Looking at buying a GYS Tig

[Seb Bird]

Me and a friend rent a workshop and he has a GYS Smartmight 180 it's a great machine and a pleasure to use. I'm after a Tig now so I can build my stainless exhaust system. I live in France so i'd like to stick with the GYS as i can get the parts for it from my local motor factor.

Here are the 3 welders i'm looking at.

GYS TIG 160 DC-Lift
http://www.debonix.fr/poste-de-soud...-complet-torche-pe-pm-ss-mano-gys-011106.html

GYS TIG 168 HF-DC
http://www.debonix.fr/poste-soudure-gysmi-tig-168-hf-dc-avec-accessoires-gys-011410.html

GYS E200-FV...this one I will have to buy the tig torch with it link below for that.
http://www.debonix.fr/poste-de-soud...fv-avec-valise-et-accessoires-gys-031210.html

http://www.debonix.fr/torche-tig-sr18l-connexion-amphenol-gys-045378.html

I really have no idea when it comes to picking which one. All I know is I want to be able to weld stainless up to 4mm I should think and also mild steel too.

 

[WorkshopChris]

Hi and welcome,
I have just got a GYS E200-FV and will try to do a review at the weekend.
Looks like a good little machine, haven't power it yet though.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Me and a friend rent a workshop and he has a GYS Smartmight 180 it's a great machine and a pleasure to use. I'm after a Tig now so I can build my stainless exhaust system. I live in France so i'd like to stick with the GYS as i can get the parts for it from my local motor factor.

Here are the 3 welders i'm looking at.

GYS TIG 160 DC-Lift
http://www.debonix.fr/poste-de-soud...-complet-torche-pe-pm-ss-mano-gys-011106.html

GYS TIG 168 HF-DC
http://www.debonix.fr/poste-soudure-gysmi-tig-168-hf-dc-avec-accessoires-gys-011410.html

GYS E200-FV...this one I will have to buy the tig torch with it link below for that.
http://www.debonix.fr/poste-de-soud...fv-avec-valise-et-accessoires-gys-031210.html

http://www.debonix.fr/torche-tig-sr18l-connexion-amphenol-gys-045378.html

I really have no idea when it comes to picking which one. All I know is I want to be able to weld stainless up to 4mm I should think and also mild steel too.

If you haven't TIG welded before than I would go with a welder with HF to make learning easier.
But if you want a MMA welder with TIG capability then by all means go for the GYSMI 200 FV, I bought one about 2 years ago and am very happy with it although I haven't tried it on TIG as I have an RTech 161 ACDC.
Here is my review of it:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/bought-myself-a-gys-gysmi-e200-fv-mma-welder.53987/

 

[Wendelspanswick]

If you do buy the 200 FV try and find a supplier who will include leads of a sensible length, my only critism of it is the ridiculously short earth and stinger lead.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

The 168 HF is a brilliant little set.
I had one on the benches the other day and throughly enjoyed it

 

[Seb Bird]

Why will the HF make it easier to learn rather than the other two?

 

[WorkshopChris]

If you do buy the 200 FV try and find a supplier who will include leads of a sensible length, my only critism of it is the ridiculously short earth and stinger lead.

Tell me about it i wouldn't want to weld that close to the display or front panel.
I have cut them i half to make adaptors to go to the bigger fittings on the rest of my earth clamps and electrode holders.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Why will the HF make it easier to learn rather than the other two?

It's easier to initiate the arc, with scratch start it's too easy to contaminate the weld and bugger up the tungsten.
It's not impossible but it's just another complication on your way to learning a new skill.
With HF you hold the tungsten a short distance away from the work piece and press the button and it initiates the arc.
With the other welders you have to use scratch start, you drag the tungsten along the work piece and then lift it away, too slow and the tungsten will stick to the work piece or the tip will stick and snap, too fast or you lift too much and the arc will fail.

 

[Seb Bird]

Ok so really the 168 HF will give me everything i'm going to need and should make teaching myself as easy as possible. Thanks for the recommendations btw.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

No problem, let us know how you get on.

 

[Seb Bird]

What would be the best all round size tungsten to use and also filler rod? Or does it all depend on the size of the material?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

1.6 and 2.4mm tungstens should cover your needs.
For filler rods I tend to just stick with 1.6mm and feed it in faster on thicker steel although there is a limit.
For really thin stainless I have a reel of 1.2mm stainless MIG wire that I use.

 

[Xup]

The 168 HF is a brilliant little set.
I had one on the benches the other day and throughly enjoyed it

Can a foot pedal be used/fitted with this machine Tom, as an extra?

 

[Seb Bird]

Right another question, will my mig mask be ok for the tig? It's a cheap 30 euro mask shade is 11 I think.

 

[Seb Bird]

Xup.... it looks like you can get a foot pedal.

http://www.laboutiquedusoudeur.com/...s-consommables-tig/divers/pedale-commande-tig

 

[Xup]

Xup.... it looks like you can get a foot pedal.

http://www.laboutiquedusoudeur.com/...s-consommables-tig/divers/pedale-commande-tig

Cheers for the link.....but I'm not sure if the 168 has the socket/fitting for a foot pedal, the 200AMP version has an extra plug socket looking at photos for the foot pedal.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Cheers for the link.....but I'm not sure if the 168 has the socket/fitting for a foot pedal, the 200AMP version has an extra plug socket looking at photos for the foot pedal.

I believe it can, it just utilises the same socket and initiate HF with the pedal rather than torch switch.
GYS' pedals are lovely too.

I do have to say though, foot pedal is really necessary on a DC only set unless you're welding copper.

 

[Xup]

Hi Tom and thanks for the reply.

Still need convincing, I know the 200 amp can use the foot pedal as the trigger command connector has " Switch GND + Potentiometer  Cold current button  Welding torch button  Cursor / potentiometer  +5V potentiometer 10 KΩ".
The 168 Trigger command connector only has " Switch GND  Cold current button  Welding torch button"

Or am I just looking at this all wrong ?.

 

[MoreWellie]

I have so far only played with tig but, did you mean

I do have to say though, foot pedal is really necessary on a DC only set unless you're welding copper.

I thought for steel and stainless a foot pedal wasn't necessary

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Sorry, to type isn't really necessary. Bad typo there