trying to decide

[omkar]

hi guys. was lookin at this site. trying to figure out if this machine is really up to what they say it does. can you guys please give me some feedback. what do you think??? im lookin at the IMS 1700.


http://www.rustbuster.nl/Aanbiedingen/Las_apparaten.htm

http://www.rustbuster.nl/Lasapparaten_GYS/IMS 1700 handleiding.pdf

 

[Country Joe]

Seems like you're being ignored! - Only joking, a polite bunch, here!



Yeah, looks ok to me.
That's an odd table at the bottom of the PDF page. It seems to show how many rods of each size, that you could burn in an hour. You'd think it would depend quite heavily on how quickly you could change electrodes. Maybe they just do one, and the rest is maths. Don't think I've come across this before, though; but here it is.
Here endeth my fixation on the table!

The duty cycle looks good, mind.
I would have thought it could do what it says.

Seems it has "Arc Force, Anti-Sticking, and Hot Start", too. So has mine, but I've managed to stick a rod or two before with it - not many though. Maybe it would happen loads, if it didn't have it. But I'll never be sure, as it's always on, as far as I know!

To get back on topic, it does seem quite tolerant to variations in input voltages - might be good if you're intending using a generator, I suppose?
I notice the site seems to only give a price guide, (dependent on options like gas, tig torch, etc) and you have to ring them for a fixed price. The tig torch isn't included, but you might have one already, I guess?

I personally haven't used this particular one, (bet you couldn't tell!) but someone who has will be along some time soon.
Not much actual help, I'll admit - due to the reason just above, but you're now back on the first page!
All the Best,
CJ

 

[omkar]

thanks

your input was really helpful. i really appreciate it.

what im most curious about though. is the fact that say i could tig with it (dc) i think. seeing as it is an arc welder is this something realistic they are saying. i saw this site also has arc welders that can tig. but what metals can i tig with this welder. and also, from ppl who used arc welders to tig.....is the process satisfactory?

i also see they have on that shop, tig welders that can arc weld( but i think that is more normal.

anyhow, the reason im lookin at this welder, is because i think i want to do some wrought iron work, but also some auto restoration work.
so instead of buying two welders i can get this one and probably in the future, should i choose to specialize in onefield, i can look for a more suitable welder.

 

[Country Joe]

Hi there Omkar,
I was ranting on about that table & then forgot to include it!

This system with an inverter doing Tig & Arc welding is pretty normal, I think. Mine is the same, and does both very well. With DC tig you'll be able to weld ferrous metals (steel & stainless steel), you'd need an AC tig to do aluminium, or any of it's alloys, which usually costs a bit more.

But yes, its a totally realistic claim to make, and seems a completely normal setup to me now.

I would find a Tig quite difficult for out-of-position work, (ie under a car) but it is possible. I'd be inclined to use a mig for car type work.

Inverters are thought by some folk to be a bit delicate, and not too reliable, but I've used one for quite a while with no problems.
I don't deliberately bash it about much, but I have arc'd up a few times with the leads the wrong way around, without anything terrible happening, except the tungsten vanishing!
With some of the stories I'd heard about them, I'd half expected it to write it off! But not so! (So far!)

All the Best,
CJ

(Oops forgot it again!)

 

[omkar]

hanks cj. your advice was really helpful.