tig advice

[Badbusboy]

hello all,

a couple of questions:
1) my vw bus friend has ps****d me off by buying a fronios 200amp dc tig. Whats it like/worth
2) I have a cebora pocket pulse 100 that he got for me - how thick a piece of metal will it weld and what types of metal will it weld?

cheers bbboy

 

[hotrodder]

1) Very nice bit of kit but a DC only TIG is kinda limited. No idea but Fronius kit isn't cheap
2)Around 3mm but joint type/prep makes a difference. Aluminium/magnesium are out (Al is kinda possible but really need AC), pretty much everything else is welded DCEN with TIG

 

[will123thomas]

aluminium cant be welded on DC it doesnt get through the oxide layer so theres no point even trying (unless like me you wanted to see what it does )

 

[hotrodder]

Aluminium can certainly be welded with DC.

DCEP is how Al is welded with the MIG process, works with TIG too but limited to thin sections with a large diameter tunsten due to the extra heat that the tungsten must endure. Not very practical

DCEN gives no 'oxide cleaning' but can also be done. With thick sections (and some serious pre weld cleaning) you can weld 'through' the oxide layer, usually with helium as a shielding gas to add more heat to the arc. You don't get a defined weld puddle but it is possible. Again not very practical