A grand for a TIG

[Photog Keith]

If you had a grand to spend on an AC/DC TIG welder what would you go for?
Need low current for thin stainless etc.
All suggestions appreciated!

Thanks

 

[FranV8]

I went the Rtech ACTIG161 route, been well pleased with it. I've done ally and mild steel from 0.7-5mm.

Got good backup with a sticking gas valve too, sorted myself with their guidance. You may be able to stretch to the 200 amp one. Get the pedal too though.

Don't forget for the full kit you'll need a helmet, gloves and filler wire, and of course argon, so the grand disappears pretty quickly if you're buying all the bits in that.

 

[Photog Keith]

Thanks FranV8. That's the one I've been considering but thought I should ask the "if you had grand" question!
Already got the lid (Miller Elite) and a few pairs of gloves for welding lessons at college. I originally thought a grand would do the lot but quickly realised that if you get a cheap welder, you get poor welds (Thanks to mig-welding.co.uk)!

I think I'm going to get my argon from BOC in a nice big bottle!

 

[Photog Keith]

Can I ask how far down you had the power for the .7mm stuff FranV8? Was there room to turn it down more?
Cheers, Keith

 

[FranV8]

Loads, I was on the pedal though and didn't have it all the way down (once I had the puddle going) - it was aluminium and I had the current set at 30A. The pedal will give a percentage of this setting. Amusingly the display shows actual current whilst doing this, but I can't see how it's possible to make any use of this, as I'm not good enough to swivel one of my eyes around from the weld itself!

 

[Photog Keith]

That sounds ok then. I suppose that's handy to get the current right on a test piece.

 

[Wedg1e]

When I was looking to buy a TIG welder, either people kept outbidding me on the 'Bay or at factory auctions, or kit like Kemppi was way more expensive than I wanted to pay as a hobbyist.
I found a brand-new AC/DC transformer-based TIG set from a company in Kidderminster and bought it through my company (so they could claim the VAT back, or something ).
It was £800 ex-VAT, is built by the same people who make PortaMIGs, Oxfords etc. and will go down to 10A and up to 170A. HF start, post-flow, torch latch, pedal, that's about it... but it works for me.

 

[Photog Keith]

Thanks Wedg1e, could really do with getting down to 5amps and up to 200 but any suggestions welcomed
I passed all of my TIG welding test pieces today (evening 3 of a 10 evening course) OCN Welding level 1, so am itching to get my own and start practising my uphand and then maybe some ali!