new to Tig advice please

[dani4812]

hi everyone, I'v been welding on weekends on odd jobs with my cars for years now using mig and arc welders but all have been you could say low quality welders. Good for the jobs iv been doing but I'm looking at getting rid of them now as they are coming to the point where they are good for the skip.

So I'm looking at buying a new Mig and getting a tig welder and learning to use that. Iv done some reading up but with so many on the market its baffling to me haha.

what would be a good Tig for a beginner? i have been looking at the R-tec one as below or can anyone recommend me another



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TIG-Welde...490?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c800f2e02



or would this be more suitable for me

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welders_R-Tech_Tig160PDC

 

[chevy2]

If you choose to go with one of the r-techs then i'd recommend going for the ac/dc one,

as you probably know the dc only machine will restrict you to mild and stainless only welding with no ali option,
And theres the foot pedal issue, i dont think you can add a foot pedal to the dc machine which is very handy for thin materials and welds where the gap varies.

 

[BrokenBiker]

depends really on whether you just want to weld steel or if you will want to do aluminium too. if you just want steel and stainless steel then you don't need ac. but for ali you will

 

[dani4812]

Iv never had any need to weld aluminium iv only ever welded mild and stainless and cannot see me ever needing to weld aluminium. Would you guys recommend the foot pedal for just the DC welder IF it can accept one?? The money's not an issue but if I don't need to spend the extra that's spare cash for consumables Thanks

 

[BrokenBiker]

a foot pedal would be my option. I only have lift tig and trying to sort out a gap that isn't even is a nightmare. A pedal gives you much more control. Set the machine to whatever amps you want as max then you have from 0 to that on the foot pedal

 

[dani4812]

i think i might just invest in the ac/dc it comes with a free pedal so if i get the pedal separate i would only be spending another £200ish to get the AC/DC.

Would it be a good one to start with I'm guessing i would even be going her half the settings

 

[BrokenBiker]

go onto the rtech website, click the link for videos and watch doubleboosts series of reviews on their kit. He has done tig mig and plasma. Very good gear indeed.

 

[norlander]

a foot pedal would be my option. I only have lift tig and trying to sort out a gap that isn't even is a nightmare. A pedal gives you much more control. Set the machine to whatever amps you want as max then you have from 0 to that on the foot pedal

seconded-foot pedal option is main reason I want to upgrade from lift tig downslope/trigger latching would probably appreciated and maybe the HF start too- I feel the footpedal would benefit me as (so I believe- I have never used one) you can start the puddle then find halfway along you have too much juice with lift tig-I think you can back the amps off with the pedal and thus have more control I think.

 

[chevy2]

I've tigged for over 20 years using all methods,
Scratch start, lift start, hf start,
Gas valve on torch, button on torch, thumb wheel amperage control on torch and foot pedal,

Believe me the best method bar none is foot pedal with hf start.

 

[Jim Davey]

I've tigged for over 20 years using all methods,
Scratch start, lift start, hf start,
Gas valve on torch, button on torch, thumb wheel amperage control on torch and foot pedal,

Believe me the best method bar none is foot pedal with hf start.

He's telling the truth.

 

[BrokenBiker]

seconded-foot pedal option is main reason I want to upgrade from lift tig downslope/trigger latching would probably appreciated and maybe the HF start too- I feel the footpedal would benefit me as (so I believe- I have never used one) you can start the puddle then find halfway along you have too much juice with lift tig-I think you can back the amps off with the pedal and thus have more control I think.

yeah that's how it works. Set your machine to the max amps you want, then you can move the pedal to adjust the amps during the weld.

 

[dani4812]

well you guys have settled it for me il be ordering the AC/DC R-Tec Tig welder friday

thanks lads..!!