Discussion
For my next project I'm keen to move on from MIG welding and venture into TIG welding. Speaking to a couple of guys I know who are professional welders they're suggeting buying something around 1500pounds for a home use welder which should give many years of good service, though none has mentioned any names to watch out for.
I thought i would ask on here if anyone is TIG welding at home and if so what equipment are they using and how are you getting on with it?
My aim is to eventually weld aluminium too so I do need any prospective purchase to be future-proof from that aspect.
Thanks for any help / advice / comments.
I thought i would ask on here if anyone is TIG welding at home and if so what equipment are they using and how are you getting on with it?
My aim is to eventually weld aluminium too so I do need any prospective purchase to be future-proof from that aspect.
Thanks for any help / advice / comments.
I've been Tigging at home for a few years, and it's great.
However, the set that I bought isn't.
After approx. 10-15 hours it died, and the quoted repair bill was more than the £1500 purchase price.
Talking to the approved repair centre, they said this was a common fault for this brand (Thermadyne / Thermal Arc), hence I wouldn't personally recommend this brand.
Sadly it was just outside the warranty.
Thankfully I have access to sets at work, though DC only.
There's plenty of discussion on home use Tig sets over on http://www.ukwelder.com/forum/index.php?s=9dc7221a...
However, the set that I bought isn't.
After approx. 10-15 hours it died, and the quoted repair bill was more than the £1500 purchase price.
Talking to the approved repair centre, they said this was a common fault for this brand (Thermadyne / Thermal Arc), hence I wouldn't personally recommend this brand.
Sadly it was just outside the warranty.
Thankfully I have access to sets at work, though DC only.
There's plenty of discussion on home use Tig sets over on http://www.ukwelder.com/forum/index.php?s=9dc7221a...
Hi,
I have a Miller Dynasty 200DX that I use from home.
I bought it s/h when it was a year old and it's now six years old. It's never missed a beat and it gets used most days. One advantage is that it runs from whatever it's plugged into, 110, 240, or 3 phase, although in the garage it's only ever used from a 13amp plug.
It also has all the bells and whistles, which is nice.
I've used other similar welders that are just as good, Murex, Lincoln, etc. You pays your money etc etc.
One thing I would advise is that if you intend to use the welder to its full potential that you fit a water cooled torch. Unlike the cheap tat an "industrial make" welder will work all day without having to worry about duty cycles, so the same (IMHO) should apply to the torch. I made my own water cooler unit with a car heater matrix, a desk fan, small tank and a fish tank pump. £45 the lot.
Aluminium takes a lot to melt it due to its ability to absorb heat, and with AC when the tungsten is positive (30 to 40% of the time) it's the torch that has to withstand the extra heat. (positive = 2/3rds of the heat potential, negative = 1/3rd)
Good luck in whatever you buy.
Cheers,
Paul
I have a Miller Dynasty 200DX that I use from home.
I bought it s/h when it was a year old and it's now six years old. It's never missed a beat and it gets used most days. One advantage is that it runs from whatever it's plugged into, 110, 240, or 3 phase, although in the garage it's only ever used from a 13amp plug.
It also has all the bells and whistles, which is nice.
I've used other similar welders that are just as good, Murex, Lincoln, etc. You pays your money etc etc.
One thing I would advise is that if you intend to use the welder to its full potential that you fit a water cooled torch. Unlike the cheap tat an "industrial make" welder will work all day without having to worry about duty cycles, so the same (IMHO) should apply to the torch. I made my own water cooler unit with a car heater matrix, a desk fan, small tank and a fish tank pump. £45 the lot.
Aluminium takes a lot to melt it due to its ability to absorb heat, and with AC when the tungsten is positive (30 to 40% of the time) it's the torch that has to withstand the extra heat. (positive = 2/3rds of the heat potential, negative = 1/3rd)
Good luck in whatever you buy.
Cheers,
Paul
About 3 years ago I brought an ex demo TIG set from the welders warehouse. It was -L-650 for a 160amp AC/DC unit with torch and foot peddle, which was very good value. When it first arrived only the high frequency worked, the main arc would not start. But the welders warehouse fixed it free of cost. Since then it has been running flawlessly. I think it is a Delta branded unit. I find TIG much easier than MIG, so much so that I recently built a 63 litre odd shaped fuel tank from aluminium with about 6 meters of TIG weld.
The features you will need if you want to do aluminium are:
My TIG set came with a torch and peddle with about 10 meters of cable on, and a 1.2m earth lead! I find the long leads very useful and now have a 10m earth lead. It is useful to be able to setup the set in the front of the garage and then run the leads out to whichever car I am working on.
The features you will need if you want to do aluminium are:
- AC as well as DC
- A foot peddle, you need good fine control for aluminium.
- High frequency start. You don't want to be scratch starting.
- The ability to connect a decent sized gas bottle. I used to use size X, now I use Y as they are twice the size and less than 50% more expensive.
My TIG set came with a torch and peddle with about 10 meters of cable on, and a 1.2m earth lead! I find the long leads very useful and now have a 10m earth lead. It is useful to be able to setup the set in the front of the garage and then run the leads out to whichever car I am working on.
Edited by elwe on Thursday 13th May 14:44
I found this guy a while back, hes got some good information as well as a bunch of Youtube videos with techniques and reviews of welders.
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/welding-4130.h...
http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/welding-4130.h...
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