Machine advice needed

[PandaWill]

Hi all

Am looking for some advice on a tig machine please.

I am completely new to tig welding.

I don't mind paying for quality if it means a machine will last a long time and be nice to use. I bought a portamig mig welder last year and am delighted with it.

But the search for a tig machine has left my head spinning!

I like the look of the Thermal Arc 175TE for about the £400 mark. Would that be a good machine for a beginner like me?

Many thanks in advance!

Will

 

[octo0072000]

for ac/dc tig you need to up your budget by about £1000 what you are looking at is dc only no good for ali

 

[chevy2]

For mild steel and s/steel that thermal arc machine will be fine,
It has hf arc start like the professional welders which i'd class as a must have item on a tig and at 175amps it should do up to around 6mm material.

 

[BrokenBiker]

as above if you want to weld Ali then you need ac and another grand on top.

also hf is definately a must, in starting to get fed up with my lift arc tig on my inverter, would be much nicer to have a button and down slope

 

[PandaWill]

Ah - of course - I had forgotten about the whole ac/dc thing. With a tig welder I would definitely want to be able to weld aluminium (skill level permitting!)

Now I am wondering whether I should just get the portamig tig. I read that it's a traditional design rather than inverter style, so I could maybe justify the cost in the hope that i would still be using it in 20 years time

Would that be a sensible choice if I can find the funds?

Thanks again

 

[PandaWill]

Actually - thinking about it - seeing as I have never tigged before maybe I should just get the thermal arc, then I can upgrade when I know I can do it

 

[SBK]

I paid 1400 for my thermal arc 202 with a peddle and am more than happy with it.

 

[waddycall]

I've got the 175 te and I really like it. It's good to use both in tig and stick modes. I learnt to tig weld with a lift start 175 se before deciding on getting the te. I've since used a murex tig at work and can't really tell any difference for dc tig with no pedal. You can't connect a pedal to the 175te. It comes with a nice adjustable neck torch which I find really helps.

 

[PandaWill]

Thanks waddycall I think I will go for that 175te!

Will

 

[Jim Davey]

DC tigs are pretty much all weld the same, bells whistles and duty cycles aside. AC/DC is another kettle of fish entirely. TAUK's tig 206i isn't bad for the money.
The GYS 200 amp AC/DC is also a belter in its price range.

 

[norlander]

The GYS 200 amp AC/DC is also a belter in its price range.

had not seen that set before- as you say looks very good for the price point, I get the impression the Gys base model machines have features to make life easier for the occasional/hobby welder? (I've been looking at their smartmig 162).

 

[Jim Davey]

had not seen that set before- as you say looks very good for the price point, I get the impression the Gys base model machines have features to make life easier for the occasional/hobby welder? (I've been looking at their smartmig 162).

I'd agree, all the necessary adjustments, upslope, downslope, pulse etc are all present and correct at a price that doesn't cause too much of a brown trouser moment when it comes to telling the wife what you spent her holiday/housekeeping money on