ComputerJLT

I've never touched a TIG welder in my life and have only managed to burn the **** out of myself with an ARC welder back in the day. I've been doing a lot of reading in the last few days about TIG and would like to play around with it.

I'm looking to buy this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...=WD1V
As a basic beginner setup to learn on

I know this is a cheap welder but i'm not looking to TIG a whole lot; a set of charge pipes and maybe a dp for my car and just to play around with.
I figure once I get the hang of it and decide that i'd like to move on to bigger and better things i'll get my Uncle's dad (professional welder) to hook me up at an auction. But for now i just want something to play around with. I can get argon; and a regulator and all the supplies i need from my uncle's dad; i just need the welder and thought this would be a decent cheap beginer setup.

What do you guys think? Will this be able to handle aluminum charge piping just fine (I can get 2.5" aluminum irrigation pipe for pennies a foot ) and possibly some stainless exhaust?


Modified by ComputerJLT at 3:27 PM 12/6/2004

legendboy

That thing would be pretty damn cool/handy to have kicking around! 115v 80A DC 8lb tig!?!

shortyz

you get what u pay for...

jailwarm

I couldnt imagine that even being capable of doing 1/8" stuff. Max i could see that handling is maybe 1/10" mild/stainless steel and i wouldnt expect it to do it well. You wont be able to do AL with that since its not AC and its a DC powered welder. For $250 its not a huge investment, but for another $100 you could get a very nice MIG like the Hobart Handler 140 which ive only heard good things about.

Id go with a nice MIG over that.

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jailwarm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I couldnt imagine that even being capable of doing 1/8" stuff. Max i could see that handling is maybe 1/10" mild/stainless steel and i wouldnt expect it to do it well. You wont be able to do AL with that since its not AC and its a DC powered welder. For $250 its not a huge investment, but for another $100 you could get a very nice MIG like the Hobart Handler 140 which ive only heard good things about.

Id go with a nice MIG over that.</TD></TR></TABLE>

why would i go with a mig that cant do aluminum either for more money?

NuRv

I dont believe that one will do aluminum, or at least not very well.

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NuRv &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I dont believe that one will do aluminum, or at least not very well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

oh; so i guess you have to have full ac to do aluminum?

i guess its mig and stainless charge pipes for now.

jailwarm

With mig, argon and i think a spooler gun you can do AL. Its not as nice as TIG but even comparing DC only TIG machines to AC/DC TIG machines there is a good $500 difference in price so yea there ya go.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/m...=9819

Engloid

You can TIG aluminum with DC current, using an Argon/Helium mix, or pure helium. It is not very good for thinner materials, under 1/8".

Personally, I'd be concerned about the availability of replacement parts and consumables for that cheapo machine. What if you buy it and it's still working a year from now, but the company goes under and nobody else makes any torch parts for it? What if you buy it and find out that the torch parts cost 4x what the ones for a Miller and Lincoln do?

Why buy a "throw away" junker machine to learn on, only to wish you'd put that money towards one that was much better?

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Engloid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You can TIG aluminum with DC current, using an Argon/Helium mix, or pure helium. It is not very good for thinner materials, under 1/8".

Personally, I'd be concerned about the availability of replacement parts and consumables for that cheapo machine. What if you buy it and it's still working a year from now, but the company goes under and nobody else makes any torch parts for it? What if you buy it and find out that the torch parts cost 4x what the ones for a Miller and Lincoln do?

Why buy a "throw away" junker machine to learn on, only to wish you'd put that money towards one that was much better?</TD></TR></TABLE>

if the torch breaks i'll buy a new one

But i think i've decided on looking for a decent MIG setup; I know it would get more use than a TIG; and since AC tig's are friggen expensive i guess i'll have to go with stainless charge pipes or see if i can borrow my uncle's dad's for a weekend

Want2race

Ive bought a cheap welder.. You only have regrets afterwards! Dont do it!

B18C1CYA

i would not buy that , i personaly stay away from welders in a bubble pack , lol , but if you dont want to spend alot and want a good machine one that is not throw away then check this out http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...&rd=1

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C1CYA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i would not buy that , i personaly stay away from welders in a bubble pack , lol , but if you dont want to spend alot and want a good machine one that is not throw away then check this out http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...&rd=1</TD></TR></TABLE>

it looks to be DC also; or am i missing something

B18C1CYA

yeah it is only d/c , but is a much better welder,

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C1CYA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah it is only d/c , but is a much better welder,</TD></TR></TABLE>

oh; tasty;
I decided on going mig for now; maybe later i'll graduate to tig

B18C1CYA

well man once you tig you will never want to mig , well atleast i dont , tig is so nice no spatter and is much stronger and alot nicer looking if the welds are exposed ,

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C1CYA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well man once you tig you will never want to mig , well atleast i dont , tig is so nice no spatter and is much stronger and alot nicer looking if the welds are exposed , </TD></TR></TABLE>

I can imagine;
But i'm going to wind up with some harbor freight MIG w/ a borrowd bottle/reg/**** and use it a few times and maybe play around with it.
I cant begin to justify spending big money on an ac/dc tig.
I'm going to go talk to my mom's boss @ the construction company and see when and what he might could get in the way of a MIG welder; and if that doesn't work then like i said i'll probably wind up with a harbor freight one

ON a sidenote my dad has an old lincon buzzbox welder that his friend has "borrowed" for like the last 10 years and we're going to go pick it up and check it out tomorrow. I've been reading up on the internet about using old ac stick welders as tig power supplies. Anyone car to shed some light on this?

B18C1CYA

i think in order to use the arc welder you will need a hf unit for it and it would only do aluminum , i dont know to much about it but i have seen the hf units on ebay and that what people say there are used for ,

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C1CYA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i think in order to use the arc welder you will need a hf unit for it and it would only do aluminum , i dont know to much about it but i have seen the hf units on ebay and that what people say there are used for , </TD></TR></TABLE>

makes sense; do you use DC to TIG stainless?

B18C1CYA

yes you use d/c - to do stainless and steel , and a/c for aluminum,

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C1CYA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes you use d/c - to do stainless and steel , and a/c for aluminum, </TD></TR></TABLE>

neato
thanks for all your help btw

98AccordEX

i was in the same boat as you not too long ago. i couldnt justify the cost of a bigger AC/DC tig machine. but then i thought about that i would have loved to have a welder when i was a kid but my dad was never into any of that kind of stuff. so i spent the money on a Miller Syncrowave 180 and i hope to have it around for at least the next 30 years so my kids can use it all they want (well when i have them since i'm only 22). i'll spend the money now when i dont have too many bills to pay instead of down the road when i'm married and have kids