secretsmoker
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 234
Hello again. I have been out of the game for a little while but intend to get a budget TIG mostly for practice/making patch panels out of steel and occasional MMA bits and bobs outdoors.
I realise this question has been asked a number of times before but I am struggling to weigh up the pro and cons. My beginner mentality is to get the one with the most features, but should I be looking more at duty cycle etc being a marker of a potentially long lasting unit? Sensible choices for around £400ish have been narrowed down to-
Jasic PRO TIG 180 DC Inverter 35% @ 180 Amps TIG - 5 Year Warranty!
Technical arc TIG 186i - DC TIG 60% @ 180 Amps TIG - Not certain about warranty but looks like I would need a torch etc separately
R-Tech Tig160PDC 35% @ 160 Amps TIG - 2 Year Warranty - Currently sold out which I take to be a good sign...
I keep hovering over the order button for the R-Tech, mostly I suspect because of it having up/down slope and pulse whilst also being able to accept a footpedal. It also comes with almost everything I would need to begin with. Question is can anyone fault this unit for the price? I have seen other threads where people seem to rate them but I am wondering how stability of arc/reliability compares. I realise most people's first TIG isn't likely to have or need pulsing and pedals etc, but it would be great to be able to practice with them from the get go.
Just wondered whether anyone has any to add that I might have overlooked. The Jasic has the best warranty, Tec Arc has the best duty cycle BUT the R-Tech has all the bells and whistles.
Need to get one ordered before I spend too much more of my paycheck on food, fuel and frivolities!
I realise this question has been asked a number of times before but I am struggling to weigh up the pro and cons. My beginner mentality is to get the one with the most features, but should I be looking more at duty cycle etc being a marker of a potentially long lasting unit? Sensible choices for around £400ish have been narrowed down to-
Jasic PRO TIG 180 DC Inverter 35% @ 180 Amps TIG - 5 Year Warranty!
Technical arc TIG 186i - DC TIG 60% @ 180 Amps TIG - Not certain about warranty but looks like I would need a torch etc separately
R-Tech Tig160PDC 35% @ 160 Amps TIG - 2 Year Warranty - Currently sold out which I take to be a good sign...
I keep hovering over the order button for the R-Tech, mostly I suspect because of it having up/down slope and pulse whilst also being able to accept a footpedal. It also comes with almost everything I would need to begin with. Question is can anyone fault this unit for the price? I have seen other threads where people seem to rate them but I am wondering how stability of arc/reliability compares. I realise most people's first TIG isn't likely to have or need pulsing and pedals etc, but it would be great to be able to practice with them from the get go.
Just wondered whether anyone has any to add that I might have overlooked. The Jasic has the best warranty, Tec Arc has the best duty cycle BUT the R-Tech has all the bells and whistles.
Need to get one ordered before I spend too much more of my paycheck on food, fuel and frivolities!