Murex Transarc Tradesman DC130 - try Tig?

[RonMig]

I acquired this very cheaply (£40 I think it was) - a bit battered & grubby but seems to work perfectly.
Weighs 29Kg so a bit hefty compared to my little inverter...

Got a nice peeler when I tried it on some unprepared scrap...

I didn't really need the Murex as it's my 3rd Arc but the leads were too good to miss (9 metres long) !
... shown here next to my existing, embarrassingly short, cables.

But as it works, I found the manual online to get familiar, and read that it can also do lift Tig, which kindled more interest...

Has anyone on here tried this as a cheap-ish way into Tig? I'm tempted to give it a try, in a "The Good Life" kinda way.

My usage would be for small items, metal models, where Arc is a no-no and even Mig can be a bit too fierce...
I started one several years ago but stopped when one part needed some careful Tig more than Mig... so put it aside for the "one day" ...

The manual and the data plate say it operates as low as 5 Amps... - does Tig really work & get used with settings that low?

I found a "looks like a bargain" torch which seems like it should work with the unit - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/388221572589 or is it too cheap to be any good ?
I realise the Murex has no modern adjustments like cleaning, pulse, gas delay, anything really, so entirely manual for gas-on/start/weld/stop/gas-off.
I know I'd still need Argon & regulator, tungsten & wire, so still not exactly cheap...
Question is, would you give it a try ? Or done do already ?
Thanks

 

[premmington]

I had one of them years ago (later 135 model) - low duty cycle for MMA compared to an AC buzzbox or oil cooled welder of the time - never did any "scratch" TIG with it - OCV voltage too low. Be honest it struggled with 3.2mm rods.

More suited to 2.5mm MMA rods.




Look at my welding helmet - "god that photo is old". Can't remember the last time I used a welding mask that was non auto?

I used mine for bolt extraction - with 2.5mm 312 dissimilars - when it finally melted it and it went bang - I replaced it with an invertor with higher OCV and started using 3.2mm rods (more amps - more heat - easier extraction).

Constant voltage Miller under it - made in Italy - I still using it decades later - it still threaded up with 0.6mm A18 wire and pure CO2.

Miller welder given me good service...

 

[Bornfree]

I had one of them years ago (later 135 model) - low duty cycle for MMA compared to an AC buzzbox or oil cooled welder of the time - never did any "scratch" TIG with it - OCV voltage too low. Be honest it struggled with 3.2mm rods.

More suited to 2.5mm MMA rods.


View attachment 493847

Look at my welding helmet - "god that photo is old". Can't remember the last time I used a welding mask that was non auto?

I used mine for bolt extraction - with 2.5mm 312 dissimilars - when it finally melted it and it went bang - I replaced it with an invertor with higher OCV and started using 3.2mm rods (more amps - more heat - easier extraction).

Constant voltage Miller under it - made in Italy - I still using it decades later - it still threaded up with 0.6mm A18 wire and pure CO2.

Miller welder given me good service...

Last time I saw someone with a helmet like that was chap called noah who was building a boat.

 

[premmington]

@Bornfree

Do I look fat in my welding outfit...?



That photo is old too - Maybe 2012...?




Later photo of same side of workshop 2020?

 

[Bornfree]

@Bornfree

Do I look fat in my welding outfit...?

View attachment 493853

That photo is old too - Maybe 2015...?

Slightly anorexic I would say.

 

[premmington]

Slightly anorexic I would say.

"depressively anorexic"

 

[graffian]

When I started tig welding, it was with an oerlikon DC welder, a torch with a gas knob and I scratch started. Soon after the bloke that gave me the welder wanted to swap the Oerlikon for a Trades arc[?] DC 130 that looked just like the welder you have. I got the hang of scratch start straight away and I tig welded for a few years with it.

 

[minimutly]

The dairy where I used to work had one, got carted all over the place, I'd done a welding course up in Warrington with Stubb's, and the fitters who I shared the night shift with couldn't weld, so I ended up doing a fair bit of stainless tigging with of them - valves torch, scratch start, it did ok.

 

[nickk]

I bought one of the 130 versions,in ‘86, the salesman demonstrated it with aluminium mma rods,which I found dubious when I tried them,very good whilst it lasted,3 years!parts were too overpriced to bother repairing,burnt loads of boxes of 3.2 rods,ran well on an 80’ extension lead.