I won one of the Rehmann TIG160 units last week (Friday) and it was here on Wednesday. All as advertised - top service.

From the first arc I struck I could tell that TIG was for me, at last I can see a proper weld pool! Hello instant and controllable weld pool. MIG is too quick for me.

I haven't got any filler rod and only a mini bottle of argon so the trials were limited but all seems well.

I didn't really have a clue on set up, it was all done one 55 amps, gas was a hiss, 1.6mm gold end (universal?) tungsten, pressure was a bit of a hiss. All this was done on a 5 amp fuse as that was all I had.

One of the things I really like about the unit (apart from the price ) is the length of the power and torch leads - the welder can live in the middle of the garage and the torch can reach all around a chassis. Great for those weld one side then the other distortion cancelling moves.

Obviously I need proper gas, filler wire and LOTS of practice but I am pleased with the operation of the machine and the process.

Here are some pictures, no filler rod but it is a weld.


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Dont really know what all this aero is about, seemed to be worse when I held the weld pool to long. Hardly worth worrying about at this stage with such a ropey set up.


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Penetration is there if a little blurry.


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I think this weld is exhibiting something called 'tungsten inclusions'.


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Big thanks to 907 for your help thoughout the should I, shouldn't I process and to the_fbi for buying one in the first place - a good move I think.

David

Niiiice.
Bugger, now I want one as well!

Gas with hiss, that will deplete your bottle quickly, you need just a tad of gas to protect the work so keep turning it down to a whisper.

They have gone as low as £88, high as £155, mine was £122 (all plus £11 postage).

Go on - you know you want to.

I am glad I did, dont know if I will be if I have to test the warranty though.

I couldn't really hear the hiss over the HF start noise so I just turned it up and it seemed to work.

Today was just to see if the unit worked before I commit the same money again to an argon rental contract.

On steel about 5 or 6 LPM of gas flow should be a good starting point.

MiG wire ( if you have some ) will be fine to use as well. But can be a bit of a hassle making it straight.

Hope this helps

Jason

ok,

think about the fact that the more time you take the more heat is in your peace and thats often for a chasis not good.
thats the reason that mig is more often used because its faster and "colder"

also think that if you don't apply rod, you eat meat away and your welding HIGH isn't much.

I really want to try tig and didnt think you could get one with Hf for that sort of dosh, with out shipping from china

You are not that far from me, welcome to have a try with my kit.

Very different to MIG more like super lovely gas welding from my first impressions.

U2U me if you want a go.

cheers, may take you up on it when im not so busy.

Ive only done an hour or so on Gas, and that was years ago.

This video is well worth watching. I've not used mine for Tig yet, but a very very good set of lessons and info.

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3647745/Covell_TIG_Welding_Basics_(imburne)

I cant get that link to work properly, some of the spin offs from that link look interesting though.

Offer is open anytime big_wasa, would be much better when I have some proper gas and filler rod.

Hi David,

Considering you didn't use filler wire that is a cracking first go with a Tig.

When you get some, you will find that those little pin holes will no longer be a problem.


I've had several U2U's about these welders and if I have been of help to any of you then I'm a happy bunny.

So, get out there, get welding, and next time there's a poll "scratch build or kit" lets see a few more votes for the chassis builders.

Who was it that had a sig, "Kits are for Girls"?

(No offence intended)

Good luck to all

Paul G

I got a Rehmann as well.. Thanks to 907 for the advice.
I got this link from a welding forum...

Its a calculator for TIG Welding currents.
Obvioulsy for Miller Welders, but a good starting point for anything else.
Hope its of use to anyone on here.

Linky


[Edited on 4/11/2007 by wilkingj]

Well I've just joined the Rehmann club as well - after reading the last couple of TIG threads and considering the price it's hard to resist

I can MIG weld to a decent standard but I've never enjoyed it , always much preferred gas for the control you get and the look of the finished weld so I'm really looking forward to giving TIG a go

Kits are indeed for girls! - no offense to girls intended

You are soooo dead, when Fozzie reads this!

Why? ........has he had a sex change.

Are the units Chinese right enough? I heard they had been reported to Ebay for the Made in Germany thing.

Alex

For the price I don't really think it matters

Too true mate........just wondered if it was going to come to an end because of this.

Alex

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alex B
Are the units Chinese right enough? I heard they had been reported to Ebay for the Made in Germany thing.
Alex

---

last time I did anything with electronics, a MOS-FET was a transistor

nope thats never been the case!

the principles of a transistor and a MOSFET are totally different..


a mosfet needs a charge of current to conduct.

and a transistor needs a flow of current to conduct. the hFe then decides how much current it lets go past.

in a mosfet its just everything or nothing..
(when fully or not charged)

Tks

You might want to look up what the T in MOSFET stands for
Though Field Effect Transistors do work completely differently than bipolar Transistors.

Excellent Wilk..........power to the people......

Alex

quote:

---

Originally posted by 907
Hi David,

Considering you didn't use filler wire that is a cracking first go with a Tig.

When you get some, you will find that those little pin holes will no longer be a problem.


I've had several U2U's about these welders and if I have been of help to any of you then I'm a happy bunny.

So, get out there, get welding, and next time there's a poll "scratch build or kit" lets see a few more votes for the chassis builders.

Who was it that had a sig, "Kits are for Girls"?

(No offence intended)

Good luck to all

Paul G

---

PS spark gap for the HF is not issue, that's how my large and (when new) very expensive ESAB AcDC TIG does it, actually uses a spark plug!!!

Well guys i brought 2 of them

one 160amp 155 pounds
one 200amp 200pounds

Cheers..

Tks

There is plenty undercut, this weekend I should have some filler wire though.

Looking forward to that although I will miss two hands steadying the torch!

if you can get a remote foot pedal control (or do them have them as std? ) then you can get a smaller "non trigger" type torch which is so small that its easy to use one handed.

I have the same issue with the trigger torch on the TIG here at work, but at home I have a small WP20 non-trigger torch, the foot pedal does the switching and current.

I didn't realise how nice the torch was until I used some ones with triggers on, they feel SOOO clumsy by comparison.

only trouble might be I think the smaller torches are water cooled, mine certainly is, which could be an issue......

907 will be able to help you more if you need it

are spares readily available for these, or are they "generic"?

I'm looking at an AC/DC tig through someone recommended on here, but as a back up cheapy machine to that, these do look rather tempting.