Looking at buying a cheap TIG, I have done gas welding arc and mig but never tig.

What gas will I need for alluminium and steel wealding and daft as it seems is it rods that are used ie like gas welding

hi, youll need some argon for ally and an ac set too so not cheap.
for steel you can use an inverter set with just dc, rods should be deoxidised too you might need an active gas for odinary steel something like cougar or argoshield
make sure you cover all skin when tig welding think instant sunburn (not nice)
Ray
p.s. cleanliness is even more important with tig than any other welding

I use pure argon for steel too as the tungsten deteriorates with the presence
of CO2. Mine's only DC so can't do Ali.

A mate bought a cheap AC/DC one from Scootz's most loathed location, about £400
IIRC, seems to do the job but the duty cycle is poo so big jobs are a no-no.

so to do ally does it have to be ac dc??

looking at one of these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rockworth-Power-Task-130-AMP-TIG-MMA-Welder-/290435181692?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_S upplies_ET&hash=item439f492c7c

Yep. Ally needs AC/DC. Look at Argon prices before you dive in. You may change your mind. It's hugely expensive.

so is it pure argon for ally ?? what gas for steel and stainless , forgive me if I appear thick on this subject. With my MIG setup I just use Co2

It's argon for all metals with tig,

but Mr G is right. Look into prices before buying.

Edit to add:-
There are cheaper options/smaller bottles but I rent a size W bottle from BOC.
£110 p/a + £90 for a refill. I use about four a year.

Rods aren't cheap. I keep Supersteel (mild steel), 308 s/s, 316 s/s, 309 (mild to s/s) and Al 5%Si, which covers most things.
At on average £30 a packet that's quite an outlay.

Then when I charge people £15 an hour for welding they look at me as if they've been robbed.

Sorry if I've put you off.
Cheers
Paul G

[Edited on 20/7/10 by 907]

I used CO2 with my TIG welder to start with, but it runs too hot. I was welding steel and it works ok, but the weld is black when finished, not bright. Not so sure about structure either, but it cut open ok with no air bubbles or cracks.

Argon can be used on any metal. Its only a shielding gas. Ali needs a pure environment, so 100% argon is best, but more expensive than 5% CO2 mix which is the same as BOC's ArgoShield product.

Look around for a cheap hobby gas supplier. Adams Gas, or Weld Air are the only two that i have found that sell 10L bottles of Argon Mix. Im hoping to get one this week so that i can dig out the TIG again.

hey 907, £15 per hour, they getting off lightly, I wouldnt even fire up the MIG welder for that LOL

round here the TIG places will charge you £30-£35 per hour for a cash job!

£15 an hour seems okay. I once had my CAT welded onto my exhaust and the felle wouldn't let me through the door without £15 in cash for what was a 3-4 minute job.