Hi there,
Long time browser of the forum here but rarely if ever post.
I've just got myself an rtech 160 ac/dc tig machine as I wanted to delve into some aluminium and stainless for some automotive projects. I've had a mig welder for a good few years and run that with the small hobbyweld rent free bottle.
Obviously I've been festidiously TIGing away over the last few days practicing whenever I can (will post some results at some point for a spot of constructive crit). I got myself the same small size hobbyweld bottle but of pure argon thinking it lasts a good while on the MIG. I've been running around 12L/M at the bottle reg, and a 5s post flow and now 4 days later the bottles empty!
Clearly TIG is a more consumable hungry means of welding with post flow and shield coverage being so critical but given I'd still say I'm far from happy with the results I'm getting practice is expensive!
Couple of questions:
Do people typically run a larger bottle for TIG? (I appreciate were I not obsessively practicing I would still have most of my gas bottle- but backpurging etc. Is obviously gas hungry)
Are the CK gas saver cup kits worthwhile here? They claim I think 40% less gas use? For a £30-40 spend this seems a good idea if they really do work.
Thanks a lot,
Tom
Long time browser of the forum here but rarely if ever post.
I've just got myself an rtech 160 ac/dc tig machine as I wanted to delve into some aluminium and stainless for some automotive projects. I've had a mig welder for a good few years and run that with the small hobbyweld rent free bottle.
Obviously I've been festidiously TIGing away over the last few days practicing whenever I can (will post some results at some point for a spot of constructive crit). I got myself the same small size hobbyweld bottle but of pure argon thinking it lasts a good while on the MIG. I've been running around 12L/M at the bottle reg, and a 5s post flow and now 4 days later the bottles empty!
Clearly TIG is a more consumable hungry means of welding with post flow and shield coverage being so critical but given I'd still say I'm far from happy with the results I'm getting practice is expensive!
Couple of questions:
Do people typically run a larger bottle for TIG? (I appreciate were I not obsessively practicing I would still have most of my gas bottle- but backpurging etc. Is obviously gas hungry)
Are the CK gas saver cup kits worthwhile here? They claim I think 40% less gas use? For a £30-40 spend this seems a good idea if they really do work.
Thanks a lot,
Tom