Tig welding machine specs-selection

Hi everybody
I thinking about buying a tig welding machine
I would like to have your opinion
My needs
Other than steel and inox I would like to have the ability to weld aluminum
As I don’t have three face power supply, we are talking about a 220volt single face machine
I won’t use the machine for professional use
My budget is nearly 500 euros and if we are talking about something that worth the money I won’t have any issue to spend 100-200 Euros more.
I have no idea about the specs of these machines (other than amperes and the way the arch starts-with or without touch).
I would like to hear your opinion about what I must be careful of

My questions
#1
I have an 200 amperes inverter welder. I have seen at ebay some kits that converts these welders to tig, but I don’t know if it worth the money. What do you think?
#2
Does it worth to look for a second hand or it better to go for a new one

#3
What are the low middle and high brands in the tig welding area?
#4
After a quick search I found this from Poland
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sherman-TIG-...AAAOSweuxWSxD0

this from German
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TIG-WELDER-PROFESSIONAL-MMA-WELDING-MACHINE-AC-DC-INVERTER-200-A-ALUMINIUM-PULSE-/262252072795?hash=item3d0f710f5b:g:f94AAOSwX~dWoNg E

and this from China

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super200P-22...4AAOSwZVhWSt-R

What do you think?

Any advice is well accepted

Thanks for your time

Vagelis

You thought of maybe getting a MIG instead? It is quicker for most things unless you need it for really fine work where the TIG is needed.

With a spool gun or a PTFE liner you can also do Aluminium without having too much skill or practice.

For fabrication of steel structures it is also much quicker easier than ARC.

I have an R-Tech 160 AC/DC welder and I really rate the high frequency start and pulse functions. They are both a must. I will however buy a MIG very soon for a job.

Hi Vagelis,

Just be aware the running costs of TIG are far more expensive compared to MIG. It's not just the buying of the TIG there are hidden costs.

Gas needed for aluminium is Pure Argon or Helium argon Mix for more specialist aluminium welding which costs lot more than typical 5% mix Mig gas and lot more expensive than Co2.
Tig is much more dependant on Gas flow so you need Gas Flow meter not just Regulator showing pressure like most Mig setups use.
Also because off the Slow nature of Tig welding compared to Mig the Gas usage is higher. Mig will cover lot more Mtr's of weld for the same gas usage. And it's cheaper Gas.

Then you have the Torch setup. For best control and weld flow you really need a foot pedal so have full control of amps. Tig torches with switch are ok for awkward places but are limited for fine work because they don't have the same control you have with foot pedal.
Also standard Tig cups are Ok but for better welds you'll soon want to use Gas lense so that's more hidden expense. They do however pay for them selfs long term because you tend to use less gas or should say waste less gas.

So what I'm saying is really look if you need TIG because it's not cheap. Also welding Aluminium with TIG takes a good while to learn and is very unforgiving. Can be very frustrating for first time user because just touch down the Tungston one time and you have to stop and clean/regrind the Tip.
Also If you Eye sight is at all dodgy TIG will soon find out because TIG is much more visual. Good Auto shield helmet designed for TIG is a Must because TIG fires much quicker than Mig and is Lot brighter so the helmet needs to respond faster to the Arc.

My Tig is 200A form R-tech and I love it. But it took me nearly half of Large Bottle of Gas before I got anything like resonable at welding Aluminium and I ground a lot of tungston.!!! . . . I relate TIG to Old Fashioned Gas welding and I was very very good at it in my youth having welded more Cars than Ford so thought TIG would be easy.!! I was Wrong and it was real Eye opener. Thou must Say I do love TIG now but only For Aluminium and Titanium or Stainless for most things in Steel I'll always turn to MIG because it's so much faster.

Hi Vagelis
I use both Mig Clarke 230TEC
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cl-migwld-230v230tec/
and ACDC Tig Artech 170
http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/tig-w...al-tig-170ext/
Happy with both and recommend them
Use of proper helmet is must when use small current on tig - Jazz already mention
Attachment 20007

I have an R-tech tig 160, it's a good machine and the back up is excellent, but more than your budget, also they have increased in price recently so a 200a AC/DCis £1400, so are not cheap anymore
You are taking a big chance with buying a machine from China as the warranty is useless, buy only from Europe.
My personal recommendation would be if I wanted a decent setup is this....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stealth-DI...YAAOSwAuZX4laC.

As already said by Jazz, learning tig takes a long time and if you want to stack dimes like a pro in all posistion, it takes years to learn and with all due respect to the guys on here, you will need to join a welding forum, from personal experience I can fully recommend this site..http://www.mig-welding.co.uk.

Martin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JAZZCNC

Hi Vagelis,

Just be aware the running costs of TIG are far more expensive compared to MIG. It's not just the buying of the TIG there are hidden costs.

Gas needed for aluminium is Pure Argon or Helium argon Mix for more specialist aluminium welding which costs lot more than typical 5% mix Mig gas and lot more expensive than Co2.
Tig is much more dependant on Gas flow so you need Gas Flow meter not just Regulator showing pressure like most Mig setups use.
Also because off the Slow nature of Tig welding compared to Mig the Gas usage is higher. Mig will cover lot more Mtr's of weld for the same gas usage. And it's cheaper Gas.

Then you have the Torch setup. For best control and weld flow you really need a foot pedal so have full control of amps. Tig torches with switch are ok for awkward places but are limited for fine work because they don't have the same control you have with foot pedal.
Also standard Tig cups are Ok but for better welds you'll soon want to use Gas lense so that's more hidden expense. They do however pay for them selfs long term because you tend to use less gas or should say waste less gas.

So what I'm saying is really look if you need TIG because it's not cheap. Also welding Aluminium with TIG takes a good while to learn and is very unforgiving. Can be very frustrating for first time user because just touch down the Tungston one time and you have to stop and clean/regrind the Tip.
Also If you Eye sight is at all dodgy TIG will soon find out because TIG is much more visual. Good Auto shield helmet designed for TIG is a Must because TIG fires much quicker than Mig and is Lot brighter so the helmet needs to respond faster to the Arc.

My Tig is 200A form R-tech and I love it. But it took me nearly half of Large Bottle of Gas before I got anything like resonable at welding Aluminium and I ground a lot of tungston.!!! . . . I relate TIG to Old Fashioned Gas welding and I was very very good at it in my youth having welded more Cars than Ford so thought TIG would be easy.!! I was Wrong and it was real Eye opener. Thou must Say I do love TIG now but only For Aluminium and Titanium or Stainless for most things in Steel I'll always turn to MIG because it's so much faster.

---

just to add.....iv been welding since 1989...iv hand made many vintage car panels and gas welded them with ease..mig/stick im talented...i bought a 300 amp 3 phase tig not a fancy machine but exellent quality...without a thought i HATE tig welding,nothing like gas mig or stick......as deans said.dip the torch you have to stop and regrind the tungston pull away to far you get increased heat and a loss of shielding gas,i havent bought a foot pedal yet so i use ramp up and down off the torch...the noise the dam thing makes on AC gets right into your head,god knows what its like trying to learn with a tin pot hobbyist tig...we use small inverter stick welders on the yard for smallish jobs and i cant praise them enough for mild steel...they will scratch tig also BUT thats another nasty can of worms best left well alone.......if i lost everything and had to start again....my first buy would be a £180 thermal arc inverter stick welder.....followed by a lincoln 250amp mig for around £600......

Wow who brought this back to life.!!! . . . .
Warwick buy foot pedal so much easier to Tig. I've found good Tig welding is all about prep and setup.
Unlike Gas or Mig which you basicly just grab torch and get on with it, Tig requires good uninterrupted setup for proping hand against. When setup correctly it's so much easier quicker and the quality of weld that can be achieved is amazing. I was very very good Gas welder and was always proud of look my welds but can honestly say I've never produced welds that look good has can produce now with Tig.
Like anything practise makes perfect but when it comes to Tig this is taken to another level but when it clicks boy it puts smile on your face. Esp in exotics like Ti.