Tig welder

[Jacktegla]

Hi
I’m looking to buy a tig welder as I’ve been mig welding for the past couple of years and really enjoy it, but want to try a new skill
What are the main benefits of tig over mig? As I’m trying to convince my dad we need one in our garage.
I’m only sixteen so don’t want to spend a rediculois amount on a tig welder but have been looking at the
r tech dc 160 but don’t know.

Any advise welcome thanks.

 

[Jlg]

Hi
I’m looking to buy a tig welder as I’ve been mig welding for the past couple of years and really enjoy it, but want to try a new skill
What are the main benefits of tig over mig? As I’m trying to convince my dad we need one in our garage.
I’m only sixteen so don’t want to spend a rediculois amount on a tig welder but have been looking at the
r tech dc 160 but don’t know.

Any advise welcome thanks.

Benefits are its neater and looks nice but if you're only looking at dc there is no point as a mig will do everything a tig will for garage work in a fraction of the time go ac/dc and it's a different story

 

[chris pruteanu]

Tig is a lot more versatile and needs no dressing after if done to a nice standard. Also most acdc tigs will go low amps so obe can weld really thin sheet metal without blowing holes...

 

[Ruffian]

I have a r tech dc 160, it's nice but if talking new money, (analogue one is £350 +vat digital £415+vat)
For the 420/500 quid it will cost will give you piece of mind with a new machine with warranty.

Will it be a nice beginner machine, yes (mine helped learn the basics) But for new money I would possibly look at other alternatives now.

The stahlenwerx ac/dc tig to do alloy also is similar money, as with the older style analogue machines from hawk or rohr as said in some other threads.

Or a decent second hand machine could be a good choice. Parweld or thermal arc are great machines also.

Did you have a budget in mind.
Also remember with going from mig to tig will need a bottle of argon also which will be another couple of quid

 

[Jacktegla]

I have a r tech dc 160, it's nice but if talking new money, (analogue one is £350 +vat digital £415+vat)
For the 420/500 quid it will cost will give you piece of mind with a new machine with warranty.

Will it be a nice beginner machine, yes (mine helped learn the basics) But for new money I would possibly look at other alternatives now.

The stahlenwerx ac/dc tig to do alloy also is similar money, as with the older style analogue machines from hawk or rohr as said in some other threads.

Or a decent second hand machine could be a good choice. Parweld or thermal arc are great machines also.

Did you have a budget in mind.
Also remember with going from mig to tig will need a bottle of argon also which will be another couple of quid

Thanks for the advise. I’ve got a budget of around £450, good second hand machines are hard to find but it maybe worth waiting to find the right one. I ve had a go on a thermal arc really nice machine it only cost a mate £30 which he constantly reminds me, the parweld units are very nice, I know their machines are good quality because that’s the make of mig I’ve got. But I won’t be buying one now but maybe In the new year, will have to wait and see what happens over Christmas see what I get

 

[Richard.]

Tig has loads of advantages over mig. I can easily live without a mig but tig is far more useful especially for a hobbiest.
1) a single phase 200 tig welder can be used on pretty much all material thicknesses 0-5mm tig 5mm + MMA. Most hobby migs won’t even do 5mm.

2) you can weld all materials apart from aluminium from 1 torch and 1 gas even exotics like 625, Ti, duplex, copper, etc

3) Small diameter tubes and very thin wall is far nicer and better quality done with tig

4) cap heights are completely in your control as filling is manual

5) no spatter,

6) much more intricate and capable of precision.