tegwin
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 08:44 AM |
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Is 160A enough?
I am toying with the idea of getting an R-Tech AC/DC Tig welder....
The choices (in my price range) are 160A and 200A
Obviously the 160A is about £200 cheaper than the 200A...
But... what thickness of material (steel/ali) could I weld with the 160A? Would it be enough for almost everything?
I want the machine to be a long term investment, so if its not going to be up to the job then there is no point.
[Edited on 18/6/09 by tegwin]
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mad4x4
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 09:42 AM |
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Used to have a SIP 160 - personal opinion * CRAP * lasted about 3 Years doing work on Landrovers etc. And ended up giving it away as it would
overheat in about 4 mins. even just welding bodywork and 1" box section
Nothing that Heavy 2 mm etc.
So went and spent about £450 on a Good welder check out some of the Welding forums. This one is about 200 A "ProMig" or
"protomig" or something like that...
Welded up a winch bumper for a 4x4 out of 8mm Wall tube and 5 mmm Plate no Probs and that wasn;t even full up. Got the whole job cherry red at one
point.
Well welding with it is so much easier, and neater and had no problems with it execpt it won't work with .6 wire as the spooler will birdcage as
it grips the wire tooo well.
[Edited on 18/606/09 by mad4x4]
[Edited on 18/606/09 by mad4x4]
Scot's do it better in Kilts.
MK INDY's Don't Self Centre Regardless of MK Setting !
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tegwin
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 09:53 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
Used to have a SIP 160 - personal opinion * CRAP * lasted about 3 Years doing work on Landrovers etc. And ended up giving it away as it would
overheat in about 4 mins. even just welding bodywork and 1" box section
Nothing that Heavy 2 mm etc.
So went and spent about £450 on a Good welder check out some of the Welding forums. This one is about 200 A "ProMig" or
"protomig" or something like that...
Welded up a winch bumper for a 4x4 out of 8mm Wall tube and 5 mmm Plate no Probs and that wasn;t even full up. Got the whole job cherry red at one
point.
Well welding with it is so much easier, and neater and had no problems with it execpt it won't work with .6 wire as the spooler will birdcage as
it grips the wire tooo well.
[Edited on 18/606/09 by mad4x4]
[Edited on 18/606/09 by mad4x4]
I am talking about TIG welders though!
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mad4x4
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 09:54 AM |
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Ahhhh
Scot's do it better in Kilts.
MK INDY's Don't Self Centre Regardless of MK Setting !
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AndyGT
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 10:04 AM |
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Check this out:
link it baby
I'd go for the lower amperage one as it is more likely going to be sensitive for the thinner stuff you will be welding.
Ask yourself what you are likely to be welding in the next 3 or 5 years....
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907
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 11:02 AM |
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Hi.
For mild and stainless the 160 would be fine.
AC, and ally, is a whole new ball game.
It takes as much heat to melt ally as it does steel, even though it has a lower melting point.
Add to that the alternating bit. While the tungsten is cleaning it's not putting heat in so in fact you need more.
Sooner or later you will want to weld something thick, say a inlet manifold flange, and you will wish you had more amps available.
Torches get hotter on AC so my advice would be, if you can afford it, get a 200amp with a water cooled torch.
Think of it like a car. A little bit in reserve is no bad thing.
If you want to drive down the motorway at 80, you don't buy a car that does 80 flat out.
Cheers
Paul G
p.s. made a water cooler for under £30.
car heater matrix, cheepo fan, and a pond fountain pump.
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ashg
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 11:22 AM |
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160 will do most stuff up to about 5-6mm on mild and stainless. on ali tit will do up to 4mm at a push.
i have a 150amp cemont and have never got it to cut out ever.
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
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tegwin
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 11:44 AM |
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Thanks for the replies..
That information is quite useful.
Its tricky though given the £200 price difference... I guess its small change in the grand scheme of things...
I would deffinatetly go for a watercooled torch and DIY a cooler....
Can you run a watercooled torch with no coolant for short periods of time, or is that a bad idea?
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907
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 12:09 PM |
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Yup, bad idea. You'll melt the water pipes.
You could rig it up to a garden hose pipe. You only need a dribble.
Put a restrictor in the hose, say a 1mm hole, and stick the outlet down the drain.
Paul G
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tegwin
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 12:36 PM |
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quote:
You could rig it up to a garden hose pipe. You only need a dribble. Put a restrictor in the hose, say a 1mm hole, and stick the outlet down the
drain.
Sounds like a plan...
My first project was going to be making a trolley and water cooler... but im going to need the TIG welder to make the bits... so catch 22... But
hosepipe it is!
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907
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| posted on 18/6/09 at 03:06 PM |
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Don't forget, your torch will not take 50psi mains pressure.
Just crack the hose tap so it's just a dribble, and drill a 1mm (ish) hole in a bit of bar and insert this
in the hose pipe near the tap end. A bit of plastic would do.
Paul G
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