New TIG Machine

[Mr shiney]

I am in the market for a new TIG machine. Something that exceeds my ability (easily done) that I can grow into.

I have been looking at these on flabby:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151361809391

Has anyone come across them and any thoughts? For the price they seem good value. Pulse mode and plenty of adjustment options. I can use a pedal with it when I eventually master that.

I did look at the AC/DC version which is twice the price, but the reality is the only time a weld Aluminium the MIG has been good enough. Most of my stuff is mild and stainless steel so I am not sure if I really need to invest in the AC?

 

[Mr shiney]

Also what tungstens should I be looking at for it? We have been using the grey universal ones at college that are 1.6mm. Most of my welding will be unto about 5mm max. Generally repairs on stainless and welding up exhausts for motorbikes.

 

[hotrodder]

If you haven't already found 'em there's 3 pages of search results for Stahlwerk. I'm sure the warranty side of things has been discussed in some of the other threads but note that the listing states the buyer is responsible for return postage...

Dunno what MIG you have but assuming it's not an all singing & dancing synergic job then ally will be eleventy million times nicer to weld with AC TIG. Especially small/fiddly/thin wall stuff that goes with automotive & motorbikes

Different flavours of tungsten are more of a refinement thing... they don't make a night or day difference to arc quality but some will keep their tip in good shape for longer (provided you don't contaminate 'em with weld metal) and/or strike better/more easily at very low amperages. 2% thoriated (red) set the standard for DCEN welding until the radioactive thing* happened and ceriated were the only initial alternative IIRC. Since then loads of other flavours have appeared which IMO not only outperform ceriated but in the case of lanthanated and some mixed flavours either match the performance of thoriated or exceed it. If you search the forum for diamondground you'll find a bunch of threads about tungsten flavours and several links to the diamondground tungsten handbook which goes into LOTS of detail about how and why different flavours perform slightly differently

* thorium is (primarily at least) an alpha emittor and alpha radiation can't make it through a sheet of paper or the outer dead layer of skin. The warning is really about the grinding dust being a known carcinogen and given what's happened in the past with things like asbestos and manganism it's not really suprising they have health warnings

 

[MoreWellie]

manganism

I am guessing that would that be the stuff our chemistry teacher used to wave around the classroom whilst it was burning with a really bright white light?

 

[hotrodder]

Your chemistry teacher was playing with magnesium. Manganism is another name for manganese poisoning and gets American lawyers exicted

 

[Mr shiney]

Thanks guys. I think a lot of it will come down to cost on the AC DC front. I weld aluminium maybe twice a year and the stuff I do is stuff like sump guards which the MIG seems to handle fine.

I do much more on stainless for exhausts and mild steel for making stuff. The TIG appeals because the fun of doing it and I can make more intricate stuff with it.

I did look around for reviews on the unit and they generally seemed OK. With the new fleabay policy on shipping if it did go wrong I only have to pay local shipping now rather than international.

I was really just wondering if there is anybody here who actually has one? What's the real experience like.

Otherwise are there any recommendations for an equivalent?

 

[antonio costa]

Hi. Mr shiney, thinking of selling the Thermal arc 202 ac dc?
Regards,
Antonio Costa

 

[Mr shiney]

Hi. Mr shiney, thinking of selling the Thermal arc 202 ac dc?
Regards,
Antonio Costa

Nope, I ended up with the TA!!

 

[antonio costa]

:-). Looks like we are heading the same way. I made confusion with the dates and thought that this post as made after some others about your TA. Sorry mate