TIG WELDING

[stuboy]

Hello my fellow beige entrepreneurs,  I've never tig welded,  and missus says she not yet got me an Xmas present, so I thought I get a basic cheap machine ( 2nd had are pro stuff and expensive ) I may be crap at it, but want foot operated as OA in my hands can play up, so thinking of buying the one below..

 

YESWELDER 205Amp TIG Welder 230V TIG/ARC 2 in 1 HF TIG Welding Machine IGBT DC Inverter MMA Stick Welder with Foot Pedal https://amzn.eu/d/0gXSK8q

[Matty]

Only ever used pro stuff so can't really comment on hobby inverter welders. However if you just want a play and learn a new skill, how far wrong can it go?

I could never get on with pedals when I was at college. Its surprising how hard it is to coordinate the hands and legs. I used to give myself high frequency electric shocks by accident when adjusting the tungsten 😁

[SiC]

I was going to get a TIG torch for my welding set, but it doesn't have an option for a pedal. At those prices, I'd be tempted to buy that machine to have a play. Is it HF or a scratch start machine?

I don't know too much about TIG but don't you need to shape the tungsten into a point before using?

[SiC]

Don't forget you'll need a bottle of Argon too.

[Matty]

9 minutes ago, SiC said:

I was going to get a TIG torch for my welding set, but it doesn't have an option for a pedal. At those prices, I'd be tempted to buy that machine to have a play. Is it HF or a scratch start machine?

I don't know too much about TIG but don't you need to shape the tungsten into a point before using?

You do indeed. I don't really get the pedal thing unless your doing bench work. If you think about how you have to contort yourself about whilst welding, I reckon introducing a pedal would turn the job into some weird sort of one man Twister!

Scratch start is actually OK. Basically a light touch and your away.

[Dave_Q]

Most of these cheaper machines are DC only so can't do aluminium or anything other than steel.

Basically an inverter stick/MMA welder with a TIG torch and some of the better ones have high frequency start.

[SiC]

I just noticed the advert text says the pedal is only on/off. Not current control.

Not particularly useful then. I bet it's silly like a scratch start but where you use the pedal first to turn it on.

[Back_For_More]

I have the kit sitting here with a full bottle of Argon but have never put it together and tried...... 

No idea why - but have 'the fears' 

For a starter having a go - not a big gamble really at that price. 

I'm off to re-watch the videos...... 

[Bren]

Something I have not done since the 90's. The pedal is useful when you are working at a table.

Working with ali takes a bit of skill due to the way it responds to heat.

I would only buy one that would do ali - otherwise there isn't much point. Having said that you can do neat welds on steel that require minimal grinding.

[Scruffy Bodger]

Having a pedal is really useful if you are working at a bench but that one you've linked to only does on and off so of very limited use. It also says it doesn't do ally which really limits its use imo.

[jakebullet]

Have you done other types of welding before? Could be a bit* of a steep learning curve if you're starting at nothing.

Tig is a lot like electronic oxy-acetylene, but with the added fun of sharpening the electrode every 5 minutes until you learn not to bugger it up.

[metalshapes]

Like @jakebullet said, its a lot like oxy-acetylene welding.

As for the machine itself, it seems to me the older the better.

I did quite a bit of welding with a very early Linde which was about the size & weight of a small car, but it welded beautifully.

My own old Miller isnt quite that old,  its more like motorcycle weight and size   

Newer machines have built in tricks and gadgets, but you probably wont need those anyway.

Absolutely get one with the high frequency start ( when you scratch start you've damaged the tip before you even get to welding).

And if possible one that will switch over to aluminum welding.
( that takes a lot of current, because aluminum will act like a heatsink and your powergrid may not support it )
Pre heating with O/A helps a lot.

Also, get the footpedal, hand controls exist but ( to me) are not nice to work with.
You'll learn to operate the footpedal with your knees, elbows, shoulders, ears, depending on witch inacessable part of the car you are trying to reach.

And disconnect the battery, so you dont fry the alternator.

Once you've had a TIG for a while, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it...

[Christine]

Tig tig tig ! Aluminium racing plates  candlestick ... i didnt weld it , i got Matt  Dix  ( IoM t.t. sidecar lunatic  ! )     to snot it , he said was a fukka to do , and he's a good tig welder !  

 

 

 

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I made the steel one with a mig