Hello all!
I've been reading for a while, and now it's time for my first post!
I'm planning on building a locost kit car. For those not familiar, the idea is that it is completely DIY and completely modular. Hence the name, locost = low cost. As you would expect, this is not a project I could joke around with my old but faithful arc welder. So, after quite a bit of research, i'm on the hunt for a TIG welder.
Chassis will be mostly out of steel rectangular tube, 25mm x 25mm x 2mm. I figured that a ~150Amp DC welder would suit my needs, right?
To make things clear, i'm fully aware that you get what you pay for, no doubts about that. The thing is that a branded high-end welder rather spoils the point of the whole low-cost project, but the bitter truth is I just can't afford it, and God knows how much i love big shiny new tools.
So, just like every other bloke on the market, i too am tempted by the relatively cheap Chinese import units. How reliable can they be? And by reliable i mean, will they brake down halfway through the project? I understand there are users who's welders never worked, straight out of the box, and others who are quite happy with the outcome of theirs (eg Giant units), bearing in mind the money they paid for it. What is your opinion? General advice (and rants maybe ) welcome!
I'm open to the idea of buying second hand, but shipping over here would be quite expensive, and most sellers not only won't post, but won't let me arrange a courier to collect.
Thanks for your time
Steve
I've been reading for a while, and now it's time for my first post!
I'm planning on building a locost kit car. For those not familiar, the idea is that it is completely DIY and completely modular. Hence the name, locost = low cost. As you would expect, this is not a project I could joke around with my old but faithful arc welder. So, after quite a bit of research, i'm on the hunt for a TIG welder.
Chassis will be mostly out of steel rectangular tube, 25mm x 25mm x 2mm. I figured that a ~150Amp DC welder would suit my needs, right?
To make things clear, i'm fully aware that you get what you pay for, no doubts about that. The thing is that a branded high-end welder rather spoils the point of the whole low-cost project, but the bitter truth is I just can't afford it, and God knows how much i love big shiny new tools.
So, just like every other bloke on the market, i too am tempted by the relatively cheap Chinese import units. How reliable can they be? And by reliable i mean, will they brake down halfway through the project? I understand there are users who's welders never worked, straight out of the box, and others who are quite happy with the outcome of theirs (eg Giant units), bearing in mind the money they paid for it. What is your opinion? General advice (and rants maybe ) welcome!
I'm open to the idea of buying second hand, but shipping over here would be quite expensive, and most sellers not only won't post, but won't let me arrange a courier to collect.
Thanks for your time
Steve