Hello all! I'm looking to buy my first welder and could do with some advice. My main project (though it won't start for quite a while) will be building a kit car, but the more likely first use will be for some work on a small tractor and implements (at a guess 3-4mm plate max.). There'll also be other smallish fabrication projects I'm sure!
I've seen a Blueweld TIG 175 advertised at what looks to be a good price. It's DC only but has HF start, although the seller says it doesn't come with a foot pedal so I'm not sure how it's controlled. It seems that particular model's now discontinued, but looking at the 185 (max current 160A) and the 171 (max current 150A) I suspect it's max output will be in this range. There's no detail on max weldable thickness - is this likely to be enough to weld plate in the 3-4mm range, in either TIG or MMA mode? Is the Blueweld machine reasonable, and if not, what would be better within the same type of price bracket? (I've seen the Blueweld together with a Blueweld plasma cutter in an auction with a start price of £400 - I think the plasma cutter's going to be pretty useful which is why I'm interested. Don't really want to go far above the £400 mark for a welder and cutter together).
As this is my first post, I suppose I'd better add a little about me! I'm a recently graduated mechanical engineer and I've studied quite a bit of theory about welding - what the process involves, what the effects on the material are - but not how to set up a machine, although I've read up a bit about it. I've run a few MiG beads in my time, but the machine's always been set up for me beforehand. I've always been more interested in the more practical side of engineering than heavy theory but not had too much chance to get my hands properly dirty on my course.
Cheers!
Ben
I've seen a Blueweld TIG 175 advertised at what looks to be a good price. It's DC only but has HF start, although the seller says it doesn't come with a foot pedal so I'm not sure how it's controlled. It seems that particular model's now discontinued, but looking at the 185 (max current 160A) and the 171 (max current 150A) I suspect it's max output will be in this range. There's no detail on max weldable thickness - is this likely to be enough to weld plate in the 3-4mm range, in either TIG or MMA mode? Is the Blueweld machine reasonable, and if not, what would be better within the same type of price bracket? (I've seen the Blueweld together with a Blueweld plasma cutter in an auction with a start price of £400 - I think the plasma cutter's going to be pretty useful which is why I'm interested. Don't really want to go far above the £400 mark for a welder and cutter together).
As this is my first post, I suppose I'd better add a little about me! I'm a recently graduated mechanical engineer and I've studied quite a bit of theory about welding - what the process involves, what the effects on the material are - but not how to set up a machine, although I've read up a bit about it. I've run a few MiG beads in my time, but the machine's always been set up for me beforehand. I've always been more interested in the more practical side of engineering than heavy theory but not had too much chance to get my hands properly dirty on my course.
Cheers!
Ben
