First post, a bit of research

[Craig-S]

Hi all,

Im trying to do a little research for my daughter, she is studying engineering with an eye for defense/aerospace. Her tutor advised for her to gain a bit of a headstart it would be a decent idea to get a better understanding of AC/DC tig welding because knowledge is good but practical experience is better.

I have been looking around for her and there seems to be a consensus that R-Tech is decent, have great customer service, simple settings for noobs......however it seems by the time you add up the welder (R-Tech 171 AC/DC) + PPE + gas we are closing in on £2000 which is well out of budget.

The reason for this welder choice is really because it will cover everything she needs starting with the easy settings and allow her to progress without having to buy multiple welders....she also likes the colour :/
Helmet - Optrel Neo as it seems middle range with decent safety
Gas - 20l SGS 100% Argon
2 stage regulator for gas saving (seems theres a few posts around this)

Is there any way to get some of these costs down? do R-Tech offer student discounts? any other welders that offer the same easy settings etc. at a cheaper price?

One thing that slightly concerns me is social media pushing of products, i have seen youtube channels with next to no subscribers pushing the R-Tech welders which makes me wonder somewhat.

Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[tom2207]

Welcome to the forum ,,,
is there an engineering company local to you that may take her in as an intern , or even give her a weeks work experience , get a feel for the industry in general , to start welding is a bit specific unless she already has a strong interest in this direction , be a shame to rule out so many other things before really getting a look about first.

 

[Craig-S]

Welcome to the forum ,,,
is there an engineering company local to you that may take her in as an intern , or even give her a weeks work experience , get a feel for the industry in general , to start welding is a bit specific unless she already has a strong interest in this direction , be a shame to rule out so many other things before really getting a look about first.

Thanks for the reply,

She has already completed work experience in the local car service garage who has allowed her to stay an afternoon a week to continue learning, she also has lined up a local engineering company for her second year work experience. I suppose worst case we have a welder in the garage which i will learn to use, because you can never learn too much i guess

 

[voipio]

Welcome to the forum.

A welder and PPE are a start, but some sort of workshop facility at home would also be important, for the preparations for welding, and for providing an area where sparks/blobs of molten metal aren't going to be a problem.

 

[Craig-S]

Welcome to the forum.

A welder and PPE are a start, but some sort of workshop facility at home would also be important, for the preparations for welding, and for providing an area where sparks/blobs of molten metal aren't going to be a problem.

Thanks for the reply,

i have an empty garage with a workbench, 16a supply with dedicated dist board and fan ducted ventilation, so that should suffice?

 

[jo1010]

So as it's a learning machine maybe go for an older manual Tig rather than jumping in with a new expensive machine. There are some bargains around if you know what your looking at, and seller gives an opportunity to test.....a quick look on FB marketplace reveals an older Tec Arc tig (so spares still available for £350.....or a secondhand r tech (who are also good at spares support).......with the Chinese offerings warranty and spares are always a potential problem.....

Tecarc tig welder

Used tig welder 240 v 2 available £350 each plus vat

www.facebook.com

....just looking at that ad a bit further looks like the seller buys and sells garage equipment - so wouldn't be my ideal choice 'one owner' history for a machine. Look out for workshop closures though...I've found good machines that way...

 

[Misterg]

Her tutor advised for her to gain a bit of a headstart it would be a decent idea to get a better understanding of AC/DC tig welding because knowledge is good but practical experience is better.

Could I suggest that the money might be better spent on professional welding tuition?

Maybe an evening course at your local FE institution, or one of the craft based courses? There seem to be a few options:

Welding in-person courses in Wiltshire

Welding courses and workshops. Learn how to do Stick Welding, MIG Welding, TIG welding, gas welding/cutting and ARC welding. Improve your experience or learn a new skills. Welding tutors across the UK.

www.craftcourses.com

 

[Craig-S]

So as it's a learning machine maybe go for an older manual Tig rather than jumping in with a new expensive machine. There are some bargains around if you know what your looking at, and seller gives an opportunity to test.....a quick look on FB marketplace reveals an older Tec Arc tig (so spares still available for £350.....or a secondhand r tech (who are also good at spares support).......with the Chinese offerings warranty and spares are always a potential problem.....

Tecarc tig welder

Used tig welder 240 v 2 available £350 each plus vat

www.facebook.com

....just looking at that ad a bit further looks like the seller buys and sells garage equipment - so wouldn't be my ideal choice 'one owner' history for a machine. Look out for workshop closures though...I've found good machines that way...

Oh we dont know enough to look at used machines, which i know will hurt the chances of a deal, which is why we are looking at good customer service.

Could I suggest that the money might be better spent on professional welding tuition?

Maybe an evening course at your local FE institution, or one of the craft based courses? There seem to be a few options:

Welding in-person courses in Wiltshire

Welding courses and workshops. Learn how to do Stick Welding, MIG Welding, TIG welding, gas welding/cutting and ARC welding. Improve your experience or learn a new skills. Welding tutors across the UK.

www.craftcourses.com

Their will be proper tuition from college and the car service place will also be helping out, this is all for practice and reinforcement of good habits, after all she will require certs.

 

[jo1010]

Have a look at the parallel thread on here covering a similar topic...

C

Thread 'Stahlwork AC/DC Tig machines. Anyone tried one?'

Sep 8, 2025

Just thinking about where I want to go in the future with my Welding and would like to give TIG a go. I release starting with Aluminium is probably not the best idea but having the capability to weld it in the future would be nice so I'm looking around at AC/Dc options and came arose these

https://www.stahlwerk-schweissgeraete.de/acdc-wig-200-puls-d-cut-en

This one is Tig only but comes with a pedal

https://www.stahlwerk-schweissgeraete.de/acdc-wig-inverter-200-puls-pro-en_1

My googling and watching YouTube seems to find that they get reasonable reviews but on here they...

• chunkytfg
• Replies: 10
• forum: Buying a Welder

 

[voipio]

Thanks for the reply,

i have an empty garage with a workbench, 16a supply with dedicated dist board and fan ducted ventilation, so that should suffice?

That sounds like a good place to start. Plus the tools for basic metal prep (hacksaw, files), and a vice, wire brush, and, of course, the correct welding filler rods. Not sure if the welding machine in question will run flux coated rods, as in stick welding (MMA), but that would be a useful feature to have, and get some experience with. Edit: the welder in question also does MMA welding.

 

[Craig-S]

That sounds like a good place to start. Plus the tools for basic metal prep (hacksaw, files), and a vice, wire brush, and, of course, the correct welding filler rods. Not sure if the welding machine in question will run flux coated rods, as in stick welding (MMA), but that would be a useful feature to have, and get some experience with. Edit: the welder in question also does MMA welding.

got a couple of angle grinders, some clamps, files, brushes and other bits as i used to dabble in dead trees

 

[Mark 2]

I can understand 'having some knowledge of welding' being sensible but ac tig (the expensive bit) seems a bit overkill at this stage to me.

 

[Craig-S]

I can understand 'having some knowledge of welding' being sensible but ac tig (the expensive bit) seems a bit overkill at this stage to me.

I tend to be more buy once, cry once. if a machine is capable then it saves having to buy something else after a couple of years i guess.

 

[Mark 2]

Ok, well I can vouch for the neo - had mine for years now.

 

[Jackimus]

R-Tech do 10% off pretty often.

You can get capable and trustworthy masks for less than the Optrel Neo, see the ESAB Savage A41, R-Tech's Speedmaster range, etc., but that's only a small saving of your total layout.

 

[chrismac]

Just to confirm, she will be looking at getting into welding after her studying of engineering, it seems a lot of money to spend at this stage, AC/DC takes a bit of practise and usually getting DC mastered first is key, there is so much to learn just by holding the torch and filler wire (apologies if she is already proficient in DC TIG)

On the welding machine, I would be looking at 2nd hand also, best of luck to her and you picking something up.

What about this

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...r-dual-voltage-230v-400v.145765/#post-2642325

 

[Jackimus]

I was going to point you to that!! But thought you wouldn't be interested as an R-Tech AC/DC tig is less new, and you would be able to get it for 10% less again if you hold out for a sale.

But that is a cracking machine at an incredible price and you would be putting cash in good people's pockets, not that R-Tech aren't also good people.

Definitely go for that Oxford if you're interested in it. @fizzy will be able to get it on a pallet.

 

[Craig-S]

Just to confirm, she will be looking at getting into welding after her studying of engineering, it seems a lot of money to spend at this stage, AC/DC takes a bit of practise and usually getting DC mastered first is key, there is so much to learn just by holding the torch and filler wire (apologies if she is already proficient in DC TIG)

On the welding machine, I would be looking at 2nd hand also, best of luck to her and you picking something up.

What about this

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum...r-dual-voltage-230v-400v.145765/#post-2642325

she is doing theory currently as part of her engineering, she will be getting practical from her work experience as well as her current p/t work place and some practice at home. As previously mentioned I dont want to have to buy a second machine to do AC in a couple of years, so its better to buy something that has the capability to be used when required.

That Oxford machine looks decent, but this purchase will be going on a flexible friend.

 

[voipio]

What sort of engineering is she studying, and to what level? Engineering covers a lot of ground across different subject areas.

 

[Craig-S]

What sort of engineering is she studying, and to what level? Engineering covers a lot of ground across different subject areas.

I think its a T level with emphasis on aerospace as we have a lot of aerospace and defence companies very close to us that have ties to the college. She will be following that up with an apprenticeship. shes fairly handy and likes to get stuck in. Sadly the college doesnt offer practical welding but her workplace does welding as well the engineering company she will be spending time with