Recommendations for a new single phase TIG please?

[Vendetta761]

Happy new year, hope someone can help please?
Was a welder years ago, briefly coded on Mig, still have 240v arc, Mig in garage and OXY /Acet.
Fine with all my steel needs and usages but am looking to buy a single phase TIG for hobby art work in copper and stainless.
Used to have a small inverter unit 12 years ago but times have changed I am sure.

I am after a single phase TIG welder to try to make little sculptures in 2 to 3mm copper, non structural and I would rather not have a piddly little bottle but to get one with a gas regulator for a proper sized bottle. I would be doing mostly ikkle copper work with a little capacity for small stainless stuff, the choice is bewildering, can anyone please recommend a welder for me to buy, it would only get occasional, once a week use for little stuff as I say?


Packet of biscuits to winning answer !!!

 

[Richard.]

I'll have a packet of choccy digestives should I pull out the winning card
From £250-£500 I'd go for a esab buddy Tig 160
If your willing to spend a bit more I've heard good things about the miller sth 160 around £700-£800.
Up to 3 mm hobby use I would say 160 amp should be plenty.

 

[daleyd]

I'll have a packet of choccy digestives should I pull out the winning card
From £250-£500 I'd go for a esab buddy Tig 160
If your willing to spend a bit more I've heard good things about the miller sth 160 around £700-£800.
Up to 3 mm hobby use I would say 160 amp should be plenty.

I should qualify this statement by saying that I've never done it myself, but I thought copper needs loads of amps due to it being so thermally conductive? Be interested to hear if anyone has done it though !?

 

[chevy2]

I have the Miller sth160 as mentioned above, a real good machine but may be at the top end of your budget,
the esab mentioned will also be a good choice or the Thermal arc 175TE which is a similar machine,
whatever you choose to go for i'd advise a HF start machine, you wont regret it and wont need to upgrade later,

Not done any copper tig welding myself but it apparently can give off some pretty bad fumes when welded so take the appropriate H&S precautions.

 

[Vendetta761]

Thanks all, best answer so far so Choccy digestives may be yours!!!!!
Low budget for me at mo, £250 t0 £500 sounds goodi only need it for a hobby now and then, if it was for everyday then I would plump for a Miller as they have never, ever let me down but the ESAB with HF start sounds good.
Its only for tacking bits of copper sheet together but yes, the workshop is and will be fully ventilated with extraction etc, only got one pair of lungs etc and they are not in that good shape anyway!

I take it the ESAB comes with a piddly reg on a small bottle so I would need to get a proper regulator from somewhere and plumb it on, I have seen a thread on here that may help that ?
I think if I was welding thick copper then preheat and +++Amps would be required but this is just for tacking 2 -3 mm sheet bits together.
I will wait a while and see what other suggestions come in but it may well be the ESAB so any brand of CBs in particular ?

 

[daleyd]

Check out weldequip shop above, jasic 180 inverter complete with regulator and 5 year warranty for £420.

Esab are also good as Richard points out (where I used to work used mainly esab kit, very well thought of by the guys who used it).

+1 for the hf start, I have a lift start unit which although useable isn't as easy to use as hf, though for the bits of tig I do it's fine.

 

[wyn]

I have the Esab buddy tig, from what i remember it came with a hose tail fitting to connect to your own gas pipework and reg.

I think the fitting on the back to connect to the machine was 3/8.

 

[malfazer]

just recently had to tig some copper for a mate only 1mm but still needed about 80 amp on start up .would deffo recommend getting a peddle as heat builds in piece had to back off the amps quite a bit .but first time welding it found it does weld really nice

 

[weldgauge]

if its just hobby art work, you could run scratch start tig off your arc welder. minimum outlay to begin with to see how you get on.

 

[Vendetta761]

mmmm, thanks everyone, lots to take on board, I had a look at the Jasic 180 and it looks like everything I need including regulator etc. Never used a peddle though, seems like a good idea but not sure if I can get one to suit or fit the Jasic or the ESAB, does everyone recommend it as a useful piece of kit and if so can I source something to fit either of the two welders suggested?
sorry for all the questions, biscuits are being earnt !

 

[daleyd]

Neither the esab nor the jasic ones will accept a pedal input, The 160 amp r tech one will accept a pedal but you have to buy separately (£180!) http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welders_R-Tech_Tig160PDC

 

[Richard.]

I use my pedal all the time when I can but most of my tig welding is aluminium where it really does make a huge difference as you need to wack on the power to break through the oxide layer then you need to back off the power to compensate for aluminiums low melting point. For tacking up some copper and steel sculptures in DC I think you will get on just fine with the torch switch.

 

[Freddy0309]

its worth noting that r-tech has some shop soiled pedals for £106 http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Special_Offers

 

[Vendetta761]

Thanks all, it looks like the R-tech one is good as i can upgrade to a pedal later if needs be but the Jasc has a regulator and is all ready to go. Will have a think and then biscuits shall appear ....

 

[daleyd]

Thanks all, it looks like the R-tech one is good as i can upgrade to a pedal later if needs be but the Jasc has a regulator and is all ready to go. Will have a think and then biscuits shall appear ....

I "think" you get a reg with the rtech as well, mine came with one, but it may be model specific?

 

[Richard.]

Free regs with welders are usually 10 quid jobbys, it certainly would not be a deal breaker for me

 

[daleyd]

I'd agree with Richard, they'll get you going but they're not the best. That said mines still working ok after a couple of years so it's doing a job, though if I was doing lots of welding rather than just general tinkering I'd probably think about replacing it.

 

[Wallace]

Free regs with welders are usually 10 quid jobbys, it certainly would not be a deal breaker for me

Is that based on who you work for?

 

[Richard.]

Is that based on who you work for?

Sorry?????
What do you mean.

 

[Wallace]

Sorry?????
What do you mean.

Let the forum know who you work for so there is no bias.