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What TIG welder
RMarine - 27/10/10 at 05:45 PM

I am looking for a TIG welder so i can learn how weld light Alli, the sort of thinkness of a std fuel tank or header tank.
can any one tell me what sort of power i would need and a buget price for the right machine. make and model would really help... Thank again

hicost blade - 27/10/10 at 05:49 PM

I want this one but I can't afford it at the moment........

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welder_R-Tech_Tig161

mistergrumpy - 27/10/10 at 06:07 PM

I have ^that one^. Wished I'd got the free pedal but it wasn't included until a few weeks after my purchase. Faultless though.

mark chandler - 27/10/10 at 06:13 PM

I lost my power supply so cannot use my coil wound one so got one of these a couple of months ago to tie me over.

AC DC TIG WELDER MMA WELDS ALI S/TEEL UK SELLER on eBay (end time 15-Sep-10 12:08:52 BST)

Used it a few times now, its very good and thats on a generator !

Instructions are a waste of time, you will need a decent mask so ignore the one that it comes with.

I did have a bit of a google, they all come from the same factory in China in this range, you see various colours and names on Ebay but its just cosmetic as the switches and buttons are all the same, this had free foot pedal as well.

The more expensive ones use siemens semiconductors so you take the risk.

Regards Mark


[Edited on 27/10/10 by mark chandler]

FASTdan - 28/10/10 at 09:36 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
I lost my power supply so cannot use my coil wound one so got one of these a couple of months ago to tie me over.

AC DC TIG WELDER MMA WELDS ALI S/TEEL UK SELLER on eBay (end time 15-Sep-10 12:08:52 BST)

Used it a few times now, its very good and thats on a generator !

Instructions are a waste of time, you will need a decent mask so ignore the one that it comes with.

I did have a bit of a google, they all come from the same factory in China in this range, you see various colours and names on Ebay but its just cosmetic as the switches and buttons are all the same, this had free foot pedal as well.

The more expensive ones use siemens semiconductors so you take the risk.

Regards Mark


[Edited on 27/10/10 by mark chandler]


That is a very good price, I paid 450 for a giant one a year back and that was the cheapest UK seller I could find. Very pleased with it though. Will easily do what you are wanting.

Your comment about Siemens - are you saying the Chinese ones do not use them? Must admit I didn't research as much ad i should have.

flak monkey - 28/10/10 at 09:47 AM

R-tech - top quality service, well built machines and lovely to weld with.

I have their 160A AC/DC TIG and its great

Thurbs - 28/10/10 at 01:52 PM

Make sure it's A/C for welding ali.
Good luck welding ali it's a bit of an art.

flak monkey - 28/10/10 at 02:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Thurbs
Make sure it's A/C for welding ali.
Good luck welding ali it's a bit of an art.


Bizzarely I find ali welding easier than steel. You need a pedal though - its much more difficult without!

bonzoronnie - 28/10/10 at 02:44 PM

I bought one of the Giant branded AC/DC inverters last year.
Quite impressed & does what it says on the tin

Produces some nice work, I may have been lucky & had a good un but as said, if my budget had been bigger I would have gone for something more mainstream, with UK tech support

A sample of 2mm alloy sheet



On a piece of gash 3.25 mm wall square tube



On an even more gash 5mm plate



All in all, very pleased that I had a punt.

mark chandler - 28/10/10 at 08:22 PM

My googling showed that they use cheaper componants, on the basis that I will be welding at probally 50% of the possible output then I do not feel the need to worry.

That's not to say the stuff is not robust, Siemens probally have better quality control.

Regards Mark