Anyone got any views on these cheap DC inverters, for arc/tig (like this one here - page down to the GYS 125 Inverter Kit).

I only want one for light and occasional use. Has anyone got any views on what minimum spec’ I should look for?

Many thanks,

RPS

Have a read of this site.
http://www.kemppi.com/internet/pronews.nsf/public/0202_en_sivu05.html
I think they are a bit dearer than what you are looking for but it's a good site. HF is better than scratch start and you'll need AC/DC if you want to weld all metals

rps,i got one of them and it was useless as a tig,makes a damm good arc welder tho

I have a wee fronius, its not got HF but it welds the mutts nutts on arc or tig, its now 5 years old and has ran all day on occasion on both arc and TIG. One of the boat trailers I built with this beastie carries 4.5 ton on a regualar basis. IMHO the fronius range are the Rolls Royce of welding equipment. Highly recomended.
Oh no connection
Shug.

We'd heard rumours about that . SAF come highly recommended as well.

Ah but as all the wee willy's say its not the size of the wave its the motion of the ocean, anyone fer a hurricane
Shug.

After much consideration, I went for a GYS130HF from the welders warehouse.(link)

After a long chat with their technical Guy I went for the TIG with HF, and after a few hiccups, I got more quality welding done in one evening than I have in the last two months. The HF start works really well, is very easy to use and if you lose the arc, you just press the button and start again.

The manual with the welder was poor (two sides of A4 photocopies) so a couple of questions if anyone cane help me.

What pressure is best to set the regulator at? (I have got through a whole cylinder of gas already)

How far should the electrode protrude from the gas shroud?

Does anyone know of some online TIG welding guidance notes I could refer to?

Many thanks.

RPS

Hi RPS

Whereabouts in Suffolk are you?

One of those salty seafaring types, or do
you spend your time dodging horse poo?


Paul G

rps some useful info in this pdf
http://www.millerwelds.com/pdf/gtawbook.pdf

if you get the chance see if paul (type 907) will give you some pointers.

pratical experience beats books any day
btw your not tring to use the small argon bottles from halfords get to boc or air products and get a deicent sized bottle

Thanks for the link, it looks useful. I am improving my TIG skills each tim I use it, but I have reverted back to arc for some of the easier welds. With the invertor, they are looking as good as TIG anyway.

I have hired a BOC bottle of Argon, but I got the pressure wrong and it ate half a bottle in no time.

By the way, I live near Eye in North Suffolk.

RPS

[Edited on 17/6/04 by RPS]

Hi RPS

Guesswork was never my strongpoint, I
guessed east or west and your in north
Suffolk.
Talking of guesswork, I'd advise the use
of a flowmeter (see pic) set at 10 l/min for
accurate argon flow rate.
Us "old craftsmen" just play it on our tongue and say "'bout roight"

Anyway, I feel a bike ride coming on.
email or U2U me with your post code if
you like.

Paul G
Rescued attachment reg 003s.jpg

Paul,

Seen the flow meters on ebay, I may have to invest.

You have U2U.

RPS

I have a BOC tradearc 150 with a scratch start TIG torch .I have only used it for arc welding so far as I do not have an argon bottle. i am not sure whether it is worth investing in an argon bottle as i have never used this type ot tig set up.I have used proper tig sets with hf start and can tig weld to a basic standard but am not sure whether i will get on with scratch start.
Has anyone used a similiar set up?.
Do i need pure argon for mild steel or can i use argon shield as with a mig?.
Paul.

Not so much a U2U,
more a sort of Paul2Paul

You need argon I'm afraid.

As far as I know there are two sorts of
scratch start.
I'v used one that starts on about 5 amps,
then when arc is established jumps to the
welding setting. I got on well with this.
The other sort is full power from the
outset. This tends to contaminate the
tungsten, and as a sharp point is the
essence of good weld pool control, the
latter is not so good. (You can start the arc on a carbon block, impracticle IMHO)

Advise? Get a disposable cylinder and
have a go. don't spend loads on something you might not get on with.

Hope this helps.

Paul G