Oxford Tigmaker 330 does it have enough features?

[fizzy]

http://migtigarc.co.uk/oxford-tigmaker-330e-acdc-3034-p.asp

How does this compare with the fancy new inverters out there?
Price looks pretty good compared to the fancy makes!
£2000 new less of a gamble than spending £1500 on something well used off Ebay?

 

[gt6s]

Very low on functions variable wave forms and stuff. No LED readout on all multi modes and no one touch settings. Compared to modern AC/DC inverters. Much more uncomplicated, simple. NOTHING WHATSOEVER WRONG WITH THAT. Only real issue I see is that I do not see pre gas setting.

Laurence

 

[Fazerruss]

Yep, none of the fancy bells and whistles but I like that about it. It's still more sophisticated than my mask rig. My old set didn't even have ac balance or adjustable frequency!

My 270 packs some serious punch. I welded some 2M long 100×100x8mm aluminium angle for a fellow member and it did it with a breeze.
330 should be seriously powerful

 

[Jim Davey]

If you want something like pre-flow it could easily be added if you asked beforehand.

 

[fizzy]

If you want something like pre-flow it could easily be added if you asked beforehand.

Do they custom build then?

 

[Fazerruss]

They can build what ever you want within reason.

 

[fizzy]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the advantage of pre gas? I can understand post gas - is it to extend the life of the electrode?

 

[Hood]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the advantage of pre gas? I can understand post gas - is it to extend the life of the electrode?

It basically pushes the air out of the way to give the start of the weld/arc a nice Argon cocoon and stops contamination etc, it will also help with the life of the tungsten I suppose as it will be arcing in the Argon shield rather than air.
.

 

[Jim Davey]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the advantage of pre gas? I can understand post gas - is it to extend the life of the electrode?

Pre-gas helps to guarantee a porosity free start, especially if you are using a longer than standard length torch as I takes a finite amount of time for the argon to push the air out of the gas line downstream of the solenoid.

 

[Jim Davey]

Edit: Beaten to it by Robin.

 

[fizzy]

Any other features I need that these machines lack? I suspect many of the features on so called advanced machines aren't really needed or used? And I bet a good welder with a basic machine is far better than a bad welder with the best kit!

 

[Jim Davey]

Always has been the case, and always will be.

Features that I find useful are the frequency and the balance. I can live without special pulse, mixed wave and job store but they all come in handy from time to time.

 

[gt6s]

Exactly You can certainly live without pulse and variable wave forms. But I would prefer having pre gas.

Laurence