Thermal Arc 202 vs Parweld XTI 202 AC/Dc

[antonio costa]

Hi.
I've been talking about this on other threads but decided to launch one specifically about this decision.
I'm looking for an ac tig welder to use at my home workshop, I'm well equipped in the mig,tig dc and stick welding departments there and bigger things in aluminum that require more juice (I don't recall ever using more than 220 amps or so but you never know) I can always do them at work like I do now. The welder will have more use for my own aluminum welding and some side jobs on Sundays and such).
I'm looking to spend under 1200£ on the welder itself.

My doubt is between the thermal arc 202 and the parweld 202 pulse, both appear to have the same function, duty cycle and both are made in china but the tech support from thermal arc seems to be better. On the other hand I can get the parweld already with a foot pedal for just a little bit more than the thermal itself (I will buy the foot pedal separately if I choose the thermal arc) .
I don't care about the quality of the torch included since the welder will be used with the foot pedal I will use one of the torches I already have the handle controls and such on the included torch don't matter. What is the general opinion mates? Go with the thermal arc or with the parweld? Since I will have to buy the pedal separately to the thermal arc it will be almost 100£ more than the parweld with foot pedal.

regards,
Antonio Costa

 

[antonio costa]

Another thing that I noticed is that according to the tech sheets the parweld is heavier than the thermal arc. It seems odd since it's a bit of a difference in weight.

I wouldn't mind if it was 3 phase but I didn't find anything on my price range, all the ac dc rigs that I found were single phase.

 

[3MPS]

I'm in the same boat, but I might try buying the 185 that's on ebay right now

 

[blenkie1]

Have you had a look at Tec-Arc machines?

http://www.technicalarc.co.uk/index...page=flypage.tpl&product_id=30&category_id=18

Sure these were under £1000. I have the 3 phase model and its a great machine.

 

[3MPS]

I'm waiting on a price from a member on a tec arc.

 

[dutchweld]

I bought the thermal arc 202 a month ago, for me the price made me decide for it, (£900 vat free, rapid welding), they give you a discount if you've seen a better deal elswhere,
if you google for parts for this machine as listed in the manual, they are widely available, that's what made me decide for the TA, I'm still looking for an alternative footpedal, the thermal arc
one is a quit expensive, the torch with amp control is rather bulky, I like a smaller one

 

[Mr shiney]

I answered on your other thread but will add to this as well.

I have the Thermal Arc with the standard WP26 Torch and a foot pedal that I never have been able to master so don't use it!!

I also have the Fabricator 181i multimode machine which has been an absolute dream of a machine. Only failure on it in 2 years has been the microswitch on the torch which was £2 to replace. However I bought a whole new Binzel 250 Ergo which I should have done on day 1 as its a lovely torch and parts much easier to get hold of. Other than that its been flawless.

Which brings me on to the TA202. I have only had my own for a short while but did my entire TIG C&G 1/2 on one at college over 2 years and it has been a lovely welder to use. Really easy to set up with plenty of options on pre and post flow, pulse, frequency etc most of which is beyond my ability to use at the moment!!

They take a standard type 26 torch with easy to source consumables and the torch is small and easy to handle. I had the one with the variable control on the back originally but swapped it for the standard torch as I kept hitting the dial and making a mess of things!! If you want variable control the peddle is better I think. Although saying that for my type of welding the standard ramp up and down have been fine. I am sure as my abilities grow I will want the variable control a pedal gives, but I have a way to go yet.

The college have nothing but praise for them. They have proven to be reliable units that withstand the abuse that students give them and the duty cycle has proven to be plenty even for an educational setting. Around the normal 3mm type welding in college its a 100% duty cycle unit. Even at 180amps I seem to recall its something like 60% and it will deliver a true 200amps.

I did try the other machines at college as they have quite a large selection including some of the water cooled stuff but as a home hobby welder it fitted the bill perfectly. I paid £900 including the optional Victor Gas regs.

My friend has an R Tech unit which is 160 amps and I think the TA is nicer to use than that and easier to set up.

There you go, my 2 cents!!!!

 

[antonio costa]

Have you had a look at Tec-Arc machines?

http://www.technicalarc.co.uk/index...page=flypage.tpl&product_id=30&category_id=18

Sure these were under £1000. I have the 3 phase model and its a great machine.

I've just asked them for a quote. Thanks for the tip mate :-).

 

[antonio costa]

Thanks once again Mr shiney, your feedback and help was top notch. You got yours at a great price! Are you a vat registered company or something? Since I only saw them for that price without vat.
The foot pedal for me is quite usefull since for aluminium I'm used to use it at work. Did you buy the original from thermal arc?
The whole experience that you had with the machine at college quite proves that they are reliable.

Regards,
Antonio Costa

I answered on your other thread but will add to this as well.

I have the Thermal Arc with the standard WP26 Torch and a foot pedal that I never have been able to master so don't use it!!

I also have the Fabricator 181i multimode machine which has been an absolute dream of a machine. Only failure on it in 2 years has been the microswitch on the torch which was £2 to replace. However I bought a whole new Binzel 250 Ergo which I should have done on day 1 as its a lovely torch and parts much easier to get hold of. Other than that its been flawless.

Which brings me on to the TA202. I have only had my own for a short while but did my entire TIG C&G 1/2 on one at college over 2 years and it has been a lovely welder to use. Really easy to set up with plenty of options on pre and post flow, pulse, frequency etc most of which is beyond my ability to use at the moment!!

They take a standard type 26 torch with easy to source consumables and the torch is small and easy to handle. I had the one with the variable control on the back originally but swapped it for the standard torch as I kept hitting the dial and making a mess of things!! If you want variable control the peddle is better I think. Although saying that for my type of welding the standard ramp up and down have been fine. I am sure as my abilities grow I will want the variable control a pedal gives, but I have a way to go yet.

The college have nothing but praise for them. They have proven to be reliable units that withstand the abuse that students give them and the duty cycle has proven to be plenty even for an educational setting. Around the normal 3mm type welding in college its a 100% duty cycle unit. Even at 180amps I seem to recall its something like 60% and it will deliver a true 200amps.

I did try the other machines at college as they have quite a large selection including some of the water cooled stuff but as a home hobby welder it fitted the bill perfectly. I paid £900 including the optional Victor Gas regs.

My friend has an R Tech unit which is 160 amps and I think the TA is nicer to use than that and easier to set up.

There you go, my 2 cents!!!!

 

[Mr shiney]

I am not VAT registered, purely a hobby welder, Commercial Pilot for the day job. I get the welder from eBay, brand new in the box. I have the thermal arc pedal as well. They do take third part pedals as well.

 

[antonio costa]

Oh ok Mr shiney, I never seen one so cheap so I thought that it might be the usual price minus the VAT, sorry for the confusion. I will look closer on ebay to see if one for pops up for that price. Thanks once again.

Regards, Antonio Costa

 

[antonio costa]

Thanks for all the help. I ordered the TA today, it should arrive friday acording to Jim at United Welding. They got me a great deal on the welder and footpedal. Can't wait to try it!

 

[Mr shiney]

Let us know how you get on.

 

[antonio costa]

I will for sure I already bought 1kg of 4043 filler to try the machine on aluminum and brought home from work bits of aluminum plate, bits 30mm aluminum rod and pipe from the scrap pile. As soon as it arrives it willl have long session ac tig.

 

[Mr shiney]

What's size 4043 did you get and why that size?

Just trying to decide what to get for myself. I have a load of 1.2mm aluminium I would like to turn into a box.

 

[antonio costa]

I got 3.2mm because the sheet I brought home is mostly 3 to 4mm thick. Your case is quite diferent, 1.2 aluminium is on the thin side, and for thinerl like that I like my filler metal to be same or thinner than the sheet metal itself. It's mostly a matter of reducing the heat needed to melt the filler and avoid putting to much heat in the part or risking burn through. The welds on that box will be outside corners right? For that I would go with 1.6 filler or even a 1.0mm 4043 mig wire. If I was doing it that would be my preference with a 1.6 tungsten and about 50 to 60 amps, something along those lines. I'm stating an almost fixed current because I know that you don't like to use the pedal although this would be one of those time when it's great to have one. The ac balance I would set it more to the EP side to avoid to much heat something like 60% EP or something like that.
That's how I would do it, just my simple opinion :-)

 

[antonio costa]

Actually it's more how I think I would do it since I'm not used to do aluminum with a fixed current, only with the pedal

 

[langy]

You won't have any problems with backup from Parweld, they have a huge network

 

[Mr shiney]

Thanks, something to think about.

I got 3.2mm because the sheet I brought home is mostly 3 to 4mm thick. Your case is quite diferent, 1.2 aluminium is on the thin side, and for thinerl like that I like my filler metal to be same or thinner than the sheet metal itself. It's mostly a matter of reducing the heat needed to melt the filler and avoid putting to much heat in the part or risking burn through. The welds on that box will be outside corners right? For that I would go with 1.6 filler or even a 1.0mm 4043 mig wire. If I was doing it that would be my preference with a 1.6 tungsten and about 50 to 60 amps, something along those lines. I'm stating an almost fixed current because I know that you don't like to use the pedal although this would be one of those time when it's great to have one. The ac balance I would set it more to the EP side to avoid to much heat something like 60% EP or something like that.
That's how I would do it, just my simple opinion :-)

 

[antonio costa]

Thanks Langy for the advice but the guys at united welding got me a top notch deal on a ta202 with the foot pedal so I went with that since apparently they are the same unit :-).
Regards,
Antonio Costa

You won't have any problems with backup from Parweld, they have a huge network