nevcontractor
New Member
- Messages
- 5
Hi Guys,
I am after some advice on buying an AC TIG welding setup for my hobby/garage use (the whole caboodle, including largish gas tank, gas, alu welding rods, cables, tips, mask, gloves etc). I have just finished a major car tuning project and continually find myself wanting to weld bits and bobs. Most of these are thin aluminium parts such as air pipes and air-boxs which are around the (1.5 mm to 2.5mm thickness). I may also want to weld some mild and 304 grade steel (such as exhausts and sub frames). I have no experience of welding BTW, I realise it’s not simple to learn and though happy to learn on my own, would be great if I could find a ‘mentor’ in the Bristol area.
Please bear in mind that I am only a ‘hobbyist’ so don’t want to be forking out for a welder that is too good for my limited use. However, at the same time I don’t want to buy something that won’t let me reliably weld the materials I listed above. And this is the rub, what to buy... I have done a fair bit of reading on the matter, but it is hard for me to gauge what would be the happy medium to buy. I have looked on eBay and have read a lot of complaints about people who have bought cheap kit only to find it fail.
Thus, my questions are these:
1. What features are critical for me to have on the welder (Eg. AC+DC)?
2. What features are important on the welder for my requirements.
3. Can you name some welder models (or point to eBay/shops) that you think suitable.
4. Any other tips, particularly on testing used equipment.
BTW, I live in Bristol, so if anyone local was happy for me to come round and discuss this (and maybe have a demo/explanation) I’d be more than happy to travel over. I could reward you with a passenger ride of your life
Thanks in advance,
Neville.
I am after some advice on buying an AC TIG welding setup for my hobby/garage use (the whole caboodle, including largish gas tank, gas, alu welding rods, cables, tips, mask, gloves etc). I have just finished a major car tuning project and continually find myself wanting to weld bits and bobs. Most of these are thin aluminium parts such as air pipes and air-boxs which are around the (1.5 mm to 2.5mm thickness). I may also want to weld some mild and 304 grade steel (such as exhausts and sub frames). I have no experience of welding BTW, I realise it’s not simple to learn and though happy to learn on my own, would be great if I could find a ‘mentor’ in the Bristol area.
Please bear in mind that I am only a ‘hobbyist’ so don’t want to be forking out for a welder that is too good for my limited use. However, at the same time I don’t want to buy something that won’t let me reliably weld the materials I listed above. And this is the rub, what to buy... I have done a fair bit of reading on the matter, but it is hard for me to gauge what would be the happy medium to buy. I have looked on eBay and have read a lot of complaints about people who have bought cheap kit only to find it fail.
Thus, my questions are these:
1. What features are critical for me to have on the welder (Eg. AC+DC)?
2. What features are important on the welder for my requirements.
3. Can you name some welder models (or point to eBay/shops) that you think suitable.
4. Any other tips, particularly on testing used equipment.
BTW, I live in Bristol, so if anyone local was happy for me to come round and discuss this (and maybe have a demo/explanation) I’d be more than happy to travel over. I could reward you with a passenger ride of your life
Thanks in advance,
Neville.