Tig welder for hobby use

[melted welly]

Thinking it might be an interesting hobby for me and the boys to make stuff out of old bikes, toys etc.

Does anyone have any views on models etc?

See some adverts for ones at £250ish

What about running costs, range of metals?

I’ve no experience with tig welders, stick or mig only, done some gas welding in past is it a similar technique?

 

[TheTallGuy]

Thinking it might be an interesting hobby for me and the boys to make stuff out of old bikes, toys etc.

Does anyone have any views on models etc?

See some adverts for ones at £250ish

What about running costs, range of metals?

I’ve no experience with tig welders, stick or mig only, done some gas welding in past is it a similar technique?

I wouldn't be looking at anything under £500 for a basic 160A unit. Most of the cheap units are really stick welders that can do scratch start Tig which is not great & you don't get particularly good control. If you want to do aluminium then you'll need AC Tig capability which will take you up to the £1000 mark. You'll want a bottle of argon, tungsten tips, gas cups/nozzles and filler rod to suit the materials you want to weld. A foot pedal control is also good addition.

 

[Slowcow]

I bought a cheap andeli tig inverter a couple years ago to do some stainless welding with, has hf start which is pretty good and gas control.

I've learnt to do sanitary welding with it and really enjoy tig welding, done a fair bit of mig, stick and gas welding in the past.

I'm looking to buy a decent one now though. But for a couple hundred quid it's a good way to get started with tig, very like gas welding.

 

[melted welly]

I bought a cheap andeli tig inverter a couple years ago to do some stainless welding with, has hf start which is pretty good and gas control.

I've learnt to do sanitary welding with it and really enjoy tig welding, done a fair bit of mig, stick and gas welding in the past.

I'm looking to buy a decent one now though. But for a couple hundred quid it's a good way to get started with tig, very like gas welding.

What is the power requirement for such a unit?

Do you need different rods, gas types etc for different metals?

I’m completely ignorant on tig. When I learned to weld we weren’t allowed anywhere near the tig set for anything other than to marvel at it.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

you have to start the arc running for want of a better word, for stainless you can start it with a "scratch" technique (like a normal arc welder), then continue to hold the arc and weld like gas, for Aluminium you can't use the scratch technique (as the Aluminium contaminates the tip), so they have a high frequency starter to make the Arc jump the gap. Different tips for Al or SS . When grinding he tips, the grinds should follow the length of the rod, not round and round (this improves arc stability) and ideally a specific bench grinder just for tips (to stop contamination). A pedal makes the control of the arc easier too.

 

[MrNoo]

R-tech do a decent AC/DC Tig, it's what I use, mainly for seamless tubing for space frames, but also weld a fair bit of alloy, fuel tanks, Pommier booms etc etc. Mine runs off a 32a single phase supply, as above Argon is used not Argoshield. It's a lovely way to weld and with practice very rewarding, cleanliness is next to godliness when using TIG, esp with alloy, fit needs to be spot on to, yes you can make up gaps but it is easier spending the time to get the fit right first.

 

[Slowcow]

Get a nice pair of gloves and a speed glass too, it's much more delicate than using a mig, can't comment to much on rods, bought a cabinet full 20 years from a bankrupt fabrication sale, seems each time I need a different rod the right ones in there

Get on you tube and watch a load of videos before you start.

Not wanting to high jack a thread but @MrNoo how long have you had your rtech? They seem reasonable money, I'm looking for a ac DC tig at the moment.

 

[MrNoo]

Get a nice pair of gloves and a speed glass too, it's much more delicate than using a mig, can't comment to much on rods, bought a cabinet full 20 years from a bankrupt fabrication sale, seems each time I need a different rod the right ones in there

Get on you tube and watch a load of videos before you start.

Not wanting to high jack a thread but @MrNoo how long have you had your rtech? They seem reasonable money, I'm looking for a ac DC tig at the moment.

Oh I would think it’s going on for 12 years now, no issues at all with it. R-Tech are based in Gloucester so not a million miles away and I also have one of their plasma cutters.

R-Tech TIG Welder AC/DC 200Amp 240v

The TIG 201 AC/DC 200Amp Inverter TIG Welder features HF microstart, AC squarewave adjustment to 250hz, pulse welding, slope up/down, LED display and a high 60% duty cycle at 200 amps. Includes FREE TIG torch, earth, MMA lead, regulator, R-Tech Pro remote foot pedal worth £142 and a 3 year warranty!

www.r-techwelding.co.uk

This is the one I use. The torch does get a tad warm when welding thick alloy 1/4” but I just stop and let it all cool down, eg if you’re welding up a fuel tank from scratch.
But for steel it’s been spot on for space frames, brackets etc.

 

[tomlad]

Look up doubleboost on utube re. Rtech reviews.
Hes a fan . He is sponsored. But id say john is honest.

 

[Wood field]

Had a Lincoln set for years when on the tools , scratch or button/hf start , wish I kept that set
Mine was DC only but I only worked on stainless
If it’s a bit of fun and learning with the kids , I would just get a basic scratch tig inverter doubles up as a stick set and will get you going for not silly money , auto darkening shield is essential as you’ll have both hands full with filler wire and torch

 

[Mixedfarming777]

Get a hf start ac dc tig set its hard enough as it is and at least then you can repair aluminium and build things.

 

[Dave W]

I’ve still got this big Miller to sell. Proper all singing and dancing water cooled job

 

[markpentre]

Oh I would think it’s going on for 12 years now, no issues at all with it. R-Tech are based in Gloucester so not a million miles away and I also have one of their plasma cutters.

R-Tech TIG Welder AC/DC 200Amp 240v

The TIG 201 AC/DC 200Amp Inverter TIG Welder features HF microstart, AC squarewave adjustment to 250hz, pulse welding, slope up/down, LED display and a high 60% duty cycle at 200 amps. Includes FREE TIG torch, earth, MMA lead, regulator, R-Tech Pro remote foot pedal worth £142 and a 3 year warranty!

www.r-techwelding.co.uk

This is the one I use. The torch does get a tad warm when welding thick alloy 1/4” but I just stop and let it all cool down, eg if you’re welding up a fuel tank from scratch.
But for steel it’s been spot on for space frames, brackets etc.

Ive got this TIG set too and can honestly say for the money you wont find better.. ive welded in the Aviation idustry with.Miller Tig sets and there isnt much difference..
You can add a water cooler to the Tig set and then run a smaller Wp20 torch which makes the job much nicer to do.. also make sure you get a foot pedal!!

 

[Tomo23]

R-tech do a decent AC/DC Tig, it's what I use, mainly for seamless tubing for space frames, but also weld a fair bit of alloy, fuel tanks, Pommier booms etc etc. Mine runs off a 32a single phase supply, as above Argon is used not Argoshield. It's a lovely way to weld and with practice very rewarding, cleanliness is next to godliness when using TIG, esp with alloy, fit needs to be spot on to, yes you can make up gaps but it is easier spending the time to get the fit right first.

Me and my dad made some ally hurdles for a mobile sheep yard.

Before every weld we rubbed each area down with thinners and applied a little bit of heat with heat gun aswell.

 

[Tomo23]

R-Tech have a 10% off summer sale on at the minute for anyone after a machine.

 

[Phil P]

I also have an Rtech 201ac/dc tig and it’s been faultless over the last 12 years. I run it with a water cooled tortch and foot control pedal and it’s lovely to weld with. Bought a plasma cutter at the same time and it’s also been faultless and it’s done a lot of work over the years.

 

[Pistonbroke]

It might be worth speaking to rtech in person. When I ordered my mig 180 I was new to mig and reeled off a list of what I thought I would need, including a spool gun, different wires,tips ,regulator etc. Chap was agreeing with most things,a couple he said weren't necessary. I asked what the bill was up to and he said he was just working out what discount he could give. Worked out 20% off the website price, ordered at 4pm and arrived 9am next day.