pulled.
Is this because the liner insulation sleeve is not in place where it enters the welder or is this how a gasless MiG works?
This may well be a stupid question, but I've never had any experience with gasless.

 

[PTvor]

Some older, cheap MIGs were permanently live torch.

You'd best get the handbook and check. Maybe SIP will have one or maybe someone on here, if you say what the model number is.

 

[Sean]

it shouldn't unless you have got something wrong in the torch. blue wire goes on the trigger switch spring and the spring only contacts the brass block when the trigger is pressed see the tutorials on here for what it probably looks like

altho' the spring contact in that photo is broken! It should go past the red trigger and just about be touching the brass block - as trigger is pulled the spring contacts the block and the welding power is switched on

gassless doesn't need the shroud when im using gassless for welding up exhausts i have a small piece of rubber sleeve to protect the thread no shroud gives better access.

 

[Pootle]

Thanks for the replies.
The torch is wired correctly.
I had heard the term live torch but had not understood what it meant.
I does weld quite well (considering its a SIP). It will just take some getting used to.
As I said earlier its only for one project, so it will be sold as soon as that is finished.

 

[the snooper]

it shouldn't unless you have got something wrong in the torch.

even if he had the wiring wrong in the torch, he would also have the problem of constant wire feed.

you could add a relay to switch the welding transformer on an off as you squeeze the trigger, shouldn't be too hard.

I used a permanently live torch years ago, I think they are terrible

 

[PTvor]

Usually with a MIG welder, when you press the trigger, a relay (the contactor) is activated which connects the welding transformer to the mains and the torch becomes live.

Years ago with the cheap machines, they skipped the contactor to shave a few quid off the price, but the torch was permanently live. These days, you might have a job to find a new machine with a permanently live torch.

Either you've got a machine with a permanently live torch, or you've missed something when you were fixing it.

Either way it sounds as if you are happy to put up with it for one job then pass it on.

 

[Pootle]

The wire only feeds when the trigger is pulled.
It is a very strange feeling knowing that You could accidentally strike an arc by just brushing the work piece.
The project I talk about is a patio canopy made from box section. Therefore I'll be using it up a ladder in awkward positions. I may well look into fitting a switch to the trigger, or I may just put it back on eBay along with My gas MiG and get a dual purpose MiG instead.
Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

[Imperative]

Live Torch Probably Correct!

I had an SIP Gasless 90 welder about a decade ago. Purchased it new and it too had a live torch. It was an ok welder until it had wire feed problems - I think the liner got too 2nd hand - I didn't look, just got rid of it.

 

[BrokenBiker]

If your working outside and welding box section, only using the welder for one gig then selling it why not buy a cheapo ac buzz box?