Which TIG?

[RobGS]

Hi all,

Probably been asked a million times before but...

Decided with your help that a course is not required so I am putting the cash into a welder.

Which one though?

I was thinking of just a DC as I doubt I will do alu - but never know and I have saved the course money...
Granted a DC one will be cheaper but the AC/DC ones have more features to 'grow into'. Or is that me being a novice??

I was looking at the 200A one from TecArc or the same from R-Tech. Both look the same but one is cheaper - with a mask!..Any more I should consider?

Just for hobby stuff really and learning..

If I bought a £1000 AC/DC welder and sold it in 6 months (to upgrade) what would it be worth?

Any advice/clues?

TIA

 

[matt1978]

I dont think it would be worth much after 6 months mate, because its usually hard transfering warrantys etc to the new owner. I would say £200-£300ish 2nd hand.

 

[pauld]

Hi all,
I was looking at the 200A one from TecArc or the same from R-Tech. Both look the same but one is cheaper - with a mask!..Any more I should consider?

From what I have heard, the TecArc (which I have), is a lot different inside when compared to the R-Tech machine... The box might look the same, but the internals aren't!

 

[RobGS]

I dont think it would be worth much after 6 months mate, because its usually hard transfering warrantys etc to the new owner. I would say £200-£300ish 2nd hand.

I don't expect warranty transfer to be a problem. Just like cars/fridges/tools etc., warranties are for the item. If it was not transferable then I wouldn't buy the product as that to me is a manufacturer not believing in their product.
I wish I saw these for that much 2nd hand - anyone got a 6 month old one for £250??!!

 

[RobGS]

From what I have heard, the TecArc (which I have), is a lot different inside when compared to the R-Tech machine... The box might look the same, but the internals aren't!

Which one have you got and how long have you had it? Any issues?

 

[malcolm]

Your post baffles me. You don't think you will need AC/DC, but if you got one you might upgrade again in 6 months? Are you testing the waters for the actual value of the machine? Resale value depends on history for inverter machines, and that's difficult to judge.

My advice would be to get a nice DC TIG and save the difference in a high interest bank account (1% if you can get it) then use the funds for the upgrade.

If you really did plan to sell an AC/DC machine again in 6 months than a transformer based one would be the best to go for. Rare new, though if pushed I could suggest one to fit the budget , but they are also available secondhand, normally in oversized format. Not so many features as the inverters, but not everyone is TIG welding to the limits of technology, and the transformer machines go for a lot more on eBay. Mine was £560 secondhand and it's 31 years old!

 

[RobGS]

Hi Malcom,
Not thinking of selling it to upgrade didn't mean to put AC/DC just DC in the OP, just if I don't get on with it or my projects don't take off it would be nice to know what it would be worth.

Like to get the right thing first time and like middle of the road stuff. Not too cheap and not too expensive. What had you in mind?

 

[pauld]

Which one have you got and how long have you had it? Any issues?

I have the TecArc 206i . I can't really say if there are any issues, as I have hardly used it since buying it.... but now I have started a tig course, and have bit of confidence I am going to try to find the time to start using it a bit... when I am not working, or looking after 3 young kids!!