Which TIG welder for a school workshop?

[aledafis]

Hi there, I'm new to the forum, so firstly, let me introduce myself.

My name is Aled, and I'm an engineering teacher at a secondary school here in West Wales. I've been developing the engineering department in school for a few years and have been offering an NVQ qualification in engineering (Level 1 and 2) for around 4 years. Haveing worked as an engineer for a few years before becoming a teacher, I realised that what employers were crying out for was young people who had a good basic skill level in actually making things, as opposed to just drawing pretty pictures of things that couldn't actually be made!! (i.e. Design and Technology)

As of this September I'll be offering a welding (and turning) unit as an add on for my better students. The course will focus mainly on MIG welding, but I'd like to be able to show them something a little extra, just to open their eyes a little to what other processes are available.

I currently have two MIG welders (Murex and Lincoln) in the workshop, and have just over a grand left from a development grant to spend on kit, and if I don't spend it PDQ i know that it will be "absorbed" back into the schools general capitation.

Finally, I'm getting to the reason for my post, can you guys advise me as to what £1k buys me in the TIG market. I'm thinking that an ACDC machine would be good as I could show the kids a little Ali welding also.

I've been offered this Butters Digital unit for a little over a grand from a local supplier
http://www.butterswelding.com/datasheets/tig/acdc-205-digi-pulse.pdf

I've also seen this

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/welding_equipment/Tig_Welder/Tig_Welder_R-Tech_Tig201

I've not heard of these manufacturers before, so not sure if they're any good. I assume that they're both of far eastern origin, but at my budget, I think that I'm stuck with imported machines.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Cheers

Aled

 

[matt1978]

I would go for the R-Tech machine, good back up service in the UK.

 

[MarkMG]

I've got an R-tech DC machine and I'm well pleased with it, they are based in Gloucestershire.

 

[NTwoO]

matt1978 .May there be more sales people like you. adelafis, matt1978 is the agent for Lorch machines. Good quality German machines with a 3 year warranty and a drop test of 60 (or was it 80 for the basic?)cm. Those two figures come in very handy in a school environment. Check for educational discounts and go for a basic machine. They come with comfy torches and are very user friendly. It might be a little more expensive, but well worth it.

 

[aledafis]

Thanks guys.

matt1978, you have PM.

If you can offer any other suggestions, I'd be most gratefull.

Cheers

Aled

 

[astro_al]

If you are on a limited budget and are just trying to show other welding processes in general, have you considered going for a DC only tig? Its not a huge leap of imagination to understand that if you have an ACDC unit you can weld ali too, but its basically the same process, so would a DC only option not be enough to show them tigging? That way, maybe, you could get a better machine for your money - or one with better backup.

Just a thought, good luck, Al.

 

[Rusty]

This should do you - MTA AC/DC 182 Tig Welder
http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/TIG_Welder/tig_welder.html
Or PM weldequip he sells a similar model.

 

[Bigjoe]

I would give weldequip a shout as he sells the Original portamig machines (same as MTA machines) and gives excellent back up.