Buying a Tig welder 160a or 200a

[Aaron_]

Hi guys I've been looking at buying a tig welder for about 6 months now been trying to get a good deal on a second hard one but doesn't seem to happen so think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a new one any way what kind of thicken will a 160 weld. I've been looking a r tech as every one on here seams to think there ok and they come with a pedal or maybe a parweld

and will theres be a waste of money http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELDER-AP...STICK-AC-DC-/371421168740?hash=item567a6d4464

Thanks Aaron

 

[AndersK]

Friend of mine has that one. Havent tried it myself but he's pleased with it.

 

[Jim Davey]

What's your maximum budget?

 

[Aaron_]

I don't wanna waste money and spend 600 of a piece of crap and don't wanna spend 1500 if I don't have to. I was thinking r tech as they have 2 year wty and if I get any good and use it alot I will get my money out if it dies after the 2 years. I was learning on a parweld but I don't really know anything about tiging TBH

 

[Jim Davey]

Or you could have a Sifweld TS200 AC/DC for £950 inc VAT.

11 kg
200A @ 25%
5-200 A
OCV 63
26 Amp max current draw in TIG mode
5 year warranty subject to proof of an annual service by a qualified person.

Includes Torch, reg, earth, stick lead and starter torch
spares kit.

 

[Aaron_]

Why does every thing seem cheaper in Europe

 

[Aaron_]

Thank you for being so helpful :-)

 

[Aaron_]

What about this http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/cebora-ac-dc-tig-welder-single-phase.56806/

 

[Richard.]

What about this http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/cebora-ac-dc-tig-welder-single-phase.56806/

Better build quality, less toys and gizmos. Only 130 amps though.

 

[Aaron_]

What kind of toys and gizmos lol. Any idea what kind of thickness can it weld. Silly question but does a Mig ampere and tig weld the same type of thickness

 

[hotrodder]

Why does every thing seem cheaper in Europe

Because the grass is always greener until you actually move to a different country and experience the different tax structure/public services/cost of living etc

Both the machines from the bay, buyer is responsible for return postage according to the listings which usually applies to warrenty claims too. While the machine painted yellow with SIF written on the side almost certainly came out of the same Chinese factory as the blue one from the Polish supplier it's a pretty safe bet that SIF will still be around in a few years time to honor the warrenty if needbe given the company's been around since 1925 and was bought by Weldabilty around 2007. The Polish or German supplier might be excellent but they ain't exactly local if it goes pop...
Similar deal with r-tech kit in that suspiciously identical machines exist in differerent colours with different names written on the side. The r-tech branded ones cost a bit more because you're paying for higher levels of customer service. Don't have to look very far around the forum to find multiple example of problems with rtech kit but what you won't find is anyone that wasn't pleased how quickly and efficiently the problem was resolved

What sort of work are you looking to do? 160A doesn't go very far on aluminium, thickness is only part of the story as with aluminium the mass of the part plays a large role due the thermal conductivity of Al. A rough rule of thumb for aluminium is 40A/mm, small weldments need less while large chunks need more initially or preheating

 

[Aaron_]

Cheers for that mate. I will be welding car things like alloy catch. Inlet manifolds. Poss some exhaust stuff depending if it needs to look good and I get any good lol, I also like to build things with box etc lol

 

[hotrodder]

Cheers for that mate. I will be welding car things like alloy catch. Inlet manifolds. Poss some exhaust stuff depending if it needs to look good and I get any good lol, I also like to build things with box etc lol

Whether it's cutting up/modifying cast ali ones or fabricating new ones you need to be looking at a min of a 200A machine really then

 

[Aaron_]

I think I'm going to go for the parweld 202 then

 

[Richard.]

Check out the TA also. Same machine as Mr fuzzy said. They supply SSC pedals in there range which are spot on. As they are the same unit you can go with the more local and cheaper of the two

 

[Aaron_]

I'm finding parweld a bit cheap just found oxford weld do it for 890 I emailed them to see how much with a pedal

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Why not a Jasic 200 AC DC? http://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co...ers/jasic-200p-ac-dc-analogue-tig-welder.html
That parweld is a good choice tho, I reckon you won't go far wrong with that if you decide on it.