Any TiG welders on here?

[novarally]

I'm planning to invest in a TIG welder before long, and just wondered if anyone on here uses one and could give their recommendations for specific machines?

I need AC/DC as I want to weld aluminium.


I'm already a MiG owner and competent with that, but never had a go at TIG work.

[Andy]

How much you spending?
Single or three phase?
Kemppi are nice welders.
you can buy nice small compact units for tig.
what will you be welding? Size?

[novarally]

How much you spending?
Single or three phase?
Kemppi are nice welders.
you can buy nice small compact units for tig.
what will you be welding? Size?

Obviously I'd prefer to spend as little as possible, but it seems decent machines are £600 and upwards. Unless I can find a decent secondhand one of course.

Single phase electric.

I want to weld roll cage tubing, plus aluminium, but only car-type stuff, so nothing heavy duty.

[Rob H]

We use Lincoln tig machines at work but the prices are eye watering for a entry level machine expect to part with a grand. Miller's are also very good machines I used those in my last job but price wise your looking at the same sort of story. For a home budget welder I'd look into the clarke range they are quite well regarded in the industry as good budget welders. If it's just for home use and car work it should be more than enough not like you will be laying down run after run all day long and getting the thing red hot. Make sure it has good adjustability for the settings and a decent duty cycle and you should be fine. The best tip I give to people welding at home from single ph is to make sure the socket you are using gets a 32amp supply from the fuse box. You wouldn't believe the difference from a 16 amp to a 32, it allows you to make alot better use of the welder and it shouldn't trip out when turned right up.

[novarally]

We use Lincoln tig machines at work but the prices are eye watering for a entry level machine expect to part with a grand. Miller's are also very good machines I used those in my last job but price wise your looking at the same sort of story. For a home budget welder I'd look into the clarke range they are quite well regarded in the industry as good budget welders. If it's just for home use and car work it should be more than enough not like you will be laying down run after run all day long and getting the thing red hot. Make sure it has good adjustability for the settings and a decent duty cycle and you should be fine. The best tip I give to people welding at home from single ph is to make sure the socket you are using gets a 32amp supply from the fuse box. You wouldn't believe the difference from a 16 amp to a 32, it allows you to make alot better use of the welder and it shouldn't trip out when turned right up.

Many thanks - yes, I had heard good things about Lincoln, but the prices are high.

I already have a 32 amp circuit breaker in my workshop for the MiG, so that's fine.

[Jonlem]

We use a Rtech 200amp AC/DC machine which we use for doing cages, alloy tanks, intercoolers and exhaust systems. Very flexible machine. We had had it for a few years without a issue.

[Southie]

Someone had to do it

[_Jake]

You get what you pay for with tigs. ESAB/Murex/Lincoln/Oerlikon/Miller all make good machines but as said there not cheap. I use a Lincoln MIG at work and have nothing but good things to say for it, I have a Technical Arc TIG in my workshop that i use for exhaust manifolds, its a transformer machine rather than an inverter but again i have nothing but good things to say for it. 200A machine will be ample for you, make sure you get one with AC balance imo that helps alot with alloy. are you aware you cant just pick up a tig and go like you can with a mig?

[novarally]

We use a Rtech 200amp AC/DC machine which we use for doing cages, alloy tanks, intercoolers and exhaust systems. Very flexible machine. We had had it for a few years without a issue.

Something like this one James?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/R-Tech-Pow...item3cf0968a6f

[Jonlem]

We use this one:

http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/weldi..._R-Tech_Tig201

i have a friend selling one at the end of February for £800. Has a lot of extras going with it too.