Is MIG and TIG combi machine a good idea ?

[Daithi2015]

Hi guys,
I posted on here a week ago and got some great advice on how to HA about learning MIG welding. I am a complete newbie and it's seems the common easiest starting point to start learn the skill and get up and running.
Eventually I would like to have a go at making some stainless steel art pieces, small enough scale stuff and I am just thinking that, in time- assuming I get good enough to do it, TIG welding might be more suitable for this , from what I read ??

With this in mind, I understand that there are combi machines which will do both MIG and TIG welding,
1. would I be better to buy one of these to start out with ? Rather than a MIG machine.
2. Are they any good in general ( possibly jack of all trades, master of none ? - although I do have a printer/scanner/copier which works reasonably well , but I digress )?
3. Could anyone recommend a specific one that they have found good?

Many thanks.

 

[bc30se]

for sure you are going to get an inverter one, so usual checks ... duty cycle for mig, lowest amp set for mig - 25amps would be nice, look at the wire feed -

these are decent
http://i01.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/...-b-font-font-b-feeder-b-font-font-b-motor.jpg

but avoid these and alike
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/sip130/adjustments.jpg

as for the TIG - it is going to be a DC machine, so no alu welding. Be sure it goes down to 10amps, duty cycle again - 100% 100amps at least. HF start is OBLIGATORY, mostly you will find LIFT only - avoid. Pulse is a nice option but I doubt you will get everything in one package.

And finally, power requirements, they are 240v and often need big fuses like 25amps, make sure you are able to provide.

 

[Jim Davey]

I wouldn't say HF start is obligatory if the machine has a good lift-arc function.

 

[bc30se]

If he is about to buy $1500 MIG/TIG welder without hf, it's better to buy a $1000 MIG and $500 small TIG with the HF... he is a novice user as he is saying... lift will only make things difficult for him, re-tipping all the time and wasting electrodes.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

If he is about to buy $1500 MIG/TIG welder without hf, it's better to buy a $1000 MIG and $500 small TIG with the HF... he is a novice user as he is saying... lift will only make things difficult for him, re-tipping all the time and wasting electrodes.

Where did it say anything about $1500? That's the kind of money that an experienced welder would want to be spending.
You can get yourself a Tec Arc Multi 200i from ebay for £750ish buy it now which has got MIG, HF TIG & stick.
or even a Thermal Arc Fabricator 181i for £650 but not HF start.

 

[Kent]

You know there are places you cant use HF that require a very high standard of TIG welding on components and TIG still got done and done well before HF .
Only buy a 3-1 plant if you need at least one of the other functions to be within the one set all three makes it better still. It sounds to me you don't in which case buy one only if you like it from the MIG point of view. I say this because they are basically at their best as a portable MIG and I do consider them to be a better buy for mobile work and repair. If you want to really learn TIG you need to buy a TIG with AC/DC, HF and such

 

[Richard.]

Not many multiprocess machines mig/tig/mma offer full blooded hf start tig.
It's certainly NOT essential at all unless your working with Ti or on aerospace stuff etc where ANY tungsten inclusion is not tolerated. That said for a nice usable machine lift arc is fine I've used it lots of times and there is nothing bad about it. Hf yes is nicer and does offer more longevity to life of tungsten but if I was looking at a MP machine I'd certainly use the tig side and I wouldn't worry about lift arc either. Scratch start is a more crude process. Lift is quite nice.

 

[blenkie1]

Where did it say anything about $1500? That's the kind of money that an experienced welder would want to be spending.
You can get yourself a Tec Arc Multi 200i from ebay for £750ish buy it now which has got MIG, HF TIG & stick.
or even a Thermal Arc Fabricator 181i for £650 but not HF start.

Not many multiprocess machines mig/tig/mma offer full blooded hf start tig.
It's certainly NOT essential at all unless your working with Ti or on aerospace stuff etc where ANY tungsten inclusion is not tolerated. That said for a nice usable machine lift arc is fine I've used it lots of times and there is nothing bad about it. Hf yes is nicer and does offer more longevity to life of tungsten but if I was looking at a MP machine I'd certainly use the tig side and I wouldn't worry about lift arc either. Scratch start is a more crude process. Lift is quite nice.

Like Tom says Tec Arc do a Mig/MMA and Full blooded HF start Tig. Up to 240 amp mig as well

 

[Daithi2015]

Hi guys , thanks for the tips.
My local shop has SWP180 MIG machine inc torch for 500euro
They also have a Jasic pro 170 Amp MIG TIG Stuck for 855 euro ( inc MIG torch but suitable for TIG Lift torch) I am determined to buy locally as I think their whelp will be invaluable for a beginner like myself.
from your comments I really realised that I have no clue about what I am doing and HF - Lift etc and there fore I should just buy the MIG and get on with learning and save the extra 350 to spend on separate TIG machine later when I know a bit more anout what I like/ need , as suggested above.
Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Richard.]

Well. If you know the general principle behind tig this will make sense.
HF stands for high frequency. A small spark is generated to jump the gap between tungsten and work piece. The current then transfers a cross the spark and starts the arc ignition. This is the optimum preferred way in most* cases. Lift arc you have to gently touch the tungsten on the work piece press the switch to start the ignition and lift off and away you go.
* there are cases where hf is not advised . It can interfere with sensitive electrical components. Ecu's, exposed circuit boards in machinery, hospital equip etc. if in doubt use lift arc and don't risk damage to expensive stuff.

 

[daleyd]

I have a multi process machine and it's ok for my needs. There are some compromises to be had but generally it has all the features you would expect of a mig machine. Tig is a little compromised without hf start but everything else is ok.

As said above lift start is perfectly acceptable as long as your not welding to X-ray standard. Hf of course would be nicer and a bit easier to use but lift isn't at all bad.

If you can get a multiprocess for a similar price to a standard mig then why not? If you find you really want to use the full features of a proper tig machine later on then you still have this as a mig/ stick welder.

 

[mtt.tr]

Does anyone have an opinion on the tecarc 200i

 

[rikrobson]

If you only want dc tig then from what ideal they are OK. If you need a then it's a month starter.
Most mig inverters can do lift or scratch start to some degree. Skotl has the r-tech full 3 way machine. But they are iro a grand for a 200 amp machine

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Does anyone have an opinion on the tecarc 200i

Most things from Tec Arc are top quality. I've never used the 200i but I've got the Tec Arc 165i & its served me very well for quite some time.

 

[Kent]

Well. If you know the general principle behind tig this will make sense.
HF stands for high frequency. A small spark is generated to jump the gap between tungsten and work piece. The current then transfers a cross the spark and starts the arc ignition. This is the optimum preferred way in most* cases. Lift arc you have to gently touch the tungsten on the work piece press the switch to start the ignition and lift off and away you go.
* there are cases where hf is not advised . It can interfere with sensitive electrical components. Ecu's, exposed circuit boards in machinery, hospital equip etc. if in doubt use lift arc and don't risk damage to expensive stuff.

it can also naff up your cassette tapes in a sony Walkman on a boring as sin job, does that date me

 

[Richard.]

it can also naff up your cassette tapes in a sony Walkman on a boring as sin job, does that date me

I certainly does mate.

 

[HughF]

I have a 3-1 250a machine. It's good, but is power supply sensitive (just as much as a transformer) and has no active PFC. I haven't used it for lift-tig much, it mostly does mig on steel and alu and some mma when the engine drive is too noisy.

It's an r-tech and I rate it quite well but the build quality is a bit iffy inside. Thermal arc fabricator is probably a better built machine in is category.

 

[Kent]

licoln mp is worth a look for sure

 

[HughF]

Definitely, or the speed tec 200 as it's known over here. I was adamant I wanted a 250a single phase machine but didn't want to run 15k rolls so it was pretty much the r-tech or an xmt and separate feeder.