which tig

[group 4 escort]

hi guys im new to the forum

a little about me

i am about to build a rally car and want to fabricate some parts myself

ie

custom chassis stands

gussets

skids

aluminum tanks guards etc etc


can anyone advise on tig type i need

i reckon i need an ac and dc output

i think from what i have read on here and else where

to tig weld steel etc i use dc

and to tig weld aluminium i need ac

am i correct ?

and what amps should i be looking at for the machine


thanks

 

[madkayaker]

Hello and welcome I'm not a TIGger but from what I have read you seam correct. There's a few of us from the borders on here.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Yep, AC/DC machine for you, depending on the thickness of the material you're intending to weld something around 200 amps would probably be more than adequate. What sort of budget do you have?

 

[group 4 escort]

wow you guys are quick on the go

i am looking at max 500 quid budget for machine

ive seen loads on ebay etc most are chinese models and i guess when it breaks down i wont be able to take it to china palace with me on a friday night and get it repaired when im waiting on my no 27 with fried rice


any good cheap models you guys know off would be great

 

[madkayaker]

There's a ebayer near carlisle that was selling a couple of big second hand tigs end last week don't know if there any good a lot of stuff sold as 3ph is 400V single and will run (maybe lower power) on 230V single

 

[group 4 escort]

3 phase is not a problem we have a huge yard with several workshops on it we rent out and one we use for the rally cars all have 3 phase power in them


whats you thoughts on these chinese efforts on ebay ?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Unfortunately £500 won't get you much of a machine if you buy new but like Madkayaker says, if you have a big enough supply you could look at a bigger tig, something like a miller dialarc or similar, they have internal jumpers to set the input voltage and will quite happily run off something like a 40 or 50A 230V supply (I know because I have one ).
Mine cost me very little and although it's a beast of a machine, it's built to last.
There are good and bad chinese ones on there, ones that might be worth a shout are the 'feltzen group' ones, they used to be sold as Rehmann but are now something else. Look on there and you'll see them. Don't do the buy it now though, you'll get a better price by letting the auction run.

 

[madkayaker]

If you have 3ph then second hand could be the way forward. Usaly sell for less as 3ph limets the resale market

 

[Archie]

I know Woz picked his TIG up for at a great price but I'd still say you'll have a problem picking up anything for £500. Yes, you tend to get more bang for your buck if you go the 3ph route but you're unlikely to find anything cheaper. I haven't seen anything 3ph go for £500 on eBay.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Yes, I was extremely lucky with mine, it was an ebay find which wasn't described very well meaning not many people spotted it. Had to travel a bit to collect it. Fortunately the seller had a forklift too, or I'd never have got it in my truck. The seller was great, chucked in quite a few bits and pieces with it.