Kit needed for TIG?

[Mike B]

Hi everyone, new to the forum and new to welding, apart from a few hours playing about with welders in the falklands!

I've just bought a Murex Tradestig 220 for welding steel and hopefully aluminium, when I get the hang of it!
The unit itself doesn't come with a regulator or gas hose. Could you guys point me in the right direction? I'm after quality as I don't want to replace anything any time soon, or worry about cheap kit.
As this is hobby welding, whats the best course of action for Argon? Hobby bottle? BOC contract (guessing it'll be expensive). If I bought a used argon cylinder would anybody refill it?

Can anyone point me in the right direction for a pedal for this welder too?

I know, a million questions, but I'm keen to get set up and keen to learn the art..

 

[Screwdriver]

Your bottle/gas supplier will help but yes, a contract will be circa £120/year.

One thing you absolutely MUST have is a decent auto dark mask. I can recommend Speedglas 9100 series and if you're lucky, you can pick one up cheap off eBay because they are fantastically expensive otherwise.

But worth every penny...

 

[500e]

First read
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forums/shielding-gas-and-regulators.27/
There are so meany routes! gas bottle size, rent, buy, refill price, pressures\Gas volume etc.
BOC with environment charge, coll\delivery charge , order charge, AIR products nightmare paper work
A local supplier you can get to is good Read the thread there are a lot of suppliers

 

[Stephen Giles]

I find the best deal for Argon for hobby stuff is to go with a 13L albee cylinder. much more cost effective than hobby weld, but with a much bigger starting price tag.
http://www.albeegascylinders.com/ - if you have a stockist near(ish) you.

they come with a gauge and regulator , and you stick a inline flow meter on.
costs around £275 for your first purchase, and then £70 a refill after that, no yearly contract. so effectively a £200 flat rental fee with no recurring charge.
4100 L of argon per refill, 300 bar when full.
They have a smaller cylinder for less money, but refills are less cost effective. On refill they just swap the bottle, and you get a checked / tested regulator into the deal.

i just bought one, so did the research before hand. BOC, et all, are only cost effective if you use quite a lot of gas to justify the £120 a year rental + refill cost. Someone else can give you the stats on volume + refill price of a large BOC cylinder

Stephen.

 

[Appyasme]

If you need a Reg and Flowmeter let me know

 

[Mike B]

I'm tempted by the Albee deal. Seems to be the best choice considering the silly money BOC charge. I'd still need a flowmeter and hose.
Do the Albee cylinders show contents or pressure? guess its pretty much the same thing anyway. I'd probably go for the bigger bottle to save trips for refills too.
Next I'll be looking for a trolley to carry the welder and gas!
Still need decent helmet too, but umming and ahhing about buying one of the miller ones from the group buy...
It's all adding up!

 

[langy]

I'm tempted by the Albee deal. Seems to be the best choice considering the silly money BOC charge. I'd still need a flowmeter and hose.
Do the Albee cylinders show contents or pressure? guess its pretty much the same thing anyway. I'd probably go for the bigger bottle to save trips for refills too.
Next I'll be looking for a trolley to carry the welder and gas!
Still need decent helmet too, but umming and ahhing about buying one of the miller ones from the group buy...
It's all adding up!

You won't go far wrong with the BOC Volkszone deal, it's a very cheap good deal.
Regarding the Miller group deal I'm guessing you mean the one I setup, if so pm me as that deal has finished.
As for reg and flowmeter both can be had for peanuts off Ebay

 

[Mike B]

Yes Langy, it was the one you set up. I'm still trying to decide whether to bite the bullet and buy a really good helmet straight away.

 

[langy]

Yes Langy, it was the one you set up. I'm still trying to decide whether to bite the bullet and buy a really good helmet straight away.

A lot of people buy a cheaper helmet to start with, but its not till you get a chance to try a quality helmet that you realise the difference, In my opinion you won't find better than a Miller or a Lincoln

 

[Fintray]

Hi everyone, new to the forum and new to welding, apart from a few hours playing about with welders in the falklands!

I've just bought a Murex Tradestig 220 for welding steel and hopefully aluminium, when I get the hang of it!
The unit itself doesn't come with a regulator or gas hose. Could you guys point me in the right direction? I'm after quality as I don't want to replace anything any time soon, or worry about cheap kit.
As this is hobby welding, whats the best course of action for Argon? Hobby bottle? BOC contract (guessing it'll be expensive). If I bought a used argon cylinder would anybody refill it?

Can anyone point me in the right direction for a pedal for this welder too?

I know, a million questions, but I'm keen to get set up and keen to learn the art..

Mike, just checking that it is the AC220 you have?

 

[Bill Edwards]

I suggest that you look into the 'Volkzone' offer from BOC carefully. There is a thread on this forum that has all the pricing.
The cylinder is filled to 230 bar, which is a lot more than some rent free suppliers so you get a lot more gas in the same size cylinder.

The rent seems a lot, but the refills are quite reasonable. Being new to TIG, expect to get through quite a lot of gas while picking up the basics, from what I've read on here about newbies.

Make sure the flowmeter you get is the 'peashooter' type. Some regulators have dial ones built in which seem to be next to useless.

 

[Richard.]

Murex 220 is that the rebadged caddy Tig. Nice machine .

 

[Mike B]

Mike, just checking that it is the AC220 you have?

Yes Fintray, Its the AC220. The one that's meant to be easy for beginners to use!

Richard, I believe ESAB bought out Murex and rebadged their machines. It's now called the ESAB CaddyTIG 2200i. Same machine, different colour I think!

Bill, I think the rental and refill costs of BOC and hobby cylinders are comparable, but like you say, contents vary massively. Even for seldom use, the BOC deal will probably win.

Thanks for your help guys. Much appreciated..

 

[Richard.]

Yes I know the machine well. You set your plate and it works out your conditions. This is the ta33 panel. Nice buy

 

[ShaunZX10R]

Get a small rent free argon bottle from R-Tech welding!

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding-gas/argon_pure_TIG_welding_gas

 

[langy]

Get a small rent free argon bottle from R-Tech welding!

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding-gas/argon_pure_TIG_welding_gas

That won't last long !!!

 

[Richard.]

Expensive too. I pay £60 a year for a 30ltr Ar and £50 a refill. Air products.

 

[taz00]

Wow, you guys are getting ripped off in refill pricing.
I have 20L 200bar bottles (2 bought from Air Liquide and 1 from Linde) and pay 25€ for argon and 12€ for 82% Ar - 18%. CO2 mix.
This does not include carriage and I have to drop off and pick up the bottles at the refill center. I also have to pay for testing them when the time comes. The bottles are new, came with tPED certificates and their serial numbers are mentioned in the invoice so no one can dispute my ownership of them.
Granted these are heavily discounted prices on the refills but even if I had to pay full price it would still be a lot cheaper than the prices you are quoted.

 

[GrumpyOne]

I doubt you will do better price wise than the BOC Volksdeal, it costs me £28 for a Y size bottle of Argonshield Light and £46 per year for the bottle rental inclusive of VAT (I just paid it yesterday after having to chase them for the invoice) the only stipulation BOC has, is to get those prices you must be a hobby welder, which of course everyone is that wants those prices.
If you have a look at this thread, the contact details for Stu Anderson of BOC are near the bottom, drop him an email and you will be welding before the end of next week.
Hope this helps

 

[Richard.]

Year the BOC deal is better but my local distributor is a mile up the road from me and they are air products agents so much more convenient. For the sake of an extra £20 a year (under £2 a month ) more on rent It wouldn't be worth the hassle.