Recommend me a TIG

[andy10v]

Has anyone tried those cheap AC DC TIG's on ebay? I understand the quality can't be the same as 4x expencier machine, but does they do the job?

Also interested, eg

AC DC 200amp £329, £25 postage
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-DC-TIG-...item256bcc48cf

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-DC-TIG-...item256bcbec72

And a few ones at a similar price but 150 postage from china.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TIG200P-AC...item3cbf167fa0

I know they will not be great, and I normally try and buy good tools, however a £130 gas mig has been great to me so far.

[GT500]

I had one of the £350 ebay ones.

Had it five years or so. Went wrong after about the first six months. Had it repaired at my local welder/gas place. The only other fault was the gas solonoid valve. sometimes it didn't auto switch off. I fitted a torch with a manual valve, sorted.

Used it alot. Took it to race meetings ( became popular person welding broken ali parts at Silverstone) few quid earned with it there! Well pleased with it.

Frosts are selling a Eastwood one. I bet its beter and has some warranty.

HTH

[spink]

I must say I am the 1st person to steer clear of most chinese muck but I have been quite impressed with JASIC tig welders

[caterpillar]

fronius 1700 or fronius 2300... the best ever...or the 2 best kemppi welders....no kompromiss!!

[GT500]

Now I have three phase. Miller 300 amp with foot pedal is the one I went for. It's big and will weld all day at big amps.

[Thuppu]

Ordered this TIG from UK and a 20l Argon bottle from Germany. Hope the welder works well. Let the fabrication begin.

[andy10v]

Let us know how you get on with it. I am sure you will have some nice things to show us soon

[Thuppu]

Got the welder yesturday and the argon bottle today. Can't really speak of quality with these cheap china tig's. First the one bolt from the other lifting handle was loose, the nut was inside the machine. When I open the cover and turned the machine upside down, two nuts and two washers fall out of it.

One nut was from the handle and the other one plus the washers was from a big power cord inside the machine. I put it back and also torqued the other cord bolts, all was loose. Checked screws and bolts here and there and put the cover back on. Had also to change the main power UK-plug to fit finnish sockets.

Also the new gas bottle gauge fitting was different size than my old argon gauge had. Luckily I found a adapter for it from the shop I bougt wolfram electrodes from(electrodes does not include the tig). Hadn't time to try the welder properly today, but a little after all and it seems to work.

[Thuppu]

Finally I had some time to test the welder a little bit. It seems to work well, tested the DC and AC functions but not the plasma cutting.

It was more difficult to weld than I remembered. 16 years since I last used a TIG in school, so don't laugh at my weldings.

2mm stainless tube:


2x1mm stainless plate melted together:


3mm aluminium plate:

[daniel212]

Nice work Thuppu, looks great.

[Thuppu]

Well, lots to do and practice before the welds look nice. Here is another try:

[Billman]

very nice. what is the model of this TIG welder you use?

[Thuppu]

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showpos...2&postcount=36

[SteveH]

I bought an RTech 160 amp AC/DC unit yesterday, best money I've spent in a long time. 20ltrs of Argon from Southwest gas supplies and hours of fun. I've done plenty of Mig over the years, so TIG is new to me. I'll post some pics when I'm up-to-speed.

[JP]

Not to hijack a thread but I have a 200A portable butters unit with variable pedal control and new gun and a regulator. Mint condition as stopped tig'ing due to a missing feed finger and never got it quite the same again. So for sale if anyone interested