Can TIG welders weld thicker metal than MMA or MIG welders for the same amount of current.

Most TIG welders i've seen (ones that don't cost over a grand and are single phase) only go up to 150 amps max. where as MIG will go to 200+, and for MMA the skys the limit.

What is the realistic max thickness that a 150 amp TIG will weld?

Most, if not all TIG sets can be used as MMA stick welders, for the same amps.

JohnN

Beware, obvious point but thought I had better make it! TIG's for under a grand will almost certainly be DC only ones, so beware you won't be able to weld ally with these. Also make sure that the one you look at has HF starting, scratch start is a pain in the ass.

Hi,

I had a look round my car for the biggest TIG weld. I came up with this.
It's the roll bar to roll bar mounting flange.
2.5 wall tube to 10 mm thick flange (turned down to 6).
This was done on about 120 amps. It's about a 5 mm fillet.

My welder is a Sure Weld 160, and cost me £700.
It's now 3 years old and has paid for its self many times over.

Paul G
Rescued attachment Roll bar flange 004 s.jpg

The bottom end hobby DC TIG welders are really only suitable for welding thin steelbody panels, a friend of mine (an experienced welder) bought one for motor cylcle work and found it useless so sold it on ebay and bought a better mig.

Tthe electrical characteristic made it tricky to use compared with pro tig welders.
I suspect to get a viable TIG machine you will have to pay what 907 paid or more.

So TIG welders do make better use of avalible current (got an old MMA welder that would be set about 200amps for welding what 907 has done with 120).

The big but is that to get a versatlie
TIG welder the cheaper machines aren't worth bothering with.

Hi clbarclay,

No, I think the scale on your mma welder is up the creak.
The same weld if done with mma would be with a 3.2 dia rod on 95 / 110 amps.

I have used two much cheaper TIG sets, and both were excellent.

IMHO the minimum requirments of a TIG set is as follows:-

At least 140 amps. ( so you don't use it flat out )
HF arc start. ( as said before scratch start is a pain in the **** )
Gas switched on & off by a solanoid. ( switched by the arc start trigger on the torch )

I think these features can be found for about £500 if you shop around.

The downside of a TIG is the cost of the gas.
I'm lucky, I have a full size bottle that, when empty, I can exchange it
for a full one at work. I just pay for the gas ( £25 )

I hope this helps.

Paul G

Crikey blimey... I was considering buying a TIG but didn't realise they were sooo expensive. Maybe a bit more saving is in order then...

the best value tig setups that I have come across are from http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/

a friend of mine has a GYS130HF and does a lot of stainless steel fabricating with it, but only thin stuff (up to 2mm sheet) and gets on very well with it. This machine is £395 incl vat. For just less than £500 you can get the GYS160HF which is a bit better again.

I haven't found more fully featured machines elsewhere at this price.

The difference between a dc and an ac/dc machine there is £900, that's a lot of wonga. Get saving or sell something Hellfire.

I have the GSYHF130 it is a cracking little tig set (OK it can't do ally). I have welded up to 1/4 plate without any problems using the tig torch. In arc mode I have welded 1/2 plate.

It's got all you need for most locost stuff HF start, variable post gas and ramp down.

It also makes for a great arc welder, nice and smooth and easy to start.