Have MIG but want advice on buying a TIG

[GTO NEMESIS]

Hi, 1st post on here and I’m looking for some advice!

I currently have a MIG welder (Clarke 150Te Turbo) and so far am fairly happy with it, but I just don’t feel that I can get the quality of welds that I want or the control I desire when doing my projects.

On that basis I am looking to buy a TIG welder to complement my MIG… (Use the Mig to tack things up ect)

99% of the work that I do is on my car and pipework is by far the most common items I seem to be welding and more recently sheet metal – All of which has been mild or stainless steel.

The ultimate aim is to get beautiful fine welds on mild & stainless steel and in an ideal world aluminum/alloy.

The following is the sort of stuff that I have been doing:

Questions!

I have an approximate budget of £500+ to buy a TIG, it can be 2nd hand or new, but what do I buy? - & 3 phase is not an option!

Power ratings? What do I need to do my kind of work?
What should I look for?
Any suggestions on what I should buy or where to buy one from?
What gases do I need? (I have a BOC trade account)

Should I buy a decent Tig that does steels very well and forget doing Aluminium? (I seem to find Tigs that look like they have a decent amount of features but don’t weld alloys and the ones that do weld alloys have limited features at the same price or cost 3 times more…)


Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Mark

 

[weldequip]

A DC machine will weld mild steel, stainless steel etc. but not aluminium. The cheapest, basic DC TIGs are what they call 'scratch-start' or 'lift-arc' & the more expensive machines have HF (high frequency) push button start... HF start is the preferred method.
For aluminium welding aswell you will need an AC/DC machine, which tend to be HF, push-button start as standard.
There's loads of cheap Far Eastern machines on the market now but for decent quality DC set (new) you are looking at around £650, and for a decent quality AC/DC around £1000+ (again new).
weldequip

 

[Shug]

A couple quid on a set of welding gauntlets wouldn't go amiss either

 

[GTO NEMESIS]

I'm gussing I would need to go 2nd hand for £500 ish?
I don't mind spending more money on a new one if I can get something that will do what I want. Do you supply Tigs? Do you have a website or any price/model info?

I have done the usual traul through FleaBay but as I don't really know what I am looking for it wasn't very fruitfull!

I shortlisted the following but they could be totally unsuitable for my purpose? 9hence coming on here for some help! )
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=170124214416&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=320130175660&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=230144370909&rd=1&rd=1


Based on what was posted above I certainly don't want a 'cratch and start' as I could never get this right when I tried stick welding!

What are the benefits of the foot pedals?

Thanks
Mark

 

[GTO NEMESIS]

A couple quid on a set of welding gauntlets wouldn't go amiss either

Yeah! There on my list
Spent £400 ish on two masks (Both from BOC) and still havent bought some gloves! Doh!

Mark

 

[shepsy]

have a think about the last one you posted m8, its from Italy. warranty and all that. can be a pain sending back. unless you have a leer jet

weldequip sells a very nice looking ac/dc set for under a grand (i think)

about a 160 - 170 amp, give him a pm and see what he can do, from all i have read on here he`s an honest bloke with a cracking reputation




sheps

 

[weldequip]

I'm gussing I would need to go 2nd hand for £500 ish?
I don't mind spending more money on a new one if I can get something that will do what I want. Do you supply Tigs? Do you have a website or any price/model info?

I have done the usual traul through FleaBay but as I don't really know what I am looking for it wasn't very fruitfull!

I shortlisted the following but they could be totally unsuitable for my purpose? 9hence coming on here for some help! )
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=170124214416&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=320130175660&rd=1&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=230144370909&rd=1&rd=1


Based on what was posted above I certainly don't want a 'cratch and start' as I could never get this right when I tried stick welding!

What are the benefits of the foot pedals?

Thanks
Mark

None of those models will weld aluminium.
The first set is quality, so will probably fetch good money.
You may aswell stick your £350 down the nearest grid with the second!
The third is supplied from Italy but I'm not familiar with it so it could be made anywhere.
£500 put's you in the good second hand market or inferior new market.
weldequip

 

[GTO NEMESIS]

Thanks Weld,
Do you have items for sale?

I would rather buy a good Tig that will allow me to weld steels with a nice finish than buy an inferior Tig that will weld Alu ok and steel with an average finish/flexibility.

I'm guessing I should knock the alu on the head and get myself a better DC model for steel.

I appriciate everyones advice
Mark

 

[weldequip]

If it's mainly stainless & mild steel then yes, I would go for the better quality DC option or wait for a nice quality used AC/DC. There was a Murex Tradestig AC/DC 160 on eBay just this week @£500. Very clean & I almost bought it myself... but it seemed too good to be true (they are £1500+ new!) so I didn't bother.
weldequip

 

[malcolm]

There's a load of competition on eBay normally for the AC/DC sets. I picked mine up for £600, but only because it's really old, the size of a house, and was mis-described as 3 phase only.

A lot of modern TIGs are the invertor type - they use fancy electrics rather than good old fashioned transformers, and are less reliable. My thought for "hobby" use is to try to get a transformer based TIG in the hope of it lasting longer. Mine is 30 years old and I still haven't broken it.

Edit> Less competition for the DC sets. Some lovely ones for less than £500 as everyone seems to want AC. Lincoln, Miller, Murex, Kemppi are all good brands.

I like your work. Some inspiration there for my Renault