Buying a Tig for a newb

[bugs]

I have been an the forum and reading around alot of the posts, and still cant come up with a definitive answer for my question.

I`m a newb to welding, iv done a bit of MIG, but id like to eventually go into motorcycle frame building (I`m not so nieve to think im just going to pick up a welder and start sticking tube together) Iv used the Miller online calculator to check what kind of amperage id need for 1/8" tube (common on hardtail motorcycles) and its telling me 85 - 120 amps so I began look at the Clarke AT150 https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-at150-150amp-arc-tig-inverter-welder

but there's a few posts on here saying there's much better out there for the money

I have also seen this http://www.diywelding.co.uk/?i=216508

iv looked on the weld equip site but there are a bit more than I was prepared to pay I was hoping to get something for around £200, £250 at the most.

its not helping that I dont think im understanding the difference between all the different types thermal Arc, TIG, MMA

can someone point me in the right direction as my heads beginning to hurt?

 

[mali]

Hi i am by no means the most experienced on here but i have over 10 years experience with the welding and fabricating industry with mig from small works to dutch barges, and i dont mean to be a killjoy but if you are planning on building frames to sell or for others rather than your own bike you need a very high understanding of metal work and welding not just putting a nice looking weld down as you get one thing wrong and someone new bike frame could snap or give way while they are riding at high speeds.
From the few i know in the motorcycle fabrication business a tig welder is only one of your issues as you will need a good tube bender preferably a mandrel bender and decent ones of these can make buying a tig look like pocket money. Those machine mart benders will crimp and kink tube which weakens it dramatically for something like a frame, frame building is a very precise process with very minimal tolerances.
As for a tig now i am currently back at college to get my certificate for tig so cant tell you what one to buy as im looking for my first one and keep changing my mind, but i do think you would be better going for an ac/dc tig as working with motorbikes you will def at some point come across aluminium. From the ones you have put up they are more for arc welding but have very basic tig capability, you want one which is the other way round designed for tig first with hf start i would say that 160amp machine would suit your needs. this is what i have been looking at now ive decided to save the extra and get ac dc

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welder_R-Tech_Tig161

or if you know you wont go on to do ally then you could go for this

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welders_R-Tech_Tig160PDC

 

[bugs]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply mali, I totally agree that Tig Welding is a tiny part of frame building and there are many other skills and processes to be learned especially with something which is going to go on the road. I have been looking at various courses on metalwork, but for now my neighbour who is a ex oil rig engineer has offered to show me the ropes of Tig Welding, which im taking as the first step, to be an accomplished Tig Welder.

Thanks for the recommendations I shall take a look at these.

Cheers

 

[Richard.]

I agree if your buying a machine to tig weld with buy a hf tig not a mma inverter with scratch tig and leads.

 

[bugs]

Been looking to see if there are any cheaper alternatives to the R-Tech suggestion made by malin. I have found this on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121162511...0%7CR40&_nkw=121162511869&LH_PrefLoc=1&_rdc=1

Would this make a good alternative to the R-Tech?

 

[bugs]

Forget that just read up its a rebadged chinese job

 

[Richard.]

Forget that just read up its a rebadged chinese job

The R tech is good but is also Chinese so a cheaper alternative will almost certainly be Chinese and not as good.

 

[Richard.]

Sorry to be a kill joy but £250 for new machine. It's coming from china. Personally I'd add another £50 to the budget and hunt around for a used machine with a bit of reputation in the name. You will then come across things like r tech, parweld , thermal arc , etc. yes they are still built over there but they are looked after over here.

 

[bugs]

Thanks Richard one thing that's confusing is the tig/arc thing. In my first post I posted two machines mali replied saying the clarke machine was more arc with a bit of tig thrown in, but I can't see any difference between the clarke and the other machines the r-tech, thermal arc, and parweld they all look the same with very similar specs.

I just don't want to make a mistake with my purchase, which is why I'm not rushing into it.

 

[Richard.]

What he probably means is the unit in question is an mma unit with scratch start tig (no high frequency to start the arc) this is alright if your buying an mma welder and occasionally might use the tig facility but if your buying a tig welder this is not ideal because with this type of machine you need to touch the tungsten down onto the work peace to initiate the arc before lifting off to weld. This can contaminate the tungsten and the work peace.
If your buying a tig welder look for a machine with HF start and as far as the mma facility on it goes it will be fine,