R-Tech TIG160PDC Review

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Just bought my first tig machine, Got an R-Tech TIG160PDC soley because of the good reviews iv heard about R-Tech and the customer service, gave them a phone up before i bought the machine and the helpfull chap on the other end of the phone was able to answer all my questions

The Machine was delivered by UPS next day delivery with the online tracking facility this has to be one of the best thigs ever you can see exactly where your parcell is

Machine arived next day before 1PM

I had a go at welding some 25x3 mm flat bar together im a complete rookie at tig, i found the machine simple enough to use and i managed not to electrocute myself


Machine sitting on its cart with consumables and argon botlte


Front shot of machine


Another side view showing my rod holder it consists of 4 950mm lenths of 40mm plastic tube

First attempt 3.0mm mild steel flat bar welded at 85A using 1.6mm gold tip tungsten and 1.6mm filler wire

Another peices welded, was playing about with the settings on this one

Welding a peice of 25x25x2 mm box section to a peice of 3x25 flat bar, using 80A

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Advice anyone ?

 

[dickie bell]

the best advice i could give you is just to keep practicing, you seem to be doing not to bad just keep playing with the settings find what you are comfortable with and check out the tutorials at the top of the page and you will get on just fine , well done

 

[andy m]

I will keep an eye on this, have looked at this machine, still only early days on my course but tig is where I'm heading for. Any one else using the same machine ??

 

[chunkolini]

Might be a daft question.
What gas are you using? I messed about with Tig welding argon mix as used for Mig and my welds looked very similar to the ones on the flat strip.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Pure argon :d

 

[chunkolini]

Figured it was a daft question, but it kept me scratching my head for a long time when I was struggling with Tig.

 

[ukracer]

I will keep an eye on this, have looked at this machine, still only early days on my course but tig is where I'm heading for. Any one else using the same machine ??

We have a similar one but its the Ac/dc one. Its awesome now I know what I was doing wrong. (well lots of things really ) but the things causing me the most issues was me pulling the rod out of the gas shroud and putting it back in every second or so lol

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I fancied the ac function too but a couple of years ago I gave myself a really bad shock with a kemppi so just bought a cheapo to have another go and try not to kill myself

 

[Will_Davis]

I fancied the ac function too but a couple of years ago I gave myself a really bad shock with a kemppi so just bought a cheapo to have another go and try not to kill myself

I can't imagine that Ac or DC would give you a shock!!

Assuming that there was no other problem with you welder ( like an internal fault was putting 240v down the torch ):

Its the HF start thats "electrically ticklin you". IIRC to generate a spark in air its a minimum of 3,000 volts per mm of gap!!

My welder can pull about 1 cm of gap. So its like 30 kV. However as there is next to no current it will not kill you!!

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I touched the filler rod to the tungsten with no gloves on, was like getting hit in the chest with a sledgehammer

 

[Seano]

Did you have the trigger pressed.....?

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Yes

 

[Seano]

Yes

That'll get you every time just wanted to check you didn't have a fault with your m/c

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Is it only with the hf or is it fine once the arc is established ?

 

[PSweeney]

I have the same machine, For the features it has, the price was very good. I got a shop soiled unit for about £250.

Only thing I don't like is the torch with the switch integral. I'd like to be able to move the switch position to suit me.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Yeh defo, that's what sold it to me, I didn't know about shop soiled ones

 

[chevy2]

R-tech will sell you a package to suit your needs,
i ordered my ac/dc unit with a different type of torch 8m long with a flexi head and a foot pedal that had an 8m cable, you only need to ask them.

 

[PSweeney]

Yeh defo, that's what sold it to me, I didn't know about shop soiled ones

they sell off ex-demo stock via ebay, still comes with 2yr warranty.