Stainless TIG Welder Advice Please!

[ross27]

Hi guys,

Im looking at getting a small TIG welder to do some diy work at home. It will mainly be used for welding stainless exhaust sections for cars, so relatively thin pipe, onto flanges.

Ive not welded in two years, and I only really used MMA on schedule 40 carbon pipe (HVCA TR5 Standards). Ive actually never TIG welded, so im a complete novice as to what is required.

I really want to keep it as cheap as possible, ideally get a second hand kit to practice with.

Please lend me some advise on what I need to get started. Any views are welcome!

Many thanks!

 

[Robotstar5]

Welcome to the forum, probably the cheapest way to start is with an arc welder capable of tig example

 

[ross27]

Thanks for the welcome and the quick reponse! Is that Parweld kit well thought of?


I was also having a look at the Clarke AT130, but again, im not too sure on whats best for me to get.

As i say, it wont be anything to intensive, just some stainless tubing for exhaust.

Cheers!

 

[ross27]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLARKE-TI...LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27cfc45e90&_uhb=1


Do you think the above Clarke AT130 would be a good purchase to get me started on tig?

Any advice is welcome!

 

[Robotstar5]

Most of the Clarke MIG welders are good hobby/entry level welders (got one myself) don't know about the MMA/TIG sets, hopefully some one will be along with some experience/advice about them?
Try contacting Weldequip (top of page) Steve sells Clarke equipment and will give you impartial advice.

 

[ross27]

Okay guys, think im going to take the plunge shortly and order a Clarke AT130 or 131 from Machine Mart. Hopefully with a VAT free voucher! (not sure of the difference between the 130 and 131??)

I intend to use the small Argon canisters for now, so could anyone help me out with the best torch and regulator i should be buying to go with it?

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

I wouldn't touch the disposable cartridges, TIG is very gas hungry and wil prove to be more expensive than getting an adams gas bottle when you are learning.
It helps to set an accurate ish flowrate of 6-8LPM which is flat out for one of those disposable regulators.

 

[zx9]

.................I intend to use the small Argon canisters for now, so could anyone help me out with the best torch and regulator i should be buying to go with it?

As above.
You should look at rental free 10L bottles of Argon, the disposables will be hidiously expensive, expect each one to last less than ten minutes.

 

[mrburntdaily]

gasses

Okay guys, think im going to take the plunge shortly and order a Clarke AT130 or 131 from Machine Mart. Hopefully with a VAT free voucher! (not sure of the difference between the 130 and 131??)

I intend to use the small Argon canisters for now, so could anyone help me out with the best torch and regulator i should be buying to go with it?

might want to use argon mix rather than pure argon if u intend to use it for mild or stainless exhaust pipe mate .

 

[matt1978]

If its Tig welding then 100% pure Argon is the correct gas. Ar Co2 mix are only for mig

 

[FranV8]

If you're taking the plunge into TIG welding I'd look for a dedicated TIG inverter with HF start, for thin exhaust tube may also benefit from pulse. The cheap Rtech DC looks okay, although if later you want a pedal it doesn't take one. They also come with the regulator iirc.

Gas wise, you may be wanting to back purge the welds, which is going to use loads more argon. So I'd go for a 20l cylinder if you can. Do get a flow meter at the same time, it'll pay for itself in no time.

As for the arc inverters that can handle TIG, often you have to buy the torch, which will have a manual gas valve on it, this often adds £50-£100 extra and you still end up with scratch start and few features. I looked at this in the early days before buying an Rtech AC161, the DC inverters seemed like a false economy to me.

 

[ross27]

Thanks for the comments!

I have sourced a couple of Hobbyweld suppliers near by, so i could get a better canister from them.

I really dont have a great deal of cash to spend on the machine just now, as ive just bought a new car, so keeping the budget low is important.

I have no issues with scratch start, and ive done alot of research into it.

I can get the Clarke AT131 for £160 with a VAT free voucher, so id then just need to source the torch and regulator. Would it be worth buying the ones from Machine Mart, or are there better ones available?


I can pick the regulator and torch below for £70 if bought with the machine.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/welding-torch-assembly-for-clarke-at131
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/gas-regulator-for-clarke-tig-welders


Any more comments are welcome!

EDIT:
Do i even need a regulator if i use a flow meter instead?

 

[zx9]

........
Do i even need a regulator if i use a flow meter instead?

Yes you will need a regulator, reduces the 200 + bar. in the cylinder then set the lpm on your flow meter.

 

[ross27]

Yes you will need a regulator, reduces the 200 + bar. in the cylinder then set the lpm on your flow meter.

Sorry, i should have worded that better. I had been watching videos on youtube and seen a few folk using a regulator/flow meter all in one item, rather than a flow meter on its own!

Such as this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Qual...808?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f22ca4870

Not sure what is best for me to use though...

 

[ben8vgte]

I got my proper full size used 160amp transformer based tig for less than that clarke cost's new and it's single phase with HF start ect.

I used to have a little scratch start mma/tig invertor but I have to admit it put my off tig till I got a proper one. They do come up on ebay every week really and the same make as mine but without the pulsed/spot weld feature go for next to nothing really.

 

[ross27]

I got my proper full size used 160amp transformer based tig for less than that clarke cost's new and it's single phase with HF start ect.

I used to have a little scratch start mma/tig invertor but I have to admit it put my off tig till I got a proper one. They do come up on ebay every week really and the same make as mine but without the pulsed/spot weld feature go for next to nothing really.

Would be great if you could post up some more details on what machine you have! I welcome any opinions!

 

[ben8vgte]

Yeah sorry should of said more.. It's a Fro (before Saf-fro)DC 160fp, but the other week a 160cc went for 110 ish I think. The cc model has HF but no pulse, though it does have downslope. They have decent duty cycle but are big bulky bit of kit, I'm only learning still but it so much easier than scratch start


New toy by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

 

[ross27]

Yeah sorry should of said more.. It's a Fro (before Saf-fro)DC 160fp, but the other week a 160cc went for 110 ish I think. The cc model has HF but no pulse, though it does have downslope. They have decent duty cycle but are big bulky bit of kit, I'm only learning still but it so much easier than scratch start


New toy by ben a.k.a me, on Flickr

Cheers, i appreciate the input!

I was pretty good at arc when i used to do it at work, could comfortably work away in a boiler house un supervised. Although i moved into a different role at work and moved into the office, so ive not stuck an arc in around 2 years.

Hopefully its a case of learning a new method, rather than being a complete novice!

 

[ross27]

After alot of researching, im now swaying towards the R-Tech TIG 160AMP.

Although more expensive, it comes with regulator, hoses, and it is HF start, so its not a great deal more (as FranV8 says).

Seems to have good reviews on the net, and great things said about R-Techs customer services too!

Any opinions on these?

 

[ross27]

Well ive gone and done it, gone for the R-Tech 160 DC machine!

Spoke to them on the phone, and they sound a great outfit, happy to help out wherever possible!

Got everything else on order, and will need to get a bottle of Argon later this week!

Spoke to SIG in Rutherglen and i think i will go for for the Hobbyweld 10l just now, and i will see how it lasts. The other option was the 20l bottle, but with a £5 per month rental.